United States presidential election in North Dakota, 2004

The 2004 United States presidential election in North Dakota took place on November 2, 2004 throughout all 50 states and D.C., which was part of the 2004 United States presidential election. Voters chose 3 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for President and Vice President.

North Dakota was won by incumbent President George W. Bush by a 27.4% margin of victory. Prior to the election, all 12 news organizations considered this a state Bush would win, or otherwise considered as a safe red state.The state has voted Republican in 24 of the last 29 elections. In 2004, George W. Bush defeated John Kerry with 63% of the vote. The state’s population of about 650,000 is little changed from what it was 80 years ago, as ND is one of seven states with the minimum three electoral votes.

Caucuses

• North Dakota Democratic caucuses, 2004

Campaign

Predictions

There were 12 news organizations who made state by state predictions of the election. Here are there last predictions before election day.^[1]

1. D.C. Political Report: Solid Republican
2. Associated Press: Solid Bush
3. CNN: Bush
4. Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
5. Newsweek: Solid Bush
6. New York Times: Solid Bush
7. Rasmussen Reports: Bush
8. Research 2000: Solid Bush
9. Washington Post: Bush
10. Washington Times: Solid Bush
11. Zogby International: Bush
12. Washington Dispatch: Bush

Polling

Bush won both pre-election polls with a double digit margin.^[2]

Fundraising

Bush raised $135,493.^[3] Kerry raised $36,600.^[4]

Advertising and visits

Neither campaign visited or advertised in this state during the fall campaign.^[5][6]

Analysis

In 2000, Al Gore won two counties, compared to Kerry who won four counties in the state, including his best performance in Sioux County, North Dakota, where he won with 70% of the vote. Overall, Bush dominated the state, winning a wide majority of the state's counties, and with large margins. In just two counties did Bush obtain less than 40% of the vote.^[7]

Results

Results breakdown

By county

By congressional district

Due to the state's low population, only one congressional district is allocated. This district, called the At-Large district, because it covers the entire state, and thus is equivalent to the statewide election results.

Electors

Technically the voters of ND cast their ballots for electors: representatives to the Electoral College. ND is allocated 3 electors because it has 1 congressional districts and 2 senators. All candidates who appear on the ballot or qualify to receive write-in votes must submit a list of 3 electors, who pledge to vote for their candidate and his or her running mate. Whoever wins the majority of votes in the state is awarded all 3 electoral votes. Their chosen electors then vote for President and Vice President. Although electors are pledged to their candidate and running mate, they are not obligated to vote for them. An elector who votes for someone other than his or her candidate is known as a faithless elector.

The electors of each state and the District of Columbia met on December 13, 2004 to cast their votes for President and Vice President. The Electoral College itself never meets as one body. Instead the electors from each state and the District of Columbia met in their respective capitols.

The following were the members of the Electoral College from the state. All were pledged to and voted for Bush and Cheney:^[10]

1. Betsy Dalrymple (wife of Jack Dalrymple)
2. Ben Clayburgh
3. Jackie Williams

References

See also