Video: 'CNN Election Night 2004 - Complete Coverage 10,5 hours!'

(November 2, 2004, during the 2004 presidential campaign) — Republican U.S. President George W. Bush of Texas was elected to a second term today, narrowly defeating Democratic challenger U.S. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Bush and his running mate, Vice President Dick Cheney of Wyoming, received 50.73% of the national popular vote. Kerry and his running mate, Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, received 48.27%.

Video: '2004 Election Coverage' (20 clips)

This is the only presidential election in which the Republican presidential ticket won the popular vote from 1988 through at least 2020 and the only presidential election since 1984 in which the incumbent Republican president won re-election.

Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 2004'

Bush also became the only incumbent president to win re-election after previously losing the popular vote in a stolen election in 2000.

The Republican ticket was officially elected on Dec. 13, 2004, when the nation’s presidential electors met and cast 286 Electoral votes for Bush-Cheney and 251 votes for Kerry-Edwards.

Video: 'The 2004 Election Explained'

The electors’ votes would be tabulated and certified on Jan. 6, 2005, during a joint session of Congress.

Bush and Cheney would be inaugurated for second terms on January 20, 2005.