U.S. presidential election, 2004
This article deals with a current or ongoing event. Information may be changing rapidly.
Election Results
The election has not yet occurred.
The next U.S. presidential election is scheduled to occur on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. After formal election by the U.S. Electoral College on December 13, 2004, the winner will be inaugurated President on January 20, 2005.
| For the individual presidential campaigns of the two major candidates, see George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2004 and John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004 |
Presidential candidates by political party
For a more complete list of candidates, including those of minor parties and those who did not receive their party's nominations, see List of candidates in the U.S. presidential election, 2004.
Republican Party
On March 9, 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush of Texas officially clinched the number of delegates needed to be nominated at the August 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City. Should something happen to Bush before or after the convention, the Republican National Committee would most likely be the main body involved in choosing an alternative nominee. Bush has publicly stated that he will, once again, select Vice President Dick Cheney as his running mate in 2004.
For details, see George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2004 and U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination, 2004.
Democratic Party
On March 11, 2004, after meetings with Democratic superdelegates in Washington and with former opponents Howard Dean and John Edwards, U.S. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts accumulated the 2,162 delegates required to clinch the nomination. The Democratic National Committee's website now officially acknowledges Senator Kerry as the party's nominee. If something happens to Sen. Kerry before the election, the Democratic National Committee will likely be the main body involved in choosing an alternate nominee—most likely Sen. Kerry's running mate. On July 6, 2004 North Carolina Senator John Edwards was announced as Kerry's running mate. Sens. Kerry and Edwards were formally nominated by the Democratic Party at the July 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts.
For details, see John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004 and U.S. Democratic Party presidential nomination, 2004.
Libertarian Party
Michael Badnarik was nominated by delegates to the Libertarian Party National Convention on May 30, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia. In the closest presidential race in Libertarian Party history, Badnarik beat Talk radio host Gary Nolan and Emmy and Tony award-winning producer Aaron Russo on the third ballot. The three candidates were separated by only handful of votes on the first two ballots.
The candidates debated each other at various state Libertarian Party conventions leading up to the national convention. The debate held at the Libertarian Party of California convention (this year March 12-14 in San Jose) was aired by C-SPAN and PBS. State parties often conduct non-binding straw polls following their debate and may then vote to endorse a candidate. However, as is normal practice, delegates to the national convention voted freely for the candidate of their choice.
For details, see Michael Badnarik presidential campaign, 2004 and U.S. Libertarian Party presidential nomination, 2004.
Green Party
The candidate of the Green Party, chosen on the second ballot at the national convention of the Green Party of the United States on June 25, 2004 is David Cobb; the party's vice-presidential candidate is Pat LaMarche.
- Announced:
- Carol Miller, campaigner for Native American rights, New Mexico
- David Cobb, legal advisor to the party and former candidate for Texas attorney general
- Dr. Kent P. Mesplay, biologist and air quality specialist, California
- Lorna Salzman, environmental activist, New York
- Paul Glover, creator of Ithaca Hours, former mayoral candidate from Ithaca, New York
- Dr. Jonathan Farley, mathematics professor, former Congressional candidate, Tennessee
- Declined:
- Peter Camejo, recent California gubernatorial candidate. Camejo advocated that the Green Party endorse the independent campaign of Ralph Nader for president. Camejo consented for his name to be placed on state primary ballots, in order to "be able to vote for delegates that go uncommitted to the national convention so that we can figure out what is best for the party in June."[1] Prior to the convention, Camejo also accepted a position as Nader's vice-presidential running mate.
- Cynthia McKinney, former Congresswoman from Georgia
- Ralph Nader, consumer rights advocate and 1996 and 2000 nominee. Nader announced that he would run as an independent on February 22, 2004. In March, 2004, Nader stated that he will accept the "endorsement" but not the "nomination" of the Green Party, as well of other minor parties.
- Jello Biafra, former lead singer of the Dead Kennedys and candidate for the 2000 nomination
- Joel Kovel, New York, runner-up candidate for the 2000 nomination
Constitution Party
The Constitution Party nominated Michael Peroutka for president on 25 Jun 2004 and Chuck Baldwin for vice president on 26 Jun 2004. Roy Moore did not attend the convention.
- Announced:
- Declined:
- Roy Moore, former Alabama Chief Justice (January 24, after speaking to a Constitution Party meeting)
- Roy Moore, former Alabama Chief Justice (January 24, after speaking to a Constitution Party meeting)
Reform Party
- Announced:
- Ralph Nader was endorsed by the national party. However, it remains to be seen whether some state parties will choose to act independently of the national organization.
- Ralph Nader was endorsed by the national party. However, it remains to be seen whether some state parties will choose to act independently of the national organization.
Independent (not affiliated with any party)
- Announced:
- Ralph Nader, consumer rights advocate and 1996 and 2000 Green Party nominee
- Ralph Nader, consumer rights advocate and 1996 and 2000 Green Party nominee
Timeline
See U.S. presidential election, 2004 timeline
Electoral College changes from 2000
The U.S. Population is continuously shifting, and some states grow in population faster than others. With the completion of the 2000 census, Congressional re-apportionment took place, moving some representative districts from the slowest growing states to the fastest growing. As a result, some states will send a different number of electors to the U.S. Electoral College, since the number of electors allotted to a state is equal to the sum of the number of Senators and Representatives from that state. Since the results were so close in 2000, this could potentially impact the outcome of the 2004 election.
The following table shows the change in electors from the 2000 election. Red states represent those that Bush won in 2000 and Blue states Gore won. All the states listed use a winner-take-all allocation of electors. If every state was won by the same party that won it in 2000, the Republican Party would receive 278 electoral votes (271 in 2000) and the Democratic Party would receive 260 (267 in 2000, 266 of which voted for Gore (1)).
| Gained votes | Lost votes |
|---|---|
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New during this campaign
Electronic voting
Some states are rushing to have new electronic voting systems operational for the 2004 election.
Campaign law changes
Due to campaign finance reforms mandated by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (also known as the McCain-Feingold Bill), advertisements from a candidate's campaign have to include the candidate stating that they approved the message.
External links and references
Election video archive
Election 2004 link directories
Election analysis
Election 2004 global debate and voting
Election news media
News articles
Election campaign funding
Interactives