2004 United States presidential election in Wisconsin

none June 2025 September 2023 2004 United States presidential election in Wisconsin Wisconsin presidential no 2000 United States presidential election in Wisconsin 2000 72.9% ( 5.9%)Wisconsin Voter Turnout Statistics https://elections.wi.gov/elections-voting/statistics/turnout Wisconsin Election Commission Wisconsin Election Commission 25 September 2020 2008 United States presidential election in Wisconsin 2008 November 2, 2004 x200px John F. Kerry (wide crop).jpg John Kerry Democratic Party (United States) Massachusetts John Edwards 10 1,489,504 49.70% George-W-Bush (cropped).jpeg George W. Bush Republican Party (United States) Texas Dick Cheney 0 1,478,120 49.32% 300px County results 300px Congressional district results 300px Precinct results Kerry #B9D7FF 40–50% #86B6F2 50–60% #4389E3 60–70% #1666CB 70–80% #0645B4 80–90% #002B84 90–100% Bush #F2B3BE 40–50% #E27F90 50–60% #CC2F4A 60–70% #D40000 70–80% #AA0000 80–90% #800000 90–100% Tie/no data #D4C4DC #FFFFFF President George W. Bush Republican Party (United States) George W. Bush Republican Party (United States) The 2004 United States presidential election in Wisconsin took place on November 2, 2004, and was part of the 2004 United States presidential election. Voters chose 10 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. Wisconsin was won by Democratic nominee John Kerry by a 0.38% margin of victory. Although no Republican had carried this state in a presidential election since Ronald Reagan in 1984, early polling showed the race was a toss-up, thus was considered as a possible target for the Republicans. Prior to the election, most news organizations considered this a toss-up, or a crucial swing state, and faced similar political scrutiny to neighboring Michigan, Minnesota, and Iowa. On election day, Kerry barely carried the state over President George W. Bush. The results in Wisconsin were nearly identical to the results from four years earlier, when Al Gore squeaked by Bush, and the 2020 presidential election when Joe Biden had a similarly narrow victory in Wisconsin against Donald Trump. As of 2024, this is the most recent election to date in which Wisconsin voted for the losing candidate; thus, the state is tied with Michigan and Pennsylvania for the longest bellwether streak in the nation. This was also only the third and most recent time since 1960 (after 2000 and 1988) that it voted for the losing candidate. Bush is to date the only presidential candidate to win two terms in office without carrying Wisconsin at least once, as well as the most recent Republican to win without the state. Primaries 2004 Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary 2004 Wisconsin Republican presidential primary Campaign Predictions There were 12 news organizations that made state-by-state predictions of the election. Here are their last predictions before election day.D.C.'s Political Report's 2004 Presidential Ratings http://dcpoliticalreport.com/members/2004/Pred2.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20101121204958/http://dcpoliticalreport.com/members/2004/Pred2.htm 8 July 2021 usurped 2010-11-21 +SourceRankingD.C. Political ReportLean DAssociated PressToss-upCNNLikely R FlipCook Political ReportToss-upNewsweekToss-upNew York TimesToss-upRasmussen ReportsToss-upResearch 2000Toss-upWashington PostToss-upWashington TimesToss-upZogby InternationalLikely DWashington DispatchLikely R Flip Polling Pre-election polling had Bush and Kerry winning polls, with neither candidate grasping a strong lead. The last three poll averages showed Bush leading 49% to 46%.2004 Presidential Election Polls https://uselectionatlas.org/USPRESIDENT/GENERAL/CAMPAIGN/2004/polls.php?fips=55 8 July 2021 Fundraising Bush raised $1,993,040.George W Bush - $374,659,453 raised, '04 election cycle, Republican Party, President Kerry raised $1,130,602.John F Kerry - $345,826,176 raised, '04 election cycle, Democratic Party, President Advertising and visits Bush visited the state 12 times. Kerry visited the state 14 times.CNN.com Specials A total of between $1.3 million to $3.6 million was spent each week.CNN.com Specials Analysis Wisconsin has voted for the Democratic presidential nominee in the last four elections before the fifth time in 2004. The urban centers of Milwaukee and Madison tend to vote strongly Democratic. The suburbs of those cities are politically diverse but tend to vote Republican. Counties in the western part of the state tend to be liberal, a tradition passed down from Scandinavian immigrants. The rural areas in the northern and eastern part of the state are the most solidly Republican areas in Wisconsin.Hamilton Lawrence September 2006 Rural Voting in the 2004 Election https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/71341058.