The 2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska were held on November 2, 2004 to determine who will represent the state of Nebraska in the United States House of Representatives. Nebraska has three seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms.
Overview United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2004 Party Votes Percentage Seats +/– Republican 514,115 67.22% 3 — Democratic 230,697 30.16% 0 — Green Party 11,108 1.45% 0 — Libertarian 4,656 0.61% 0 — Nebraska Party 3,396 0.44% 0 — Totals 764,972 100.00% 3 —
District 1 Incumbent Republican Congressman Doug Bereuter represented the 1st district, which included the city of Lincoln and most of eastern Nebraska, since he was first elected in 1978. He declined to seek re-election in 2004, and resigned from Congress on August 31, 2004, to become the president and CEO of The Asia Foundation. A crowded Republican primary emerged to succeed him, with Curt Bromm, the Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, emerging as the favorite. Bromm was endorsed by Bereuter, but was attacked by television advertisements aired by the Club for Growth that attacked him for raising taxes to make up for a state budget shortfall. The advertisements sought to elevate Greg Ruehle, the Executive Director of the Nebraska Cattleman, which prompted the Republican Main Street Partnership to air advertisements criticizing Ruehle. Fortenberry, meanwhile, ran a grassroots campaign and ultimately managed to win a thin plurality of the vote.
In the general election, Fortenberry faced State Senator Matt Connealy, the Democratic nominee. Though Connealy was a high-profile candidate, he was unable to overcome Republican President George W. Bush's strong performance in Nebraska that year, and Fortenberry ultimately won his first term by a wide margin.
Republican primary Candidates Jeff Fortenberry, former Lincoln City Councilman Curt Bromm, Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature Greg Ruehle, Executive Director of the Nebraska Cattlemen Daniel Manning, educator Bob Van Valkenburg, business consultant Andrew J. Ringsmuth, journalist and information technology manager Greg Walburn, currency analyst
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Matt Connealy, State Senator Janet Stewart, Fremont attorney Charlie Matulka, 2002 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate Phil Chase, retired software executive
Results
Green Party primary Candidates Steven R. Larrick, researcher for the Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 2 Incumbent Republican Congressman Lee Terry, who represented the Omaha-based 2nd district, ran for re-election to a fourth term. He was challenged by State Senator Nancy Thompson, the Democratic nominee, and defeated her with 61% of the vote to win another term.
Republican primary Candidates Lee Terry, incumbent Congressman
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nancy Thompson, State Senator
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Jack Graziano
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 3 Incumbent Republican Congressman Tom Osborne ran for re-election to his third term in Congress in the 3rd district, which included most of the state's conservative, rural territory. He was challenged by Columbus cosmetologist Donna J. Anderson, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Owing to the conservative nature of the district, Osborne overwhelmingly won re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Tom Osborne, incumbent Congressman
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Donna J. Anderson, Columbus cosmetologist
Results
Nebraska Party primary Candidates Joseph A. Rosberg Duane E. F. Dufek
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
References