The 2004 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 2, 2004, to elect all 435 seats of the chamber. It coincided with the re-election of President George W. Bush as well as many Senate elections and gubernatorial elections. Prior to the election in the 108th Congress, Republicans held 227 seats, Democrats held 205, with two Republican vacancies and one independent. As a result of this election, the 109th Congress began composed of 232 Republicans, 201 Democrats, one independent (who caucuses with the Democrats), and one vacancy (Democrat Bob Matsui won reelection but died just two days before the beginning of the 109th Congress). Democrats won open seats in Colorado, South Dakota, and New York while ousting incumbents in Georgia and Illinois. Republicans won an open seat in Kentucky while ousting an incumbent in Indiana. They gained five seats in Texas after a controversial mid-decade redistricting placed several rural Democratic incumbents into new districts. Two seats in Louisiana swapped party control. As of 2025, this is the last election in which someone who was not from the Democratic or Republican Party was elected to the House (Independent Bernie Sanders). Republicans would not make consecutive net gains in the House (after gaining seats in the 2002 election) until 2020 and 2022. This was also the last election in which the Republicans made any gains in a presidential election year until 2020.

Results

Federal

! rowspan= 2 colspan=2 | Parties ! colspan=4 | Seats ! colspan=3 | Popular vote ! 2002 ! 2004 ! Net change ! Strength ! Vote ! % ! Change ! Republican Party ! Democratic Party ! Libertarian Party ! Independent ! Green Party ! Constitution Party ! Reform Party ! Independence Party ! Others ! colspan=2 | Total ! 434 ! 435 ! 0 ! 100.0% ! 113,192,286 ! 100.0% ! –

Maps

Retirements

In the November general elections, thirty incumbents did not seek re-election, either to retire or to seek other positions.

Democrats

Thirteen Democrats did not seek re-election.

Republicans

Seventeen Republicans did not seek re-election.

Resignations

Two seats opened early due to resignations and were not filled until the November elections.

Democrats

No Democrats resigned.

Republicans

Two Republicans resigned.

Incumbents defeated

In primary elections

Democrats

Two Democrats lost renomination.

Republicans

No Republicans lost renomination. This was the first time this had occurred since 1984.

In the general election

Democrats

Five Democrats lost re-election to Republicans.

Republicans

Two Republicans lost re-election to Democrats.

Open seats that changed parties

Democratic seats won by Republicans

Three Democratic seats were won by Republicans.

Republican seats won by Democrats

Three Republican seats were won by Democrats.

Open seats that parties held

Democratic seats held by Democrats

Democrats held nine of their open seats.

Republican seats held by Republicans

Republicans held sixteen of their open seats.

Newly created seats

Of the thirty-two seats created in the 2003 Texas redistricting, three had no incumbent representative.

Democratic gain

No Democrats were elected in newly created seats.

Republican gain

Three Republicans were elected in newly created seats.

Closest races

Twenty-three races were decided by 10% or lower.

Special elections

There were three special elections held in 2004, all of them separate from the November elections. ! KY's 6th congressional district New member elected February 17, 2004. Democratic gain. Winner was subsequently re-elected in November, see below. ✅ Ben Chandler (Democratic) 55.16% Alice Forgy Kerr (Republican) 42.91% Mark Gailey (Libertarian) 1.94% ! SD At-large New member elected June 1, 2004. Democratic gain. Winner was subsequently re-elected in November, see below. ✅ Stephanie Herseth (Democratic) 50.59% Larry Diedrich (Republican) 49.41% ! NC's 1st congressional district New member elected July 20, 2004. Democratic hold. Winner was subsequently re-elected in November, see below. ✅ G. K. Butterfield (Democratic) 71.15% Greg Dority (Republican) 34.83% Thomas Eisenmenger (Libertarian) 1.76%

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

On December 4, 2004, a run-off election was held to determine the winner of the 3rd and 7th congressional districts. In the 3rd district, Charlie Melancon narrowly defeated Billy Tauzin III. In the 7th district, Charles Boustany defeated Willie Mount. Thus, both seats switched to the opposite party.

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

All incumbents were re-elected.

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

All seven incumbents who ran for re-election, none of whom faced viable challengers, were returned to Congress. None received less than 60% of the vote, and one received over 80%. In addition, the two seats vacated by retiring Republicans were both reclaimed by Republicans despite Democratic hopes to gain at least one seat in the vulnerable 8th district.

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Non-voting delegates