Of the seven gross seats the Republicans gained, five can be attributed to a special redistricting plan in Texas led by Republican Representative Tom DeLay. His redistricting plan was put into action, turning five Democratic seats Republican. A mid-decade redistricting like this was unprecedented and controversial.
Outside of Texas, Democrats gained two seats net, gaining open seats in Colorado and New York and ousting incumbents in Georgia and Illinois. Republicans gained an open seat in Kentucky and ousted an incumbent in Indiana. A pair of seats in Louisiana swapped party control.
Ben Chandler (D) 59% Tom Buford (R) 40% Stacy Abner (I) 1%
Louisiana
On December 4, 2004, a run-off election was held to determine the winner of the 3rd and 7th Congressional districts. In the 3rd district, Charlie Melancon narrowly defeated Billy Tauzin III 50.25-49.75. In the 7th district, Charles Boustany defeated Willie Mount 55-45. Thus, both seats switched to the opposite party.
Billy Tauzin III (R) 32% (in Dec run-off) Charlie Melancon (D) 24% (in Dec run-off, which he won) Craig Romero (R) 23% Damon Baldone (D) 10% Charmaine Caccioppi (D) 7% Kevin Chiasson (R) 4%
Charles Boustany (R) 39% (in Dec run-off, which he won) Willie Mount (D) 25% (in Dec run-off) Don Cravins (D) 24% David Thibodaux (R) 10% Malcolm Carriere (D) 2%
Tom Davis (R) 60% Kenneth Longmeyer (D) 39% Joe Oddo (I) 1%
Washington
All seven Washington incumbents that ran for re-election, none of whom faced viable challengers, were returned to Congress. None received less than 60% of the vote, and one received over 80%. In addition, the two seats vacated by retiring Republicans were both reclaimed by Republicans despite Democratic hopes to gain at least one seat in the vulnerable 8th district.
