2004 United States presidential election in Kansas explained

See main article: 2004 United States presidential election.

Election Name:2004 United States presidential election in Kansas
Country:Kansas
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 United States presidential election in Kansas
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 United States presidential election in Kansas
Next Year:2008
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Image1:George-W-Bush.jpeg
Nominee1:George W. Bush
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Home State1:Texas
Running Mate1:Dick Cheney
Electoral Vote1:6
Popular Vote1:736,456
Percentage1:62.00%
Nominee2:John Kerry
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Home State2:Massachusetts
Running Mate2:John Edwards
Electoral Vote2:0
Popular Vote2:434,993
Percentage2:36.62%
Map Size:300px
President
Before Election:George W. Bush
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:George W. Bush
After Party:Republican Party (United States)
Turnout:70.1% (of registered voters)
58.6% (of voting age population)

The 2004 United States presidential election in Kansas took place on November 2, 2004, as part of the 2004 United States presidential election. Voters chose six representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

Kansas was won by incumbent President George W. Bush by a 25.4% margin of victory. Prior to the election, all 12 news organizations considered this a state Bush would win, or otherwise considered as a safe red state. On election day, it trended Republican from the 2000 election by a swing margin of almost 5%. He won every single congressional district and county, excluding two: Wyandotte County and Douglas County.

Caucuses

Campaign

Predictions

There were 12 news organizations who made state-by-state predictions of the election. Here are their last predictions before election day.[1]

!Source!Ranking
D.C. Political Report
Cook Political Report
Research 2000
Zogby International
The Washington PostWashington Post
Washington Dispatch
Washington Times
The New York Times
CNN
Newsweek
Associated Press
Rasmussen Reports

Polling

Bush won every single pre-election poll, and won each by a double-digit margin of victory and with at least 56% of the vote. The final 3 polls averaged Bush leading 58% to 37% for Kerry and 3% for Nader.[2]

Fundraising

Bush raised $980,035.[3] Kerry raised $387,484.[4]

Advertising and visits

Neither presidential candidate advertised or visited this state. However, John Edwards visited the city of Lawrence in Douglas County briefly.[5] [6]

Analysis

Apart from its flirtation with William Jennings Bryan and Woodrow Wilson, Kansas has always been a Republican stronghold at the presidential level, voting for GOP nominees in all but seven elections since statehood. The last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Kansas was Lyndon B. Johnson in his landslide in 1964. A combination of rural counties embedded with deep pockets of evangelical Christianity/social conservatism and moderate, fiscally conservative residents in Johnson County, Kansas nearly always votes Republican.

Results

2004 United States presidential election in Kansas[7] [8]
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
RepublicanGeorge W. Bush (Inc.)736,45662.00%6
DemocraticJohn Kerry434,993 36.62%0
ReformRalph Nader9,3480.79%0
LibertarianMichael Badnarik4,0130.34%0
IndependentMichael Peroutka2,8990.24%0
Write InDavid Cobb330.00%0
Write InJohn Joseph Kennedy50.00%0
Write InBill Van Auken50.00%0
Write InWalt Brown40.00%0
Totals1,187,756100.00%6
Voter turnout (Voting age population)58.6%

