United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 2004
Encyclopedia
The 2004 United States Senate election in Oklahoma took place on November 2, 2004. The election was concurrent with elections to the United States House of Representatives
and the presidential election
. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Don Nickles
decided to retire instead of seeking a fifth term. Republican nominee Tom Coburn
won the open seat.
. Most of these stand-offs stemmed from his belief that the Republican caucus was moving toward the political center because of the excessive federal spending from the Republican, despite the fact that they had so vigorously opposed it when the Democrats were in the majority. Coburn also endorsed Alan Keyes
in the 2000 Republican presidential primaries
.
U.S. Senator James Inhofe, Don Nickles
, and U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts
all endorsed Humphreys and appeared with him at his announcement for the seat and in his television ads. On the other hand, Coburn received the endorsement from the Club for Growth
. Executive director of the club David Keating claimed "I think Coburn has an excellent chance, if he gets elected, of becoming a real national figure, the way McCain is. McCain had the Straight Talk Express. Coburn is the same way."
which he lost and Cotton County
which he won with 38% of the vote. Coburn performed the strongest in the Northwestern part of the state, including the heavily populated Tulsa County
which he carried with over 75% of the vote.
races of that year. Coburn and Carson both presented themselves as supporting the traditional definition of marriage
as "a union of one man and one woman" in the gay marriage debate. Although registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans in Oklahoma by almost 2 to 1, most Oklahoma Democrats are quite conservative by national standards. Coburn claimed that a vote for Carson was a vote for Democrats such as Tom Daschle
, Hillary Rodham Clinton
and Ted Kennedy
. Carson was also hampered by George W. Bush
's tremendous popularity in the state (the John Kerry
campaign made virtually no effort in Oklahoma). Bush carried Oklahoma with over 60% of the vote. However, many Bush supporters voted for Carson because he was perceived as a moderate, as opposed to Kerry.
metropolitan area and the closer-in Tulsa
suburb
s. Coburn won the state's two largest counties, Tulsa and Oklahoma, by a combined 86,000 votes — more than half of his overall margin of 166,000 votes.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and the presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Don Nickles
Don Nickles
Donald Lee Nickles is an American businessman and politician who was a Republican United States Senator from Oklahoma from 1981 until 2005. He was a fiscal and social conservative.-Early life:...
decided to retire instead of seeking a fifth term. Republican nominee Tom Coburn
Tom Coburn
Thomas Allen "Tom" Coburn, M.D. , is an American politician, medical doctor, and Southern Baptist deacon. A member of the Republican Party, he currently serves as the junior U.S. Senator from Oklahoma. In the Senate, he is known as "Dr. No" for his tendency to place holds on and vote against bills...
won the open seat.
Candidates
- Bob AnthonyBob AnthonyBob Anthony is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Anthony is currently serving his fourth consecutive six-year term on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, where he has served since 1989...
, Oklahoma Corporation CommissionOklahoma Corporation CommissionThe Oklahoma Corporation Commission is the public utilities commission of the state of Oklahoma run by three state-wide elected Commissioners, assisted by over 400 employees... - Tom CoburnTom CoburnThomas Allen "Tom" Coburn, M.D. , is an American politician, medical doctor, and Southern Baptist deacon. A member of the Republican Party, he currently serves as the junior U.S. Senator from Oklahoma. In the Senate, he is known as "Dr. No" for his tendency to place holds on and vote against bills...
, former U.S. Congressman - Kirk HumphreysKirk HumphreysKirk Humphreys served as Mayor of Oklahoma City from April 9, 1998 to November 3, 2003. He was considered a favorite candidate of the Republican party establishment for U.S. Senator in 2004, losing to former Congressman Tom Coburn, MD in the primary...
, former Mayor of Oklahoma CityOklahoma cityOklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial... - Jay Richard Hunt, activist
Campaign
Former U.S. Congressman Tom Coburn is a wealthy family physician and conservative maverick was given a big challenge from Mayor Kirk Humphreys, who was actually the Republican party establishment. In congress, Coburn had frequent battles with House Speaker Newt GingrichNewt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
. Most of these stand-offs stemmed from his belief that the Republican caucus was moving toward the political center because of the excessive federal spending from the Republican, despite the fact that they had so vigorously opposed it when the Democrats were in the majority. Coburn also endorsed Alan Keyes
Alan Keyes
Alan Lee Keyes is an American conservative political activist, author, former diplomat, and perennial candidate for public office. A doctoral graduate of Harvard University, Keyes began his diplomatic career in the U.S...
in the 2000 Republican presidential primaries
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
.
