The United States House of Representatives elections in Washington were held on November 2, 2004.
Washington has nine members in the
House of Representatives, as apportioned during the
2000 census, and all nine seats were up for re-election. There were two open seats in the 5th and 8th districts when Republicans
George Nethercutt and
Jennifer Dunn, respectively, retired. No seats changed party this year.
Overview
United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2004[1]
In this liberal-leaning district based in the northern suburbs of
Seattle and parts of the
Kitsap Peninsula, incumbent Democratic Congressman
Jay Inslee did not face a serious challenge from Republican candidate Randy Eastwood and Libertarian Charles Moore. Congressman Inslee was able to crush both candidates in the general election to win his fifth nonconsecutive term in Congress.
Washington's 1st congressional district election, 2004
Incumbent Congressman
Rick Larsen has represented this
Western Washington district, which extends from the northern and western suburbs of
Seattle to the
Canada–US border in the north since he was first elected in
2000. This year, he was challenge by Republican Suzanne Sinclair and Libertarian Bruce Guthrie, but he was easily able to win a third term due to the liberal nature of his constituency.
Washington's 2nd congressional district election, 2004
This
Western Washington district, which spans from
Olympia to the
Washington-
Oregon border, has a moderate profile and has been represented by Democratic Congressman
Brian Baird since 1999. Seeking a fourth term, Baird was opposed by Republican Thomas Crowson, but the Congressman’s popularity allowed him to crush his opponent in a landslide.
Washington's 3rd congressional district election, 2004
Incumbent Republican Congressman
Doc Hastings, who won his first term in
1994 by defeating fellow Congressman
Jay Inslee, ran for a sixth term in this conservative,
central Washington-based district. Hastings faced Democratic nominee Sandy Matheson in the general election, whom he was able to defeat convincingly.
Washington's 4th congressional district election, 2004)
When incumbent Republican Congressman
George Nethercutt opted to
run for Senate instead of seeking a sixth term, an open seat was created. The Minority Leader of the
Washington House of Representatives,
Cathy McMorris, emerged as the Republican nominee, while
Don Barbieri, a well-known developer based in
Spokane became the Democratic nominee. McMorris was able to defeat Barbieri by a wide margin to win her first term in Congress.
Washington's 5th congressional district election, 2004)
Congressman
Norm Dicks, the dean of the
Washington congressional delegation, sought a fifteenth term in this liberal-leaning district based on the
Kitsap Peninsula. Dicks faced perennial candidate and conservative activist Doug Cloud in the general election, but he was able to trump Cloud to seal another term in Congress.
Washington's 6th congressional district election, 2004
Incumbent Democratic Congressman
Jim McDermott, who has represented this solidly liberal district based in
Seattle since he was first elected in
1988, ran for an eighth term in 2004. Facing Republican candidate Carol Cassady, McDermott was able to easily take victory, winning by the largest margin out of any Congressman that year in his state.
Washington's 7th congressional district election, 2004
Incumbent Republican Congresswoman
Jennifer Dunn declined to seek a seventh term in this increasingly liberal district based in the eastern suburbs of
Seattle and encompassing much of
King County.
King County Sheriff
Dave Reichert became the Republican nominee. The Democratic primary attracted national attention with three major candidates: Heidi Behrens-Benedict, the Democratic nominee for the congressional seat in 1998, 2000, and 2002; former
RealNetworks attorney
Alex Alben; and
KIRO radio host
Dave Ross.[2] Ross won the primary and ran as the Democratic nominee. Despite a grueling battle and the fact that the Democratic nominee for President,
John Kerry,
won the district that year, Reichert managed to pull out a thin victory and went to Congress for his first term.
Washington's 8th congressional district election, 2004)
This district has been represented by Democratic Congressman
Adam Smith since he was first elected in
1996. Covering the densely populated area from the suburbs of
Seattle to the northern portion of
Olympia, the district has a moderately liberal population with a tendency to support Democratic candidates. Congressman Smith did not face a serious challenge from Republican Paul Lord and Green Party candidate Robert Posey and was re-elected to a fifth term with ease.
Washington's 9th congressional district election, 2004