Bush narrowly defeats Kerry, re-elected U.S. President 10 years ago today (Nov 2 2004)


Video: '2004 election night' (20 videos; coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. EST)

(Tuesday, November 2, 2004, during the 2004 presidential campaign) — Republican President George W. Bush of Texas was re-elected President of the United States today, defeating Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Kerry conceded defeat in make-or-break Ohio on Nov. 3, 2004, rather than launch a legal fight reminiscent of the contentious Florida recount of four years earlier.

Bush and his running mate, Vice President Dick Cheney of Wyoming, received 50.73% of the national popular vote. Kerry and his running mate, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, received 48.27%. It was the only time the Republican Party ticket won the presidential popular vote in six elections from 1992 to 2012.

The 2004 popular vote results translated into a narrow Electoral College victory of 286-251 for Bush-Cheney, who would be sworn in for a second term on January 20, 2005.


Video: '2004 election night' (12 videos; coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. EST)