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20240601004028/https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/71341058.pdf 1 June 2024 1 June 2024 CORE The CNN exit polls showed a dead heat between the two. However, the deciding factor for Kerry's victory was union members who voted for him with 62%, while non-members (83% of the population) voted for Bush with just 52% of the vote.CNN.com Election 2004 Results 2004 United States presidential election in WisconsinPartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes Democratic John Kerry 1,489,504 49.70% 10 Republican George W. Bush (Incumbent) 1,478,120 49.32% 0 Independent Ralph Nader 16,390 0.55% 0 Libertarian Michael Badnarik 6,464 0.22% 0 Green David Cobb 2,661 0.09% 0 Independent Walt Brown 471 0.02% 0 Independent Róger Calero 411 0.01% 0 Write Ins 2,986 0.10% 0 Totals 2,997,007 100.00% 10 Voter turnout (voting age population) 72.4% By county County John KerryDemocratic George W. BushRepublican Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total votes cast#%#%#%#% Adams 5,447 52.09% 4,890 46.77% 119 1.14% 557 5.32% 10,456 Ashland 5,805 63.10% 3,313 36.01% 81 0.88% 2,492 27.09% 9,199 Barron 11,696 48.86% 12,030 50.26% 211 0.89% -334 -1.40% 23,937 Bayfield 5,845 60.26% 3,754 38.71% 100 1.03% 2,091 21.55% 9,699 Brown 54,935 44.56% 67,173 54.48% 1,186 0.96% -12,238 -9.92% 123,294 Buffalo 3,998 52.67% 3,502 46.13% 91 1.20% 496 6.54% 7,591 Burnett 4,499 48.27% 4,743 50.89% 79 0.85% -244 -2.62% 9,321 Calumet 10,290 40.71% 14,721 58.24% 265 1.05% -4,431 -17.53% 25,276 Chippewa 14,751 48.33% 15,450 50.62% 323 1.06% -699 -2.29% 30,524 Clark 6,966 46.06% 7,966 52.67% 193 1.27% -1,000 -6.61% 15,125 Columbia 14,300 48.38% 14,956 50.60% 299 1.01% -656 -2.22% 29,555 Crawford 4,656 55.04% 3,680 43.50% 123 1.45% 976 11.54% 8,459 Dane 181,052 66.02% 90,369 32.95% 2,828 1.03% 90,683 33.07% 274,249 Dodge 16,690 37.64% 27,201 61.35% 445 1.01% -10,511 -23.71% 44,336 Door 8,367 47.84% 8,910 50.94% 214 1.22% -543 -3.10% 17,491 Douglas 16,537 65.66% 8,448 33.54% 202 0.81% 8,089 32.12% 25,187 Dunn 12,039 51.95% 10,879 46.95% 254 1.09% 1,160 5.00% 23,172 Eau Claire 30,068 54.24% 24,653 44.47% 716 1.30% 5,415 9.77% 55,437 Florence 993 36.45% 1,703 62.52% 28 1.03% -710 -26.07% 2,724 Fond du Lac 19,216 36.23% 33,291 62.77% 529 1.00% -14,075 -26.54% 53,036 Forest 2,509 48.69% 2,608 50.61% 36 0.70% -99 -1.92% 5,153 Grant 12,864 50.92% 12,208 48.32% 192 0.76% 656 2.60% 25,264 Green 9,575 52.47% 8,497 46.56% 176 0.96% 1,078 5.91% 18,248 Green Lake 3,605 35.42% 6,472 63.59% 101 0.99% -2,867 -28.17% 10,178 Iowa 7,122 56.79% 5,348 42.64% 72 0.57% 1,774 14.15% 12,542 Iron 1,956 50.43% 1,884 48.57% 39 1.00% 72 1.86% 3,879 Jackson 5,249 53.97% 4,387 45.11% 90 0.92% 862 8.86% 9,726 Jefferson 17,925 42.56% 23,776 56.45% 414 0.98% -5,851 -13.89% 42,115 Juneau 5,734 46.32% 6,473 52.29% 172 1.39% -739 -5.97% 12,379 Kenosha 40,107 52.48% 35,587 46.56% 734 0.96% 4,520 5.92% 76,428 Kewaunee 5,175 45.91% 5,970 52.96% 128 1.13% -795 -7.05% 11,273 La Crosse 33,170 53.38% 28,289 45.53% 677 1.09% 4,881 7.85% 62,136 Lafayette 4,402 52.48% 3,929 46.84% 57 0.68% 473 5.64% 8,388 Langlade 4,751 42.90% 6,235 56.30% 88 0.80% -1,484 -13.40% 11,074 Lincoln 7,484 47.67% 8,024 51.11% 192 1.22% -540 -3.44% 15,700 Manitowoc 20,652 46.77% 23,027 52.14% 481 1.09% -2,375 -5.37% 44,160 Marathon 30,899 45.40% 36,394 53.47% 766 1.12% -5,495 -8.07% 68,059 Marinette 10,190 45.76% 11,866 53.28% 214 0.96% -1,676 -7.52% 22,270 Marquette 3,785 44.65% 4,604 54.31% 88 1.03% -819 -9.66% 8,477 Menominee 1,412 82.57% 288 16.84% 10 0.58% 1,124 65.73% 1,710 Milwaukee 297,653 61.72% 180,287 37.39% 4,296 0.89% 117,366 24.33% 482,236 Monroe 8,973 45.89% 10,375 53.06% 206 1.05% -1,402 -7.17% 19,554 Oconto 8,534 43.11% 11,043 55.79% 217 1.10% -2,509 -12.68% 19,794 Oneida 10,464 47.48% 11,351 51.50% 224 1.02% -887 -4.02% 22,039 Outagamie 40,169 44.61% 48,903 54.31% 978 1.09% -8,734 -9.70% 90,050 Ozaukee 17,714 33.40% 34,904 65.82% 414 0.78% -17,190 -32.42% 53,032 Pepin 2,181 53.64% 1,853 45.57% 32 0.79% 328 8.07% 4,066 Pierce 11,176 51.09% 10,437 47.71% 263 1.21% 739 3.38% 21,876 Polk 11,173 47.54% 12,095 51.46% 235 1.00% -922 -3.92% 23,503 Portage 21,861 56.11% 16,546 42.47% 554 1.43% 5,315 13.64% 38,961 Price 4,349 49.63% 4,312 49.21% 102 1.17% 37 0.42% 8,763 Racine 48,229 47.48% 52,456 51.65% 884 0.87% -4,227 -4.17% 101,569 Richland 4,501 47.78% 4,836 51.34% 83 0.88% -335 -3.56% 9,420 Rock 46,598 57.90% 33,151 41.19% 730 0.91% 13,447 16.71% 80,479 Rusk 3,820 48.19% 3,985 50.27% 122 1.53% -165 -2.08% 7,927 St. Croix 18,784 44.90% 22,679 54.21% 372 0.89% -3,895 -9.31% 41,835 Sauk 15,708 51.64% 14,415 47.39% 294 0.96% 1,293 4.25% 30,417 Sawyer 4,411 46.66% 4,951 52.37% 91 0.97% -540 -5.71% 9,453 Shawano 8,657 41.23% 12,150 57.86% 192 0.92% -3,493 -16.63% 20,999 Sheboygan 27,608 44.08% 34,458 55.02% 559 0.90% -6,850 -10.94% 62,625 Taylor 3,829 40.12% 5,582 58.49% 132 1.38% -1,753 -18.37% 9,543 Trempealeau 8,075 57.42% 5,878 41.80% 109 0.77% 2,197 15.62% 14,062 Vernon 7,924 53.38% 6,774 45.63% 147 0.99% 1,150 7.75% 14,845 Vilas 5,713 40.80% 8,155 58.24% 134 0.95% -2,442 -17.44% 14,002 Walworth 19,177 39.58% 28,754 59.35% 515 1.06% -9,577 -19.77% 48,446 Washburn 4,705 49.18% 4,762 49.78% 100 1.05% -57 -0.60% 9,567 Washington 21,234 29.30% 50,641 69.88% 592 0.82% -29,407 -40.58% 72,467 Waukesha 73,626 31.96% 154,926 67.25% 1,811 0.79% -81,300 -35.29% 230,363 Waupaca 10,792 40.01% 15,941 59.10% 241 0.89% -5,149 -19.09% 26,974 Waushara 5,257 42.93% 6,888 56.25% 101 0.83% -1,631 -13.32% 12,246 Winnebago 40,943 46.21% 46,542 52.53% 1,111 1.25% -5,599 -6.32% 88,596 Wood 18,950 47.29% 20,592 51.39% 529 1.32% -1,642 -4.10% 40,071Totals1,489,50449.70%1,478,12049.32%29,3830.98%11,3840.38%2,997,007 right 260px Swing by county Legend #ff5555 Republican — +7.5-10% #ff8080 Republican — +5-7.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5-5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0-2.5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0-2.5% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5-5% #77e3ff Democratic — +5-7.5% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #09ceff Democratic — +10-12.5% 260px Trend by county Legend #ff5555 Republican — +7.5-10% #ff8080 Republican — +5-7.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5-5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0-2.5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0-2.5% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5-5% #77e3ff Democratic — +5-7.5% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #09ceff Democratic — +10-12.5% 260px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold #0671b0 Flip Republican #f48882 Hold #ca0120 Flip Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Iron (largest city: Hurley) Price (largest city: Park Falls) Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Columbia (largest city: Portage) By congressional district Kerry and Bush each won four of eight congressional districts.Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - County Data https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=2004&fips=55&f=0&off=0&elect=0&datatype=cd&def=1 2025-08-18 uselectionatlas.org District Bush Kerry RepresentativeWisconsin 1 1st 53% 46%Paul RyanWisconsin 2 2nd 37% 62%Tammy BaldwinWisconsin 3 3rd 48% 51%Ron KindWisconsin 4 4th30%69%Jerry KleczkaGwen MooreWisconsin 5 5th 63% 36%Jim SensenbrennerWisconsin 6 6th 56% 42%Tom PetriWisconsin 7 7th 49% 50%Dave ObeyWisconsin 8 8th 55% 44%Mark Andrew Green Electors August 2025List of 2004 United States presidential electors Technically the voters of Wisconsin cast their ballots for electors: representatives to the Electoral College. Wisconsin is allocated 10 electors because it has eight congressional districts and two senators. All candidates who appear on the ballot or qualify to receive write-in votes must submit a list of 10 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 10 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 10 were pledged for Kerry/Edwards. Gail Gabrelian Margaret McEntire Jordan Franklin Martha Toran Jim Shinners Jan Banicki Daniel Hannula Steve Mellenthin Glenn Carlson Linda Honold See also United States presidential elections in Wisconsin References Wisconsin 2004 Presidential