2004 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

none March 2026 September 2023 2004 United States Senate election in Wisconsin Wisconsin presidential no 1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin 1998 2010 United States Senate election in Wisconsin 2010 November 2, 2004 150x150px File:Russ Feingold Official Portrait 3.jpg Russ Feingold Democratic Party (United States) 1,632,697 55.35% File:Tim Michels (a).jpg Tim Michels Republican Party (United States) 1,301,183 44.11% 260px County results 260px Precinct results 1 Feingold: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Michels: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #A80000 >90%Tie: #D2B1D9 U.S. Senator Russ Feingold Democratic Party (United States) Russ Feingold Democratic Party (United States) The 2004 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held on November 2, 2004. Incumbent Senator Russ Feingold won re-election to a third term with more than 55% of the vote against Republican Tim Michels, even as Democrat John Kerry won the state in the concurrent presidential race with just 49.7% of the vote and by only a 0.38% margin. Michels later ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Wisconsin in 2022. As of 2026, this is the last time Democrats won the Class 3 Senate seat from Wisconsin. Candidates Democratic Russ Feingold, incumbent U.S. Senatorhttps://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/politics/campaign2004/senate.pdf 2004 SENATE RACES CBS News January 10, 2020 Democratic primary resultshttp://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=1382&locid=47 Archived copy elections.state.wi.us 20 July 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20050514062542/http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=1382&locid=47 14 May 2005 dead Russ Feingold Democratic Party (United States) 251,915 99.66% Scattering Democratic Party (United States) 862 0.34% 252,777 100.00% Republican Russ Darrowhttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=7134 Our Campaigns - WI US Senate - R Primary Race - Sep 14, 2004 Robert Gerald Lorge Tim Michels, businessman and army veteran Robert Welch, State Senator Republican Primary resultshttp://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=1382&locid=47 Archived copy elections.state.wi.us 20 July 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20050514062542/http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=1382&locid=47 14 May 2005 dead Tim Michels Republican Party (United States) 183,654 42.43% Russ Darrow Republican Party (United States) 130,088 30.05% Robert Welch Republican Party (United States) 99,971 23.09% Robert Gerald Lorge Republican Party (United States) 18,809 4.35% Scattering Republican Party (United States) 350 0.08% 432,872 100.0% Minor candidates Libertarian Arif Khan, entrepreneurhttp://pluralism.org/news/in-wisconsin-a-muslim-libertarian-for-senate/ In Wisconsin, a Muslim Libertarian for Senate The Pluralism Project July 6, 2004 January 10, 2020 January 10, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200110234051/http://pluralism.org/news/in-wisconsin-a-muslim-libertarian-for-senate/ dead Independent Eugene Hem, perennial candidate and former educatorhttps://marquettewire.org/2628979/tribune/tribune-news/incumbent-feingold-faces-competition-in-senate-race/ Incumbent Feingold faces competition in Senate race Marquette Wire Thoreson Bridget October 27, 2004 January 11, 2020 General election Campaign Michels insisted he had more real world experience than Feingold, someone he called an "extreme liberal" who was out of touch with Wisconsin voters.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-112626866.html Michels Touts Rural Roots in Joining Gop Senate Race November 4, 2012 HighBeam Research subscription https://web.archive.org/web/20121104080030/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-112626866.html The Capital Times usurped 2012-11-04 Feingold attacked back by saying that any Republican would be a rubber stamp for President Bush. The incumbent had $2.2 million in the bank, while Michels had already spent $1 million in the primary and had only about $150,000 left.2004-09-16 Michels, Feingold already sparring http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_6caAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Y0UEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6652,3445599&dq=tim+michels&hl=en dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160428143119/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_6caAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Y0UEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6652,3445599&dq=tim+michels&hl=en 2016-04-28 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel news.google.com During both the primary and general election campaigns, Michels ran a series of ads attacking Feingold for his status as the sole senator to oppose the 2001 Patriot Act. One of his earliest ads during the primary accused Feingold of putting "his liberal ideology before our safety", while another primary spot featured footage of the September 11 Attacks and a voice-over saying that "our leaders passed new laws to keep us safe. But Russ Feingold voted against those laws."Weigel David David Weigel When Patriots Dissent https://reason.com/2005/11/01/when-patriots-dissent-2/ Reason November 13, 2021 November 2005 After easily winning the Republican primary against three opponents, Michel released two more anti-Feingold spots focusing on the Patriot Act. One of the ads showed further footage of the September 11 attacks, while another depicted a Middle Eastern spy photographing a Wisconsin nuclear power plant before Michels appears on-screen and announces that "Unlike Russ Feingold, I will support renewing the PATRIOT Act, because we need to be able to track and stop terrorists before they strike again." Michels reported that one-fifth of his campaign's advertising budget was devoted to making and airing the spots. In October, based on a belief that Feingold was vulnerable due in part to his vote on the Patriot Act, the NRSC pledged $600,000 in support of the Michel campaign. However, after the Michel commercials generated negative attention and Feingold continued to lead comfortably in most polls, the