Results by county

County[9] George W. Bush
Republican
John Kerry
Democratic
Ralph Nader
Reform
Michael James Badnarik
Libertarian
Various candidates
Other parties
MarginTotal votes cast
%% %% % %
Allen3,86765.84%1,92232.73% 530.90%200.34%110.19%1,94533.11%5,873
Anderson2,50064.72%1,29533.52% 401.04%130.34%150.39%1,20531.20%3,863
Atchison3,88054.51%3,12043.83% 650.91%290.41%240.34%76010.68%7,118
Barber1,78274.16%58824.47% 190.79%40.17%100.42%1,19449.69%2,403
Barton8,66674.03%2,87424.55% 1060.91%300.26%300.26%5,79249.48%11,706
Bourbon4,37265.39%2,21633.14% 640.96%230.34%110.16%2,15632.25%6,686
Brown3,09269.99%1,26828.70% 350.79%120.27%110.25%1,82441.29%4,418
Butler18,43870.16%7,49528.52% 1740.66%920.35%810.31%10,94341.64%26,280
Chase1,05570.29%41827.85% 120.80%90.60%70.47%63742.44%1,501
Chautauqua1,52978.01%40420.61% 100.51%100.51%70.36%1,12557.40%1,960
Cherokee6,08361.36%3,72637.59% 690.70%230.23%120.12%2,35723.77%9,913
Cheyenne1,35379.96%32018.91% 90.53%70.41%30.18%1,03361.05%1,692
Clark1,01478.54%25719.91% 80.62%40.31%80.62%75758.63%1,291
Clay3,17479.15%79319.78% 220.55%120.30%90.22%2,38159.37%4,010
Cloud3,22171.53%1,21026.87% 420.93%170.38%130.29%2,01144.66%4,503
Coffey3,25973.93%1,09324.80% 330.75%120.27%110.25%2,16649.13%4,408
Comanche77078.49%20020.39% 30.31%40.41%40.41%57058.10%981
Cowley9,40765.11%4,81833.35% 1210.84%600.42%410.28%4,58931.76%14,447
Crawford8,62652.19%7,61746.09% 1811.10%600.36%430.26%1,0096.10%16,527
Decatur1,35577.87%35520.40% 201.15%80.46%20.11%1,00057.47%1,740
Dickinson6,29571.61%2,36426.89% 720.82%350.40%250.28%3,93144.72%8,791
Doniphan2,49169.14%1,06529.56% 250.69%140.39%80.22%1,42639.58%3,603
Douglas20,54441.00%28,63457.14% 6241.25%2090.42%1000.20%-8,090-16.14%50,111
Edwards1,08472.46%38625.80% 191.27%30.20%40.27%69846.66%1,496
Elk1,11973.86%36924.36% 171.12%20.13%80.53%75049.50%1,515
Ellis7,89164.75%4,03333.09% 1581.30%610.50%440.36%3,85831.66%12,187
Ellsworth2,25972.82%80125.82% 230.74%130.42%60.19%1,45847.00%3,102
Finney7,47975.29%2,35123.67% 640.64%180.18%210.21%5,12851.62%9,933
Ford6,63273.56%2,28625.35% 610.68%170.19%200.22%4,34648.21%9,016
Franklin7,39164.40%3,92134.17% 1060.92%310.27%270.24%3,47030.23%11,476
Geary4,70364.18%2,53134.54% 580.79%210.29%150.20%2,17229.64%7,328
Gove1,19681.53%24716.84% 120.82%50.34%70.48%94964.69%1,467
Graham1,08275.14%33423.19% 100.69%60.42%80.56%74851.95%1,440
Grant2,16978.64%56120.34% 110.40%110.40%60.22%1,60858.30%2,758
Gray1,81680.89%40818.17% 170.76%40.18%00.00%1,40862.72%2,245
Greeley58479.46%13818.78% 91.22%30.41%10.14%44660.68%735
Greenwood2,28270.35%91128.08% 300.92%80.25%130.40%1,37142.27%3,244
Hamilton88878.58%22920.27% 50.44%70.62%10.09%65958.31%1,130
Harper2,15473.52%72724.81% 301.02%90.31%100.34%1,42748.71%2,930
Harvey9,53463.10%5,33135.28% 1711.13%460.30%280.19%4,20327.82%15,110
Haskell1,35684.80%22714.20% 100.63%50.31%10.06%1,12970.60%1,599
Hodgeman95380.56%22318.85% 60.51%10.08%00.00%73061.71%1,183
Jackson3,73063.35%2,06435.05% 440.75%210.36%290.49%1,66628.30%5,888
Jefferson5,40861.50%3,25337.00% 790.90%320.36%210.24%2,15524.50%8,793
Jewell1,49578.07%38520.10% 130.68%100.52%120.63%1,11057.97%1,915
Johnson158,10361.12%97,86637.83% 1,4200.55%9920.38%3060.12%60,23723.29%258,687
Kearny1,17780.89%27218.69% 40.27%10.07%10.07%90562.20%1,455
Kingman2,80174.42%90424.02% 270.72%140.37%180.48%1,89750.40%3,764
Kiowa1,27581.47%25616.36% 191.21%50.32%100.64%1,01965.11%1,565
Labette5,40059.09%3,61539.56% 760.83%280.31%200.22%1,78519.53%9,139
Lane82381.16%18117.85% 40.39%30.30%30.30%64263.31%1,014
Leavenworth15,94958.35%11,03940.39% 1910.70%860.31%660.24%4,91017.96%27,331