U.S. Senator James Inhofe, Don Nickles
Don Nickles
Donald Lee Nickles is an American businessman and politician who was a Republican United States Senator from Oklahoma from 1981 until 2005. He was a fiscal and social conservative.-Early life:...
, and U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts
J.C. Watts
Julius Caesar "J. C." Watts, Jr. is an American politician from Oklahoma who was a college football quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners and professionally in the Canadian Football League. Watts served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 as a Republican, representing the 4th...
all endorsed Humphreys and appeared with him at his announcement for the seat and in his television ads. On the other hand, Coburn received the endorsement from the Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
. Executive director of the club David Keating claimed "I think Coburn has an excellent chance, if he gets elected, of becoming a real national figure, the way McCain is. McCain had the Straight Talk Express. Coburn is the same way."
Results
Coburn won the primary with over 60% of the vote. He won every county with at least 40% of the vote, except for Harmon CountyHarmon County, Oklahoma
Harmon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 2,992. In population, it is the second smallest county in Oklahoma, only Cimarron County, according to the 2010 census, having fewer inhabitants. The county seat is Hollis.-Geography:According to the...
which he lost and Cotton County
Cotton County, Oklahoma
Cotton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 6,614. Its county seat is Walters.When Oklahoma achieved statehood in 1907, the area which is now Cotton County fell within the boundaries of Comanche County...
which he won with 38% of the vote. Coburn performed the strongest in the Northwestern part of the state, including the heavily populated Tulsa County
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Tulsa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population is 603,403. Its county seat is Tulsa.-History of Tulsa County:The history of Tulsa County greatly overlaps the history of the city of Tulsa...
which he carried with over 75% of the vote.
Candidates
- Sheila BilyeuSheila BilyeuSheila Bilyeu was a candidate for the United States Green Party's nomination for President in 2004 in the District of Columbia, losing to David Cobb by a 2-1 margin....
(I), perennial candidate - Brad CarsonBrad CarsonBrad Rogers Carson is an American lawyer and politician from the state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2005.-Background:...
(D), U.S. Congressman - Tom CoburnTom CoburnThomas Allen "Tom" Coburn, M.D. , is an American politician, medical doctor, and Southern Baptist deacon. A member of the Republican Party, he currently serves as the junior U.S. Senator from Oklahoma. In the Senate, he is known as "Dr. No" for his tendency to place holds on and vote against bills...
(R), former U.S. Congressman
Campaign
When Coburn retired in 2000, Carson succeeded him. The 2004 U.S. Senate campaign between Carson and Coburn was one of the most partisanPartisan (political)
In politics, a partisan is a committed member of a political party. In multi-party systems, the term is widely understood to carry a negative connotation - referring to those who wholly support their party's policies and are perhaps even reluctant to acknowledge correctness on the part of their...
races of that year. Coburn and Carson both presented themselves as supporting the traditional definition of marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
as "a union of one man and one woman" in the gay marriage debate. Although registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans in Oklahoma by almost 2 to 1, most Oklahoma Democrats are quite conservative by national standards. Coburn claimed that a vote for Carson was a vote for Democrats such as Tom Daschle
Tom Daschle
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Daschle is a former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
and Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
. Carson was also hampered by George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's tremendous popularity in the state (the John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
campaign made virtually no effort in Oklahoma). Bush carried Oklahoma with over 60% of the vote. However, many Bush supporters voted for Carson because he was perceived as a moderate, as opposed to Kerry.
Results
- Tom CoburnTom CoburnThomas Allen "Tom" Coburn, M.D. , is an American politician, medical doctor, and Southern Baptist deacon. A member of the Republican Party, he currently serves as the junior U.S. Senator from Oklahoma. In the Senate, he is known as "Dr. No" for his tendency to place holds on and vote against bills...
(Republican) 53% - Brad CarsonBrad CarsonBrad Rogers Carson is an American lawyer and politician from the state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2005.-Background:...
(Democrat) 41% - Sheila BilyeuSheila BilyeuSheila Bilyeu was a candidate for the United States Green Party's nomination for President in 2004 in the District of Columbia, losing to David Cobb by a 2-1 margin....
(Independent) 6%
Analysis
In the November election, Coburn defeated Carson by a surprisingly large margin, 53 percent to 42 percent. While Carson trounced Coburn in the 2nd District, Coburn swamped Carson in the Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
metropolitan area and the closer-in Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s. Coburn won the state's two largest counties, Tulsa and Oklahoma, by a combined 86,000 votes — more than half of his overall margin of 166,000 votes.