party rescinded their financial assistance.https://badgerherald.com/news/2004/10/15/republican-committee-p/ Republican committee pulls ads for Michels The Badger Herald Masse Ryan October 15, 2004 January 11, 2020 On October 1, a poll showed Feingold leading 52% to 39%.Zielinski Graeme 1 October 2004 Feingold holds big lead over Michels, poll says http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MWSB&p_theme=mwsb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1057665A96950BA6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110609093231/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MWSB&p_theme=mwsb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1057665A96950BA6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM 2011-06-09 nl.newsbank.com In mid October, another poll showed Feingold winning 48% to 43%. A poll at the end of the month showed him leading 51% to 36%.Zielinski Graeme 30 October 2004 Feingold, Michels each say campaign is going his way http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PKgaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eEUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6021,4541874&dq=tim+michels+poll&hl=en dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160513071902/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PKgaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eEUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6021,4541874&dq=tim+michels+poll&hl=en 2016-05-13 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel news.google.com/ Predictions Source Ranking As of Sabato's Crystal BallThe Final Predictions https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/ljs2004110101/ Sabato's Crystal Ball May 2, 2021 Safe D November 1, 2004 Polling Poll source Date(s)administered SamplesizeKey:A – all adultsRV – registered votersLV – likely votersV – unclear Marginof error RussFeingold (D) TimMichels (R) ArifKhan (L) UndecidedZogby InternationalZogby InternationalOctober 27–30, 2004601 (LV)± 4.1%57%37%6%Tarrance Group (R)Tarrance Group (R)October 29, 2004500 (LV)± 4.5%48%43%9%Zogby InternationalZogby InternationalOctober 26–29, 2004600 (LV)± 4.1%57%37%6%Tarrance Group (R)October 28, 2004500 (LV)± 4.5%49%41%10%Zogby InternationalZogby InternationalOctober 25–28, 2004601 (LV)± 4.1%57%37%6%Tarrance Group (R)October 27, 2004500 (LV)± 4.5%51%41%8%Zogby InternationalZogby InternationalOctober 24–27, 2004601 (LV)± 4.1%59%36%5%University of WisconsinUniversity of WisconsinOctober 23–27, 2004545 (V)± 4%51%36%13%Tarrance Group (R)October 26, 2004500 (LV)± 4.5%52%39%9%Zogby InternationalZogby InternationalOctober 23–26, 2004601 (LV)± 4.1%57%38%5%Tarrance Group (R)October 25, 2004500 (LV)± 4.5%52%40%8%Zogby InternationalZogby InternationalOctober 22–25, 2004601 (LV)± 4.1%54%41%5%Zogby InternationalZogby InternationalOctober 21–24, 2004601 (LV)± 4.1%54%42%4%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen ReportsOctober 14, 2004500 (LV)± 4.5%53%43%2%2%St. Norbert CollegeSt. Norbert CollegeOctober 4–13, 2004401 (LV)± 5%56%33%11%Chicago Tribune/WGN-TVChicago Tribune/WGN-TVOctober 200457%33%10%Harris InteractiveHarris InteractiveSeptember 22–26, 2004562 (V)± 4%52%39%9%University of WisconsinUniversity of WisconsinSeptember 15–21, 2004485 (LV)± 4.5%53%38%9%ABC NewsABC NewsSeptember 16–19, 2004775 (LV)± 3.5%51%45%4%University of WisconsinUniversity of WisconsinJune 15–23, 2004504 (V)± 4%36%12%52% background:#cff Hypothetical polling border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:var(--background-color-base); color:var(--color-base); Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RussFeingold (D) RussDarrow (R) UndecidedUniversity of WisconsinJune 15–23, 2004504 (V)± 4%40%16%44% Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RussFeingold (D) RobertWelch (R) UndecidedUniversity of WisconsinJune 15–23, 2004504 (V)± 4%36%10%54% Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RussFeingold (D) Robert GeraldLorge (R) UndecidedUniversity of WisconsinJune 15–23, 2004504 (V)± 4%39%10%51% Results General election resultshttp://gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/2004_FallElection_Results_Summary.pdf 2004 Fall General Election results Wisconsin Government Accountability Board November 2, 2004 March 30, 2015 August 13, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150813132113/http://www.gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/2004_FallElection_Results_Summary.pdf dead Democratic Party (United States) Russ Feingold (incumbent) 1,632,697 55.35% Republican Party (United States) Tim Michels 1,301,183 44.11% Libertarian Party (United States) Arif Khan 8,367 0.28% Independent (United States) Eugene A. Hem 6,662 0.23% 834 0.03% 2,949,743 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Counties that flipped Republican to Democratic Barron (largest city: Rice Lake) Brown (largest city: Green Bay) Burnett (largest village: Grantsburg) Clark (largest city: Neillsville) Kewaunee (largest city: Algoma) Langlade (largest city: Antigo) Manitowoc (largest city: Manitowoc) Marathon (largest city: Wausau) Monroe (largest city: Sparta) Oneida (largest city: Rhinelander) Outagamie (largest city: Appleton) Rusk (largest city: Ladysmith) Washburn (largest city: Spooner) Lafayette (largest city: Darlington) Pepin (largest city: Durand) Racine (largest city: Racine) Richland (largest city: Richland Center) Sawyer (largest city: Hayward) Winnebago (largest city: Oshkosh) Polk (Largest city: Amery) St. Croix (Largest city: Hudson) Taylor (Largest city: Medford) Door (largest city: Sturgeon Bay) Grant (largest city: Platteville) Juneau (largest city: Mauston) Wood (largest city: Marshfield) Chippewa (largest city: Chippewa Falls) Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Florence (Largest city: Florence) See also 2004 United States Senate elections References External links Debates Wisconsin Senate General Election Debate on C-SPAN, October 1, 2004 Wisconsin Senate General Election Debate on C-SPAN, October 16, 2004 Wisconsin Senate General Election Debate on C-SPAN, October 22, 2004 Official campaign websites (archived) Democrats Russ Feingold Republicans Russ Darrow Robert Gerald Lorge Tim Michels Robert Welch Category:2004 Wisconsin elections Wisconsin 2004 Category:Russ Feingold