2004 United States Senate election in Colorado explained

Election Name:2004 United States Senate election in Colorado
Country:Colorado
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1998 United States Senate election in Colorado
Previous Year:1998
Next Election:2010 United States Senate election in Colorado
Next Year:2010
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Image1:File:Kensalazar.jpg
Nominee1:Ken Salazar
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,081,188
Percentage1:51.30%
Nominee2:Pete Coors
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:980,668
Percentage2:46.53%
Map Size:250px
U.S. Senator
Before Election:Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Ken Salazar
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2004 United States Senate election in Colorado took place on November 2, 2004 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (first elected in 1992 as a Democrat and re-elected in 1998 as a Republican, having switched parties in 1995) retired instead of seeking a third term. Democratic nominee Ken Salazar won the open seat, defeating Republican nominee Pete Coors despite Republican President George W. Bush carrying the state over John Kerry in the concurrent presidential race.

Background

On March 3, 2004, incumbent Republican Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell announced that he would not seek reelection due to health concerns, having recently been treated for prostate cancer and heartburn.[1] Before Campbell's retirement, no prominent Democrat had entered the race, with educator Mike Miles and businessman Rutt Bridges pursuing the Democratic nomination. After Campbell's retirement, many expected popular Republican Governor Bill Owens to enter the race,[2] however he declined to run. Campbell's retirement and Owens' decision not to run prompted a number of prominent Democrats to reexamine the race.[3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

On March 10, the same day Owens announced he would not run, U.S. Congressman Mark Udall entered the race.[4] The next day, state Attorney General Ken Salazar entered the race,[5] leading Udall to immediately withdraw and endorse him; Udall was eventually elected in 2008.[6] Salazar lost to Mike Miles at the State nominating convention. In spite of this loss, the national Democratic Party backed Salazar with contributions from the DSCC and promotion of Salazar as the only primary candidate.[7]

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

The two candidates got into an ideological battle, as Schaffer attacked Coors because his company had provided benefits to the partners of its gay and lesbian employees, in addition to promoting its beer in gay bars. Coors defended himself by saying that he was opposed to same-sex marriage and supported a constitutional amendment to ban it, although he noted that he supported civil unions for gay couples. According to the Rocky Mountain News, Coors described his company's pro-LGBT practices as "good business, separate from politics."[8]

Results

Coors defeated Schaffer with 61% of the vote in the primary, with many analysts citing his high name recognition in the state as a primary factor.[9] [10]

General election

Candidates

Major

Minor

Campaign

Pete Coors, Chairman of Coors Brewing Company, ran as a moderate conservative. However, Salazar was also a moderate and a highly popular State Attorney General.[11] Coors is also a great-grandson of Adolph Coors, founder of the brewing company. His father is Joseph Coors, president of the company and a founding member of The Heritage Foundation. Salazar narrowly won the open seat. It was one of only two Democratic pickups in the 2004 Senate elections (Illinois was the other).

Debates

Finances

According to OpenSecrets, Coors gave his own campaign $1,213,657 and received individual donations of $60,550 from other Coors family members.

A state record total of over $11 million was raised during the election.[12]

Polling

width=190pxPoll Source[14] width=155pxDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
Error
width=100px align=left Pete
Coors
(R)
width=100px align=left Ken
Salazar
(D)
Unde-
cided
align=left Survey USAalign=left August 14618± 4.0%align=center 48%align= center 47%5%
align=left Rasmussen Reportsalign=left August 19500± 4.5%align= center 45%align=center 49%4%
align=left Tarrance Group (R)align=left August 24600± 4.0%align= center 43%align=center 47%10%
align=left RMN/News 4align=left Sep 14500± 4.3%align= center 42%align=center 53%4%
align=left Tarrance Group (R)align=left Sep 14-± 4.5%align= center 44%align=center 46%-
align=left Rasmussen Reportsalign=left Sep 16500± 4.3%align=center 49%align= center 48%1%
align=left Ciruli Assocalign=left Sep 14600± 4.0%align= center 45%align=center 46%9%
align=left Survey USAalign=left Sep 24625± 4.0%align=center 51%align= center 46%-
align=left Gallup/CNN/USA Todayalign=left October 3667± 5.0%align=center 43%align=center 54%3%
align=left Mason-Dixonalign=left October 4630± 5.0%align=center 44%align=center 46%9%
align=left Survey USAalign=left October 5594± 4.1%align= center 48%align= center 48%1%
align=left Rocky Mountain Newsalign=left October 13400± 4.9%align=center 45%align= center 40%6%
align=left Gallup/CNN/USA Todayalign=left October 14666± 4.0%align=center 48%align=center 49%3%
align=left Rasmussen Reportsalign=left October 18500± 4.5%align=center 49%align= center 48%1%
align=left Ciruli Assocalign=left October 19600± 4.0%align= center 43%align=center 47%10%
align=left Survey USAalign=left October 20596± 4.1%align=center 50%align= center 46%1%
align=left Mason-Dixonalign=left October 25625± 4.8%align= center 46%align= center 46%7%
align=left Rocky Mountain Newsalign=left October 27500± 4.3%align= center 42%align=center 48%4%
align=left Zogbyalign=left October 28600± 4.1%align= center 46%align=center 52%4%
align=left Survey USAalign=left October 30705± 3.8%align= center 47%align=center 51%3%

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: G.O.P. Senator Campbell of Colorado Will Retire. The New York Times. 4 March 2004. Janofsky. Michael.
  2. Web site: Analysis: Owens focus of Senate talk - UPI Archives . 2024-06-01 . UPI . en.
  3. Web site: Chris Cillizza . 2004-03-03 . Campbell Exit Sparks a Scramble . 2024-06-01 . Roll Call . en-US.
  4. Web site: Writer . Steven K. Paulson/AP . 2004-03-10 . Rep. Udall announces his bid for senate . 2024-06-01 . www.vaildaily.com . en-US.
  5. Web site: Chris Cillizza . 2004-03-10 . Salazar Clears the Field . 2024-06-01 . Roll Call . en-US.
  6. Web site: Colorado - Election Results 2008 - The New York Times . 2024-06-01 . archive.nytimes.com.
  7. Web site: Chris Cillizza . 2004-03-10 . Salazar Clears the Field . 2024-06-01 . Roll Call . en-US.
  8. Web site: Rocky Mountain News: Denver News, Business, Homes, Jobs, Cars, & Information . 2006-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040819022154/http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/election/article/0,1299,DRMN_36_3034875,00.html . 2004-08-19 .
  9. Web site: The New York Times > Congressional Quarterly > Washington > Campaign 2004 > CQ Today: Republican Coors Gets Primary Win for Colorado Senate Seat . 2024-06-01 . archive.nytimes.com.
  10. Web site: Archives . L. A. Times . 2004-08-11 . Coors Among Winners in Primaries for U.S. Senate . 2024-06-01 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  11. Web site: The Coors campaign's deceptive advertising - Salon.com . 2009-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090210110435/http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/conason/2004/10/22/coors/index.html . 2009-02-10 .
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20121026101940/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-2762144.html HighBeam
  13. Web site: The Final Predictions . Sabato's Crystal Ball . November 2004 . May 2, 2021.
  14. Web site: RealClear Politics - Polls.