Lincoln1,36876.00%39121.72% 231.28%110.61%70.39%97754.28%1,800
Linn3,04864.29%1,63134.40% 370.78%140.30%110.23%1,41729.89%4,741
Logan1,25582.40%24816.28% 130.85%30.20%40.26%1,00766.12%1,523
Lyon7,95159.16%5,23438.94% 1541.15%480.36%530.39%2,71720.22%13,440
Marion4,51673.32%1,53624.94% 691.12%140.23%240.39%2,98048.38%6,159
Marshall3,26163.84%1,78935.02% 390.76%60.12%130.25%1,47228.82%5,108
McPherson9,59571.78%3,58926.85% 1140.85%440.33%250.19%6,00644.93%13,367
Meade1,74882.41%35616.78% 120.57%30.14%20.09%1,39265.63%2,121
Miami9,01364.31%4,83834.52% 900.64%300.21%450.32%4,17529.79%14,016
Mitchell2,60977.90%69320.69% 260.78%100.30%110.33%1,91657.21%3,349
Montgomery9,59867.99%4,33830.73% 980.69%440.31%380.27%5,26037.26%14,116
Morris1,96166.79%93131.71% 280.95%60.20%100.34%1,03035.08%2,936
Morton1,28781.66%27617.51% 50.32%40.25%40.25%1,01164.15%1,576
Nemaha4,02773.71%1,35524.80% 390.71%190.35%230.42%2,67248.91%5,463
Neosho4,70565.07%2,42433.52% 690.95%190.26%140.19%2,28131.55%7,231
Ness1,40777.39%38221.01% 170.94%40.22%80.44%1,02556.38%1,818
Norton2,09280.49%47318.20% 210.81%80.31%50.19%1,61962.29%2,599
Osage4,80064.32%2,53733.99% 771.03%270.36%220.29%2,26330.33%7,463
Osborne1,58776.48%45421.88% 251.20%50.24%40.19%1,13354.60%2,075
Ottawa2,33378.53%59520.03% 260.88%80.27%90.30%1,73858.50%2,971
Pawnee2,17272.69%77325.87% 260.87%80.27%90.30%1,39946.82%2,988
Phillips2,25679.24%55719.56% 200.70%60.21%80.28%1,69959.68%2,847
Pottawatomie6,32671.70%2,17624.66% 911.03%300.34%2002.27%4,15047.04%8,823
Pratt3,12171.19%1,20027.37% 380.87%180.41%70.16%1,92143.82%4,384
Rawlins1,41482.21%28916.80% 90.52%60.35%20.12%1,12565.41%1,720
Reno17,74864.95%9,11433.36% 2751.01%910.33%960.35%8,63431.59%27,324
Republic2,23877.47%60721.01% 200.69%110.38%130.45%1,63156.46%2,889
Rice3,18272.71%1,13025.82% 410.94%30.07%200.46%2,05246.89%4,376
Riley12,67260.60%7,90837.82% 2241.07%630.30%440.21%4,76422.78%20,911
Rooks2,12178.27%53419.70% 371.37%60.22%120.44%1,58758.57%2,710
Rush1,22668.53%51728.90% 271.51%90.50%100.56%70939.63%1,789
Russell2,67175.77%81022.98% 240.68%80.23%120.34%1,86152.79%3,525
Saline15,11165.58%7,52432.65% 2511.09%780.34%770.33%7,58732.93%23,041
Scott1,92483.69%34715.09% 170.74%50.22%60.26%1,57768.60%2,299
Sedgwick110,381 62.12%64,83936.49% 1,3450.76%6950.39%4190.24% 45,54225.63%177,679
Seward4,272 78.54%1,12220.63% 240.44%80.15%130.24% 3,15057.91%5,439
Shawnee44,188 54.17%36,26444.45% 6870.84%2360.29%2020.25% 7,9249.72%81,577
Sheridan1,144 81.37%23917.00% 130.92%20.14%80.57% 90564.37%1,406
Sherman2,088 75.60%63222.88% 250.91%130.47%40.14% 1,45652.72%2,762
Smith1,803 76.08%54022.78% 170.72%40.17%60.25% 1,26353.30%2,370
Stafford1,64975.43%50623.15% 200.91%40.18%70.32% 1,14352.28%2,186
Stanton79682.40%16517.08% 40.41%10.10%00.00%63165.32%966
Stevens1,93685.47%31013.69% 120.53%40.18%30.13%1,62671.78%2,265
Sumner7,09267.62%3,21730.67% 920.88%380.36%490.47%3,87536.95%10,488
Thomas3,00777.70%81621.09% 280.72%60.16%130.34%2,19156.61%3,870
Trego1,22572.66%43425.74% 211.25%40.24%20.12%79146.92%1,686
Wabaunsee2,53170.23%1,00127.77% 361.00%100.28%260.72%1,53042.46%3,604
Wallace74284.70%11212.79% 131.48%60.68%30.34%63071.91%876
Washington2,49878.31%64320.16% 310.97%60.19%120.38%1,85558.15%3,190
Wichita86981.83%18317.23% 60.56%40.38%00.00%68664.60%1,062
Wilson3,26374.19%1,06024.10% 410.93%130.30%210.48%2,20350.09%4,398
Woodson1,20468.29%53030.06% 191.08%30.17%70.40%67438.23%1,763
Wyandotte17,91933.56%34,92365.40% 3310.62%1230.23%1050.20%-17,004-31.84%53,401
Totals736,45662.00%!434,99336.62%9,3480.79%4,0130.34%2,9460.25%301,46325.38%1,187,756

