United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2004
Encyclopedia
The 2004 congressional elections in Massachusetts was held on November 2, 2004, to determine who would represent the state
of Massachusetts
in the United States House of Representatives
. Massachusetts had ten seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected were served in the 109th Congress
from January 3, 2005 until January 3, 2007.
Incumbent Democratic Congressman John Olver
ran for an eighth term in this staunchly Democratic district rooted in western Massachusetts. Facing no opponents in the general election, Olver was overwhelmingly re-elected to another term.
Steven Adam ran as a write-in for the Republican nomination, but did not receive enough votes to make the general election ballot.
This south-central Massachusetts-based district has a strong tendency to elect Democratic candidates, and this year proved no different. When incumbent Democratic Congressman Richard Neal
ran for a ninth term, he faced no opposition and coasted to re-election.
Though incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern faced a challenge from Republican candidate Ronald Crews. This historically liberal district, which stretches from the western suburbs of Boston to the Massachusetts
-Rhode Island
border, has sent Congressman McGovern back to Congress with overwhelming margins of victory. This year proved to be no different, and McGovern crushed Crews to win a fifth term.
Congressman Barney Frank
, a Democrat, has represented this strongly liberal district, which extends from Quincy
to the South Coast
, since he was initially elected in 1980. In 2004, Congressman Frank faced a challenge from independent candidate Chuck Morse
, whom he was able to defeat by a wide margin.
This liberal district rooted in the northern and eastern suburbs of Boston has been represented by Congressman Marty Meehan
since he was first elected in 1992. This year, Congressman Meehan faced a challenge from Republican Thomas Tierney, but the Congressman successfully won a seventh term.
for eight years. In his quest for a fifth term, Tierney was opposed by Republican Stephen O'Malley, but he was re-elected in a landslide.
Democratic Congressman Ed Markey
, the longest serving member of the Massachusetts House members, has continually been re-elected with large margins in this staunchly liberal district based in the northern and eastern suburbs of Boston. This year, Congressman Markey faced off against Republican Kenneth Chase, whom he crushed.
since 1999. Seeking a fourth term, Capuano faced no opposition and easily won the election.
Democratic Congressman Steven Lynch
, a moderate Democrat, has represented this district rooted in south Boston since he was first elected in 2001 in a special election to replace the late Congressman Joe Moakley
. With a solidly liberal constituency, Congressman Lynch encountered no opposition in his bid for a third term.
Opposed by Republican Michael Jones, incumbent Democratic Congressman Bill Delahunt
sought a fifth term in this district based in the South Shore, Cape Cod
and the Islands
. Though more moderate than the other districts in the commonwealth, the 10th district sent Congressman Delahunt back to Washington
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Massachusetts had ten seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected were served in the 109th Congress
109th United States Congress
The One Hundred Ninth United States Congress was the legislative branch of the United States, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, from January 3, 2005 to January 3, 2007, during the fifth and sixth years of George W. Bush's presidency. House members...
from January 3, 2005 until January 3, 2007.
Overview
| United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2004 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Democratic | 2,059,984 | 79.81% | 10 | — | |
| Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
435,239 | 16.86% | 0 | — | |
| Independents | 85,732 | 3.32% | 0 | — | |
| Totals | 2,580,955 | 100.00% | 10 | — | |
District 1
Incumbent Democratic Congressman John Olver
John Olver
John Walter Olver is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Early in his career, he was a chemistry professor and served in both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court....
ran for an eighth term in this staunchly Democratic district rooted in western Massachusetts. Facing no opponents in the general election, Olver was overwhelmingly re-elected to another term.
Steven Adam ran as a write-in for the Republican nomination, but did not receive enough votes to make the general election ballot.
District 2
This south-central Massachusetts-based district has a strong tendency to elect Democratic candidates, and this year proved no different. When incumbent Democratic Congressman Richard Neal
Richard Neal
Richard Edmund Neal is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He is a former city councilor and mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts....
ran for a ninth term, he faced no opposition and coasted to re-election.
District 3
Though incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern faced a challenge from Republican candidate Ronald Crews. This historically liberal district, which stretches from the western suburbs of Boston to the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
-Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
border, has sent Congressman McGovern back to Congress with overwhelming margins of victory. This year proved to be no different, and McGovern crushed Crews to win a fifth term.
