11/03/2004
Main Street’s message was heard loud and clear across the country on Election Day 2004, as small-business friendly candidates racked up victories in the U.S. House and Senate. Small-business advocates are calling the election a mandate by American voters for the agenda that was started four years ago, and then reinforced in 2002.
"NFIB members are delighted with the results of their efforts in the U.S. Congress, and we're anxiously awaiting the results of the final few elections," said NFIB President Jack Faris. "It shows decisively that Americans believe that candidates supported by small business are leading the country in the right direction. It makes sense -- health care, jobs and a fair legal system are concerns of all Americans."
A nationwide survey sponsored by NFIB this year found that 66 percent of voters stated that they would be definitely or more likely to vote for the candidate supported by small business and NFIB.
| NFIB-Endorsed Winners | |
| Winner | State |
| Richard Shelby | Alabama |
| John McCain | Arizona |
| Johnny Isakson | Georgia |
| Michael Crapo | Idaho |
| Chuck Grassley | Iowa |
| Mel Martinez | Florida |
| Sam Brownback | Kansas |
| Jim Bunning | Kentucky |
| David Vitter | Louisiana |
| Kit Bond | Missouri |
| Judd Gregg | New Hampshire |
| Richard Burr | North Carolina |
| George Voinovich | Ohio |
| Tom Coburn | Oklahoma |
| Jim DeMint | South Carolina |
| John Thune | South Dakota |
| Bob Bennett | Utah |
Senate Republicans increase majority
According to the latest numbers, the Senate in the 109th Congress will have 55 Republicans, 44 Democrats and one Independent. (Updated 11/4/2004)
Thirty-four Senate seats were up for grabs on Tuesday. During the current 108th Congress, Republicans hold 51 seats to Democrats’ 48, though Independent Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords can often be counted on to side with the Democrats.
In one of the largest upsets of the evening, former GOP Rep. John Thune of South Dakota—and NFIB-endorsed candidate—unseated Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, the first Senate party leader in 52 years to lose a re-election bid.
Main Street candidates also picked up seat across the South, where several incumbents retired. NFIB-endorsed candidates in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana won Senate seats.
NFIB-endorsed candidates win in House
Going in with a 228-206 majority, Republicans expanded their lead in the House, gaining four seats for the 109th Congress. Thursday morning, thre race for New York's 27th District had not yet been called. (Updated 11/4/2004)
The last time a Republican majority increased in the House during a presidential election was in 1928.
NFIB-endorsed candidates did well in the House, including big wins in Kentucky and Texas. In Kentucky two NFIB-endorsed candidates defeated their opponents. In the 4th District, Republican Geoff Davis defeated Democrat Nick Clooney in an open seat contest, and in the 3rd District, four-term incumbent Anne Northrup beat Democratic challenger Tony Miller.
The redistricting of Texas ousted four of the five Texas Democratic incumbents, handing the GOP a net of four Texas seats.
The single upset for House Republicans was the defeat of incumbent Rep. Phil Crane from Illinois, the longest-serving House Republican. Democratic challenger Melissa Bean captured the majority of the votes to represent Illinois’ 6th congressional district in the 109th Congress.
America turns out at the polls
Turnout was a big story of the day, as more than 60 percent of eligible voters were projected to have voted in the 2004 election. Officials are trying to determine whether the number rivals the all-time high set in 1960 when John Kennedy and Richard Nixon ran for the White House.
Small business looking to Congress
A more small-business friendly U.S. Congress could have implications on the direction of the country for the next four years. Main Street advocates are hopeful that the 109th Congress will be receptive to small-business issues, such as tax relief, the health-care crisis, regulatory relief and more.
Editor's Note: This article was originally posted at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, and was updated as noted Thursday, Nov. 4, at noon.
