2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida

The 2004 United States House of Representatives Elections in Florida were held on November 2, 2004 to determine who would represent the state of Florida in the United States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 109th Congress from January 3, 2005 to January 3, 2007. The election coincided with the 2004 U.S. presidential election as well as an election to the United States Senate.

Florida had twenty-five seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its delegation to the 108th Congress of 2003-2005 consisted of eighteen Republicans and seven Democrats. In 2004, no districts changed party control, leaving the congressional delegation as an 18-7 split favoring the Republicans.

The following Congresspeople went unopposed in the 2004 election and thus their election is not reported below:

• John Mica (R-FL-07)
• Robert Wexler (D-FL-19)
• Alcee Hastings (D-FL-23)
• Tom Feeney (R-FL-24)
• Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-25)

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2004[1]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats	+/–
	Republican	3,319,296	58.98%	18	+/- 0
	Democratic	2,212,324	39.31%	7	+/- 0
	Other Parties	95,874	1.70%	0	+/- 0
Totals		5,627,494	100%	25	+/- 0

District 1

Incumbent Republican representative Jeff Miller, who was initially elected in a special election in 2001, ran for re-election in this staunchly conservative district based in the Florida Panhandle. Miller easily defeated Democratic challenger Mark Coutu.

Florida's 1st congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jeff Miller (inc.)	236,604	76.5
	Democratic	Mark S. Coutu	72,506	23.5
Total votes			309,110	100.00
	Republican hold

District 2

The incumbent was Democrat Allen Boyd, first elected to this seat in 1997. Other contestants in this race included Republican challenger Bev Kilmer, who had served in the Florida House of Representatives,[2] and write-in candidate T. A. Frederick.

Shortly before the election, a company owned by Kilmer's husband sued Boyd for defamation of character.[3] Nonetheless, Boyd was reelected with slightly under 62 percent of the vote.

Florida's 2nd congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Allen Boyd (incumbent)	201,577	61.6
	Republican	Bev Kilmer	125,399	38.4
	Independent	T. A. Frederick (write-in)	11	0.0
Total votes			326,987	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 3

Democrat Corrine Brown, the incumbent since 1993, faced no major-party opposition and easily won re-election over write-in candidate Johnny Brown.

Florida's 2nd congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Corrine Brown (incumbent)	172,833	99.2
	Independent	Johnny M. Brown (write-in)	1,323	0.8
Total votes			174,156	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 4

Incumbent Republican Ander Crenshaw faced only marginal opposition from the write-in campaign of perennial candidate Richard Grayson.[4] Crenshaw easily won another term.

Florida's 4th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ander Crenshaw (inc.)	256,157	99.5
	Independent	Richard Grayson (write-in)	1,170	0.5
Total votes			257,327	100.00
	Republican hold

District 5

Incumbent Republican Ginny Brown-Waite easily won re-election against attorney Robert Whittel in a race that was not viewed as competitive.[5]

Florida's 5th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ginny Brown-Waite (inc.)	240,315	65.9
	Democratic	Robert G. Whittel	124,140	34.1
	Independent	H. David Werder (write-in)	33	0.0
Total votes			364,488	100.00
	Republican hold

District 6

Encompassing North Central Florida, this conservative district is represented by incumbent Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns. Stearns, seeking a ninth term, faced off against Democrat Dave Bruderly and won the election by a wide margin.

Florida's 6th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Cliff Stearns (inc.)	211,137	64.4
	Democratic	David E. Bruderly	116,680	35.6
	Independent	N. W. O’Brien (write-in)	36	0.0
Total votes			327,853	100.00
	Republican hold

District 8

Republican Congressman Ric Keller, seeking a third term, faced off against libertarian Democrat Stephen Murray.[6] Keller won re-election with over 60% of the vote.

Florida's 8th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ric Keller (inc.)	172,232	60.5
	Democratic	Charlie Stuart	112,343	39.5
Total votes			284,575	100.00
	Republican hold

District 9

Republican incumbent Congressman Michael Bilirakis ran for a twelfth term. Bilirakis faced no major-party opposition in this Republican-leaning district.

Florida's 9th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Michael Bilirakis	284,035	99.9
	Independent	Andrew Pasayan (write-in)	243	0.1
Total votes			284,278	100.00
	Republican hold

District 10

Longtime incumbent Republican Bill Young won re-election over Democrat Bob Derry with almost 70% of the vote.

Florida's 10th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bill Young (inc.)	207,175	69.3
	Democratic	Robert D. "Bob" Derry	91,658	30.7
Total votes			298,833	100.00
	Republican hold

District 11

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim Davis ran for a fifth term in this liberal district based in Tampa. He faced no Republican challenger.