District 4
Congressman Barney Frank
Barney Frank
Barney Frank is the U.S. Representative for . A member of the Democratic Party, he is the former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and is considered the most prominent gay politician in the United States.Born and raised in New Jersey, Frank graduated from Harvard College and...
, a Democrat, has represented this strongly liberal district, which extends from Quincy
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
to the South Coast
South Coast (Massachusetts)
The South Coast of Massachusetts is the region of southeastern Massachusetts consisting of southern Bristol and Plymouth counties bordering Buzzards Bay, and includes the cities of Fall River, New Bedford, the southeastern tip of East Taunton and nearby towns...
, since he was initially elected in 1980. In 2004, Congressman Frank faced a challenge from independent candidate Chuck Morse
Chuck Morse
Chuck Morse is a conservative American journalist, author and radio talk show host from Boston, Massachusetts. Morse ran a write-in campaign against incumbent Barney Frank for the 2006 elections, as he did not get enough certified signatures to appear on the ballot...
, whom he was able to defeat by a wide margin.
District 5
This liberal district rooted in the northern and eastern suburbs of Boston has been represented by Congressman Marty Meehan
Marty Meehan
Martin Thomas "Marty" Meehan is an American attorney and politician from the state of Massachusetts. He is the current Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, a position he assumed on July 1, 2007...
since he was first elected in 1992. This year, Congressman Meehan faced a challenge from Republican Thomas Tierney, but the Congressman successfully won a seventh term.
District 6
This district, which covers some of the northern suburbs of Boston and the far northeastern portion of the commonwealth, has been represented by Democratic Congressman John TierneyJohn F. Tierney
John F. Tierney is the United States representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party and an advocate for liberal policies and government oversight. A former attorney, he has served since 1997....
for eight years. In his quest for a fifth term, Tierney was opposed by Republican Stephen O'Malley, but he was re-elected in a landslide.
District 7
Democratic Congressman Ed Markey
Ed Markey
Edward John "Ed" Markey is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1976. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Boston's northern and western suburbs, such as Medford and Framingham. Markey is the Dean of both the Massachusetts and New England House delegations...
, the longest serving member of the Massachusetts House members, has continually been re-elected with large margins in this staunchly liberal district based in the northern and eastern suburbs of Boston. This year, Congressman Markey faced off against Republican Kenneth Chase, whom he crushed.
District 8
This congressional district, based in Boston and some of its southern suburbs, is the smallest district in Massachusetts and has been represented by Democratic Congressman Mike CapuanoMike Capuano
Michael Everett "Mike" Capuano is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, which was once represented by John F. Kennedy and Tip O'Neill, includes the northern three-fourths of Boston, as well as Somerville and Cambridge...
since 1999. Seeking a fourth term, Capuano faced no opposition and easily won the election.
District 9
Democratic Congressman Steven Lynch
Stephen Lynch (politician)
Stephen F. Lynch is the U.S. representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party who has served since 2001. Lynch was previously an ironworker and lawyer, and served in both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court....
, a moderate Democrat, has represented this district rooted in south Boston since he was first elected in 2001 in a special election to replace the late Congressman Joe Moakley
Joe Moakley
John Joseph "Joe" Moakley was a Democratic congressman from the Ninth District of Massachusetts, a seat held two years earlier by Speaker John William McCormack. Moakley was the last chairman of the U.S...
. With a solidly liberal constituency, Congressman Lynch encountered no opposition in his bid for a third term.
District 10
Opposed by Republican Michael Jones, incumbent Democratic Congressman Bill Delahunt
Bill Delahunt
William D. Delahunt is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1997 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Delahunt did not seek re-election in 2010, and left Congress in January 2011. He was replaced by Norfolk County District Attorney Bill Keating...
sought a fifth term in this district based in the South Shore, Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
and the Islands
The Islands (Massachusetts)
The Islands is the collective name for the set of large islands south of Cape Cod in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Massachusetts: Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and the Elizabeth Islands, and a small number of minor islands...
. Though more moderate than the other districts in the commonwealth, the 10th district sent Congressman Delahunt back to Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.