2004 United States Senate election in Louisiana

none March 2026 September 2023 2004 United States Senate election in Louisiana Louisiana 2006 presidential no 1998 United States Senate election in Louisiana 1998 2010 United States Senate election in Louisiana 2010 November 2, 2004 150x150px David_Vitter_official_portrait.jpg David Vitter Republican Party (United States) 943,014 51.03% Chrisjohn.jpg Chris John Democratic Party (United States) 542,150 29.34% John Neely Kennedy official portrait (cropped).jpg John Kennedy Democratic Party (United States) 275,821 14.92% 2004 United States Senate election in Louisiana results map by parish.svg 280px Parish results Vitter: #ffc8cd 30–40% #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80%John: #bdd3ff 30–40% #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% U.S. Senator John Breaux Democratic Party (United States) David Vitter Republican Party (United States) The 2004 United States Senate election in Louisiana was held on November 2, 2004. Incumbent Democratic Senator John Breaux decided to retire after three terms in office. Republican Representative David Vitter won the open seat with more than 50% of the primary vote. He thus avoided a runoff that would have otherwise been held on December 4, became the first Louisiana Republican elected to the U.S. Senate since 1876, and the first ever to be popularly elected. This was also the first time ever that a Republican won a full term to this Senate seat. The third-placed candidate, John Kennedy, won election to this same Senate seat as a Republican in 2016 when Vitter did not seek a third term. David Vitter's election ended the 33 elections streak democrats had held in Louisiana from 1914 to 2002 in the direct election era. Ostermeier Dr Eric 2021-03-11 Democrats and Republicans Have Record US Senate Winning Streaks in Two-Dozen States https://smartpolitics.lib.umn.edu/2021/03/11/democrats-and-republicans-have-record-us-senate-winning-streaks-in-two-dozen-states/ 2026-10-25 Smart Politics en-US Candidates Democratic Party Chris John, U.S. Representative from Crowley John Neely Kennedy, Louisiana State Treasurer Arthur A. Morrell Sam Houston Melton Jr. Republican Party David Vitter, U.S. Representative from Metairie Independents Richard M. Fontanesi R.A. "Skip" Galan Campaign Breaux, considered the most popular politician in Louisiana, endorsed Chris John prior to the jungle primary. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/key-races/la_senate.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20041207141856/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/key-races/la_senate.html 2004-12-07 Online NewsHour Vote 2004 Key Races Louisiana Senate Race PBS During the campaign, Vitter was accused by a member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee of having had a lengthy affair with a prostitute in New Orleans. Vitter responded that the allegation was "absolutely and completely untrue" and that it was "just crass Louisiana politics." The allegation later turned out to be true.Shailagh Murray, "Senator's Number on 'Madam' Phone List", Washington Post, July 10, 2007 Vitter won the Louisiana jungle primary with 51% of the vote, avoiding the need for a runoff. John received 29.2% of the vote and Kennedy (no relation to the Massachusetts Kennedys), took 14.9%. Vitter won at least a plurality in 55 of Louisiana's 64 parishes. John carried nine parishes, all but two of which (Iberville and Orleans) are part of the House district he represented. Kennedy changed parties and unsuccessfully ran as Republican in 2008 against Louisiana's senior Senator, Democrat Mary Landrieu, but he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 upon Vitter's retirement. Vitter was the first Republican in Louisiana to be popularly elected as a U.S. Senator. The previous Republican Senator, William Pitt Kellogg, was chosen by the state legislature in 1876, in accordance with the process used before the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution went into effect in 1914.November 1, 2004 Rudin Ken Ken Rudin https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4136425 Final Call: Kerry Wins Narrow Electoral Margin; GOP Gains in House, Senate NPR April 30, 2008 Predictions Source Ranking As of Sabato's Crystal BallThe Final Predictions https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/ljs2004110101/ Sabato's Crystal Ball May 2, 2021 Lean R Flip November 1, 2004 Results Louisiana United States Senate election, 2004 Republican Party (United States) David Vitter 943,014 51.03% Democratic Party (United States) Chris John 542,150 29.34% Democratic Party (United States) John Neely Kennedy 275,821 14.92% Democratic Party (United States) Arthur A. Morrell 47,222 2.56% Independent (United States) Richard M. Fontanesi 15,097 0.82% Independent (United States) R. A. "Skip" Galan 12,463 0.67% Democratic Party (United States) Sam Houston Melton, Jr. 12,289 0.66% 400,864 21.69% 1,848,056 100% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Aftermath Vitter won re-election in 2010 despite allegations of him soliciting prostitutes. He then unsuccessfully ran for Governor in 2015. While conceding defeat in that election, Vitter announced that he would not seek a third Senate term in 2016. The open seat was won by John Neely Kennedy, the second losing Democratic candidate from the 2004 race. In the interim, Kennedy switched parties in 2007 and unsuccessfully ran for Louisiana's other Senate seat in 2008 as a Republican. See also 2004 United States Senate elections References External links Elections Division from the Louisiana Secretary of State Official campaign websites David Vitter (R) for Senate Chris John (D) for Senate John Kennedy (D) for Senate Category:2004 Louisiana elections Louisiana 2004