The 2004 Milwaukee mayoral election was held on Tuesday, April 6, 2004, to elect the mayor for Milwaukee. Tom Barrett defeated incumbent acting mayor Marvin Pratt. This election coincided with other municipal elections.
Municipal elections in Wisconsin are non-partisan.
Candidates Advanced to general election Tom Barrett, U.S. congressman Marvin Pratt, acting mayor
Eliminated in nonpartisan primary election Vince Bobot, former municipal judge David Clarke, sheriff of Milwaukee County Frank Cumberbatch, lobbyist Sandy Foloran, business owner Arthur L. Jones, former Milwaukee police chief Thomas G. Nardelli, alderman John V. Pitta, teacher Leon Todd, former member of the Milwaukee School Board
Campaign The 2004 election was only the third instance since 1948 that Milwaukee had had a race for mayor in which an elected incumbent was not a candidate (after only 1960 and 1988.
Barrett, whose congressional district covered most of the northern half of the city, was widely viewed as the front-runner. As acting mayor, Pratt was a de-facto incumbent. No incumbent had been unseated for mayor in Milwaukee since 1940.
Clarke was a rising name in conservative politics. He had been first appointed sheriff in 2002 by Republican Governor Scott McCallum, but had won election to a full term later that year as the Democratic nomination.
Primary election Results The first-place finish by Pratt in the primary marked the first instance in Milwaukee history that an African American candidate led the primary for mayor.
General election Results
References