The 2004 United States Senate election in California took place on November 2, 2004, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer ran for re-election and defeated Republican former Secretary of State Bill Jones. Boxer's 6.96 million votes set the all-time record for the most votes cast for one candidate in one state in one election, although it was surpassed by Senator Dianne Feinstein's 7.75 million votes in 2012.

Democratic primary Candidates Barbara Boxer, incumbent U.S. senator

Results

Republican primary Candidates Danney Ball, activist Toni Casey, former mayor of Los Altos Hills Barry L. Hatch, activist Bill Jones, former secretary of state of California and candidate for Governor in 2002 Howard Kaloogian, former state assemblyman from San Diego County and chair of the Recall Gray Davis Committee Rosario Marin, former treasurer of the United States and mayor of Huntington Park Bill Quraishi, businessman James Stewart, businessman Tim Stoen, assistant district attorney John Van Zandt, businessman

Results

Third party primaries American Independent

Libertarian

Peace and Freedom

General election Candidates Major Barbara Boxer (D), incumbent U.S. senator Bill Jones (R), former California secretary of state

Minor Marsha Feinland (PF), perennial candidate James P. Gray (L), Superior Court jurist Don J. Grundmann (AI)

Campaign Boxer had originally planned to retire in 2004, but changed her mind to "fight for the right to dissent" against conservatives such as House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Jones was widely considered as the underdog. Jones got a major endorsement from the popular Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The two major candidates had a debate. Pre-election polling had Boxer leading in double digits. However, he never released a single TV ad. Boxer portrayed Jones as too conservative for California, citing his votes in the California Assembly (1982 to 1994) against gun control and an increased minimum wage, and in support of offshore drilling and a loosening of environmental regulations.

Fundraising Jones raised about $700,000 more than Boxer during the third quarter, pulling in $2.5 million to Boxer's $1.8 million. Overall, Boxer raised $16 million to Jones' $6.2 million. Boxer spent about $7 million on radio and television ads alone.

Predictions Source Ranking As of Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin BarbaraBoxer (D) BillJones (R) Other /UndecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSA October 29–31, 2004 763 (LV) ± 3.6% 57% 36% 7%

Endorsements

Results The election was not close, with Boxer winning by an authoritative 20-point margin. Jones only performed well in rural parts of the state. Boxer won almost all major metropolitan areas in the state. The race was called right when the polls closed at 11:00 P.M. EST, and 7:00 P.M. PTZ. Jones conceded defeat to Boxer at 11:12 P.M. EST, and 7:12 PTZ.

By county Final results from the Secretary of State of California.