Florida's 11th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim Davis (inc.)	191,780	85.8
	Libertarian	Robert E. Johnson	31,579	14.2
	Independent	Karl M. Butts (write-in)	122	0.0
Total votes			223,481	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 12

Incumbent Republican Adam Putnam won a third term, defeating Democrat Bob Hagenmaier. Putnam, who was the youngest member of the U.S. Congress before this election, received more than 10 times the campaign donations as his opponent and cruised to an easy victory.[7]

Florida's 12th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Adam Putnam (inc.)	179,204	64.9
	Democratic	Bob Hagenmaier	96,965	35.1
Total votes			276,169	100.00
	Republican hold

District 13

Incumbent Republican Katherine Harris sought a second term and defeated Democratic challenger Jan Schneider.

Florida's 13th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Katherine Harris (inc.)	190,477	55.3
	Democratic	Jan Schneider	153,961	44.7
Total votes			344,438	100.00
	Republican hold

District 14

This seat had been vacant since Porter Goss resigned on September 23 to serve as the director of the CIA. Republican Connie Mack IV won the open seat against Democratic candidate Robert Neeld in this solidly conservative district. Mack, the son of former U.S. Senator Connie Mack III, was aided by name recognition and fundraising connections[8] en route to an easy victory.

Florida's 14th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Connie Mack IV	226,662	67.6
	Democratic	Robert M. Neeld	108,672	32.4
Total votes			335,334	100.00
	Republican hold

District 15

Incumbent Republican Dave Weldon sought election to a sixth term in Congress. Weldon defeated the Democratic candidate, retired physicist Simon Pristoop, with 65% of the vote.[9]

Florida's 15th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dave Weldon (inc.)	210,388	65.4
	Democratic	Simon Pristoop	111,538	34.6
Total votes			321,926	100.00
	Republican hold

District 16

Incumbent Republican Mark Foley ran for a sixth term. He defeated Democrat Jeff Fisher by a wide margin.

Florida's 16th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Foley (inc.)	215,563	68.0
	Democratic	Jeff Fisher	101,247	32.0
Total votes			316,810	100.00
	Republican hold

District 17

Incumbent Democrat Kendrick Meek was re-elected to a second term in this heavily Democratic district. He faced no Republican challenger.

Florida's 17th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kendrick Meek (inc.)	178,690	99.6
	Independent	Omari Musa (write-in)	734	0.4
Total votes			179,424	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 18

Incumbent Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen sought a ninth term and easily defeated Democratic nominee Sam Sheldon.

Florida's 18th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (inc.)	143,647	64.7
	Democratic	Sam Sheldon	78,281	35.3
Total votes			221,928	100.00
	Republican hold

District 20

Democratic incumbent Peter Deutsch decided to run for the U.S. Senate instead of seeking re-election. Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz won the open seat with over 70% of the vote.

Florida's 20th congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Debbie Wasserman Schultz	191,195	70.2
	Republican	Margaret Hostetter	81,213	29.8
Total votes			272,408	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 21

Incumbent Republican Lincoln Diaz-Balart ran for a seventh term in this suburban district. Diaz-Balart faced no Democratic challenger and easily won re-election.

Florida's 21st congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Lincoln Diaz-Balart (inc.)	146,507	72.8
	Libertarian	Robert E. Johnson	54,736	27.2
Total votes			201,243	100.00
	Republican hold

District 22

Incumbent Republican Clay Shaw ran for a thirteenth term. Jim Stork was the Democratic nominee, but withdrew from the race before election night, citing health issues. Stork's name remained on the ballot, but votes for Stork were counted for Robin Rorapaugh, a staffer for Congressman Peter Deutsch.[10] Shaw easily won re-election.

Florida's 22nd congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Clay Shaw (inc.)	192,581	62.8
	Democratic	Jim Stork	108,258	35.3
style="background-color: CC0C2F; width: 2px;" |	Constitution	Jack McLain	5,260	1.7
	Independent	Don Kennedy (write-in)	627	0.2
Total votes			306,726	100.00
	Republican hold

References

1. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2004/2004Stat.htm#9
2. "Lawmaker's widow to run for House". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
3. "Political Ad Leads to a Lawsuit". www.wjhg.com. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
4. Aaronson, Trevor (2 September 2004). "Last Candidate Standing". New Times Broward-Palm Beach. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
5. Horowitz, Etan. "UPSET UNLIKELY IN HOUSE RACE". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
6. Billman, Jeffrey C. "ELECTION POP QUIZ". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
7. ROUSOS, RICK. "Rep. Putnam Wins Third Term". The Ledger. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
8. Hearn, Josephine (27 October 2004). "Mack: Help and hindrance from a known family name". TheHill. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
9. "Reps. Harris, Boyd win heated battles for House seats". Gainesville Sun. The Associated Press. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
10. Brittany, Wallman. "IN DISTRICT 22, STORK = RORAPAUGH". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved 28 June 2019.