Results by congressional district

Bush won all four congressional districts, including one held by a Democrat.[10]

DistrictBushKerryRepresentative
72%26%Jerry Moran
59%39%Jim Ryun
55%44%Dennis Moore
64%34%Todd Tiahrt

Electors

See main article: List of 2004 United States presidential electors.

Technically the voters of Kansas cast their ballots for electors: representatives to the Electoral College. Kansas is allocated 6 electors because it has 4 congressional districts and 2 senators. All candidates who appear on the ballot or qualify to receive write-in votes must submit a list of 6 electors, who pledge to vote for their candidate and his or her running mate. Whoever wins the majority of votes in the state is awarded all 6 electoral votes. Their chosen electors then vote for president and vice president. Although electors are pledged to their candidate and running mate, they are not obligated to vote for them. An elector who votes for someone other than his or her candidate is known as a faithless elector.

The electors of each state and the District of Columbia met on December 13, 2004, to cast their votes for president and vice president. The Electoral College itself never meets as one body. Instead the electors from each state and the District of Columbia met in their respective capitols.

The following were the members of the Electoral College from the state. All 6 were pledged to Bush/Cheney.[11]

  1. Ruth Garvey Fink
  2. Bud Hentzen
  3. Dennis Jones
  4. Wanda Konold
  5. Jack Ranson
  6. Patricia Pitney Smith

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Archived copy . dcpoliticalreport.com . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101121204958/http://dcpoliticalreport.com/members/2004/Pred2.htm#NW . 21 November 2010 . dead.
  2. Web site: 2004 Presidential Election Polls. Kansas Polls. US Election Atlas.
  3. Web site: George W Bush — $374,659,453 raised, '04 election cycle, Republican Party, President.
  4. Web site: John F Kerry — $345,826,176 raised, '04 election cycle, Democrat Party, President.
  5. News: America votes 2004: Campaign ad buys . CNN . 2022-05-27 . 2021-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210422073439/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/campaign.ads/ . live .
  6. Web site: America votes 2004: Candidate tracker. . 2022-05-27.
  7. Web site: Archived copy . July 17, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090513011625/http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2004/2004pres.pdf . May 13, 2009 .
  8. Web site: 2004 Presidential General Election Results — Kansas.
  9. Web site: Our Campaigns. KS US President Race — November 02, 2004.
  10. Web site: Presidential Results by Congressional District, 2000-2008 – Swing State Project.
  11. Web site: Kansas Secretary of State ± 2004 Presidential Electors.