County Boxer Votes Jones Votes Feinland Votes Others Votes San Francisco 82.67% 277,193 12.83% 43,029 2.15% 7,220 2.34% 7,862 Alameda 75.66% 403,892 20.23% 107,966 2.22% 11,851 1.89% 10,103 Marin 70.86% 94,164 25.81% 34,301 1.44% 1,915 1.89% 2,505 San Mateo 70.53% 196,285 26.29% 73,171 1.33% 3,715 1.84% 5,126 Santa Cruz 70.58% 84,840 23.49% 28,239 2.77% 3,329 3.15% 3,791 Los Angeles 66.75% 1,940,493 28.29% 822,351 2.36% 68,743 2.60% 75,449 Santa Clara 66.00% 380,551 29.83% 172,008 1.66% 9,550 2.51% 14,487 Sonoma 65.67% 143,124 29.57% 64,438 2.28% 4,962 2.49% 5,419 Contra Costa 63.49% 258,905 33.24% 135,559 1.48% 6,044 1.78% 7,277 Monterey 62.31% 76,647 32.96% 40,547 1.84% 2,263 2.89% 3,560 Yolo 61.94% 44,085 34.05% 24,234 1.88% 1,340 2.13% 1,518 Mendocino 61.87% 23,415 29.41% 11,131 2.76% 1,044 5.96% 2,254 Solano 61.32% 89,779 35.07% 51,354 1.61% 2,355 2.00% 2,929 Napa 60.30% 33,577 35.94% 20,012 1.59% 884 2.17% 1,208 Humboldt 58.76% 38,016 34.61% 22,394 3.47% 2,246 3.16% 2,044 Imperial 57.65% 19,498 36.06% 12,195 3.43% 1,159 2.87% 971 Lake 56.32% 13,812 39.22% 9,619 1.91% 469 2.55% 625 San Benito 55.82% 10,349 39.73% 7,365 1.96% 363 2.49% 462 Santa Barbara 55.10% 91,055 40.02% 66,146 2.03% 3,347 2.85% 4,717 Sacramento 54.16% 252,016 42.34% 196,984 1.50% 6,995 2.00% 9,283 Alpine 53.90% 373 41.76% 289 2.31% 16 2.02% 14 San Joaquin 53.00% 99,074 42.98% 80,350 1.92% 3,582 2.10% 3,921 Ventura 52.13% 159,920 43.66% 133,917 1.84% 5,630 2.37% 7,284 San Diego 51.45% 565,457 44.13% 484,948 2.04% 22,431 2.38% 26,125 Mono 49.95% 2,592 44.59% 2,314 2.14% 111 3.31% 172 San Bernardino 49.76% 251,776 45.36% 229,527 2.18% 11,038 2.70% 13,655 Merced 49.65% 27,975 46.18% 26,023 1.95% 1,098 2.22% 1,251 Riverside 47.39% 259,169 48.67% 266,197 1.93% 10,547 2.01% 11,015 Stanislaus 46.93% 67,539 49.70% 71,527 1.61% 2,324 1.75% 2,517 San Luis Obispo 46.49% 58,212 48.48% 60,708 2.12% 2,659 2.91% 3,646 Trinity 46.24% 2,960 47.93% 3,068 2.17% 139 3.66% 234 Del Norte 46.03% 4,264 48.72% 4,513 2.29% 212 2.97% 275 Nevada 45.79% 24,367 49.46% 26,321 1.90% 1,013 2.85% 1,518 Fresno 45.36% 109,849 51.59% 124,937 1.61% 3,905 1.44% 3,495 Butte 44.96% 42,512 49.12% 46,446 2.52% 2,385 3.39% 3,204 Tuolumne 44.38% 11,538 52.39% 13,620 1.23% 319 2.00% 519 Orange 43.73% 458,604 50.86% 533,406 1.94% 20,394 3.47% 36,374 Kings 42.71% 13,485 54.07% 17,075 1.71% 539 1.51% 478 Amador 42.16% 7,445 54.15% 9,562 1.53% 271 2.15% 380 Calaveras 42.17% 9,339 53.58% 11,865 1.51% 334 2.75% 608 Inyo 40.68% 3,474 54.37% 4,643 2.08% 178 2.86% 244 Mariposa 40.38% 3,437 55.82% 4,751 1.69% 144 2.10% 179 Siskiyou 39.92% 8,215 54.95% 11,308 1.94% 399 3.18% 655 Placer 39.70% 59,554 56.78% 85,163 1.46% 2,197 2.06% 3,086 Plumas 39.59% 4,347 54.82% 6,019 2.21% 243 3.38% 371 El Dorado 39.58% 33,715 56.09% 47,775 2.05% 1,743 2.29% 1,950 Madera 39.15% 15,058 57.84% 22,249 1.67% 641 1.35% 519 Yuba 38.94% 6,926 55.80% 9,925 2.21% 393 3.05% 542 Kern 38.13% 79,769 56.82% 118,882 2.17% 4,543 2.88% 6,026 Tulare 37.11% 36,181 59.55% 58,066 1.84% 1,798 1.50% 1,464 Colusa 36.61% 2,228 60.10% 3,657 1.23% 75 2.05% 125 Sutter 36.61% 10,864 60.06% 17,824 1.47% 436 1.86% 553 Tehama 36.18% 8,285 58.89% 13,488 1.76% 403 3.17% 726 Shasta 35.21% 26,795 60.00% 45,667 1.86% 1,412 2.94% 2,235 Sierra 34.89% 679 58.74% 1,143 1.90% 37 4.47% 87 Glenn 33.87% 3,147 61.77% 5,739 1.86% 173 2.50% 232 Lassen 32.36% 3,655 62.43% 7,051 1.97% 223 3.24% 366 Modoc 28.48% 1,253 66.27% 2,916 1.52% 67 3.73% 164

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Alpine (largest municipality: Markleeville) Mono (largest municipality: Mammoth Lakes) San Diego (largest community: San Diego) San Joaquin (largest city: Stockton) Ventura (largest city: Ventura)

By congressional district Boxer won 36 of 53 congressional districts, including three that elected Republicans. District Boxer Jones Representative 60% 34%Mike Thompson 40% 56%Wally Herger46%51%Doug OseDan Lungren 40% 56%John Doolittle 65% 31%Bob Matsui 68% 27%Lynn Woolsey 69% 27%George Miller 84% 12%Nancy Pelosi 84% 11%Barbara Lee 60% 37%Ellen Tauscher 50% 47%Richard Pombo 73% 24%Tom Lantos 73% 23%Pete Stark 68% 29%Anna Eshoo 65% 31%Mike Honda 67% 28%Zoe Lofgren 66% 29%Sam Farr 57% 39%Dennis Cardoza 42% 55%George Radanovich57%38%Cal DooleyJim Costa 38% 59%Devin Nunes 36% 60%Bill Thomas 60% 35%Lois Capps 47% 48%Elton Gallegly 46% 49%Howard McKeon 48% 47%David Dreier 64% 31%Brad Sherman 74% 21%Howard Berman 64% 31%Adam Schiff 69% 27%Henry Waxman 80% 15%Xavier Becerra 68% 26%Hilda Solis 84% 12%Diane Watson 74% 21%Lucille Roybal-Allard 80% 15%Maxine Waters 62% 33%Jane Harman 76% 18%Juanita Millender-McDonald 71% 23%Grace Napolitano 64% 31%Linda Sánchez 44% 51%Ed Royce 44% 52%Jerry Lewis 42% 54%Gary Miller 64% 30%Joe Baca 45% 51%Ken Calvert 49% 47%Mary Bono Mack 46% 49%Dana Rohrabacher 57% 35%Loretta Sanchez44%51%Christopher CoxJohn Campbell 42% 54%Darrell Issa 48.1% 48.2%Brian Bilbray 61% 34%Bob Filner 44% 51%Duncan Hunter 64% 31%Susan Davis By city