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2004 United States Senate election in Colorado

none

Field	Value
election_name	2004 United States Senate election in Colorado
country	Colorado
type	presidential
ongoing	no
previous_election	1998 United States Senate election in Colorado
previous_year	1998
next_election	2010 United States Senate election in Colorado
next_year	2010
election_date	November 2, 2004
image1	File:Kensalazar.jpg
image_size	150x150px
nominee1	Ken Salazar
party1	Democratic Party (United States)
popular_vote1	1,081,188
percentage1	51.30%
image2	3x4.svg
nominee2	Pete Coors
party2	Republican Party (United States)
popular_vote2	980,668
percentage2	46.53%
map_image	2004 United States Senate election in Colorado results map by county.svg
map_size	250px
map_caption	County results
Salazar:

title	U.S. Senator
before_election	Ben Nighthorse Campbell
before_party	Republican Party (United States)
after_election	Ken Salazar
after_party	Democratic Party (United States)

Salazar:

Coors:
The 2004 United States Senate election in Colorado took place on November 2, 2004, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (first elected in 1992 as a Democrat and re-elected in 1998 as a Republican, having switched parties in 1995) retired instead of seeking a third term. Democratic nominee Ken Salazar won the open seat, defeating Republican nominee Pete Coors despite Republican President George W. Bush carrying the state over John Kerry in the concurrent presidential race.

Background

On March 3, 2004, incumbent Republican Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell announced that he would not seek reelection due to health concerns, having recently been treated for prostate cancer and heartburn. Before Campbell's retirement, no prominent Democrat had entered the race, with educator Mike Miles and businessman Rutt Bridges pursuing the Democratic nomination. After Campbell's retirement, many expected popular Republican Governor Bill Owens to enter the race, however he declined to run. Campbell's retirement and Owens' decision not to run prompted a number of prominent Democrats to reexamine the race.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Ken Salazar, Attorney General of Colorado
Mike Miles, educator

Campaign

On March 10, the same day Owens announced he would not run, U.S. Congressman Mark Udall entered the race. The next day, state Attorney General Ken Salazar entered the race, leading Udall to immediately withdraw and endorse him; Udall held Colorado's other Senate seat from 2009 to 2015. Salazar lost to Mike Miles at the State nominating convention. In spite of this loss, the national Democratic Party backed Salazar with contributions from the DSCC and promotion of Salazar as the only primary candidate.

Polling

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Ken
Salazar	Mike
Miles	Other	Undecided
Mason-Dixon	August 2004	– (LV)	–	67%	21%	–	12%
Mason-Dixon	June 15–18, 2004	300 (LV)	± 6.0%	61%	15%	–	24%

Results

Democratic primary results by county

]]

Republican primary

Candidates

Pete Coors, former CEO and chairman of Coors Brewing Company
Bob Schaffer, U.S. Representative

Declined

Bob Beauprez, U.S. representative from
Dave Liniger, real estate magnate
Scott McInnis, U.S. representative from
Jim Nicholson, U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See
Jane Norton, Lieutenant Governor of Colorado

Endorsements

;Elected officials

Ben Nighthorse Campbell, incumbent U.S. senator
Bill Owens, Governor of Colorado (previously endorsed Schaffer) ;Elected officials
Bill Owens, Governor of Colorado (switched endorsement to Coors)

Campaign

The two candidates got into an ideological battle, as Schaffer attacked Coors because his company had provided benefits to the partners of its gay and lesbian employees, in addition to promoting its beer in gay bars. Coors defended himself by saying that he was opposed to same-sex marriage and supported a constitutional amendment to ban it, although he noted that he supported civil unions for gay couples. According to the Rocky Mountain News, Coors described his company's pro-LGBT practices as "good business, separate from politics."

Polling

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Pete
Coors	Bob
Schaffer	Other	Undecided
Mason-Dixon	August 2004	– (LV)	–	45%	41%	–	14%
Tarrance Group (R)	July 14–15, 2004	500 (LV)	± 4.5%	53%	34%	–	13%
Mason-Dixon	June 15–18, 2004	300 (LV)	± 6.0%	39%	35%	–	26%

Results

Republican primary results by county

]] Coors defeated Schaffer with 61% of the vote in the primary, with many analysts citing his high name recognition in the state as a primary factor.

General election

Candidates

Major

Pete Coors (R), former CEO and chairman of Coors Brewing Company
Ken Salazar (D), State Attorney General

Minor

Douglas Campbell (C)
Victor Good (Re)
Finn Gotaas (I)
John Harris (I)
Richard Randall (L)

Campaign

Pete Coors, Chairman of Coors Brewing Company, ran as a moderate conservative. However, Salazar was also a moderate and a highly popular State Attorney General. Coors is also a great-grandson of Adolph Coors, founder of the brewing company. His father is Joseph Coors, president of the company and a founding member of The Heritage Foundation. Salazar narrowly won the open seat. It was one of only two Democratic pickups in the 2004 Senate elections (Illinois was the other).

Debates

Complete video of debate, October 29, 2004

Finances

According to OpenSecrets, Coors gave his own campaign $1,213,657 and received individual donations of $60,550 from other Coors family members.

A state record total of over $11 million was raised during the election.

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball		November 1, 2004

Polling

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Pete
Coors (R)	Ken
Salazar (D)	Other	Undecided
Reuters/Zogby International	October 29 – November 1, 2004	600 (LV)	± 4.1%	44%		52%	1%	3%
SurveyUSA	October 30–31, 2004	701 (LV)	± 3.8%	47%		51%	–	2%
Reuters/Zogby International	October 28–31, 2004	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	44%		52%	–	4%
Reuters/Zogby International	October 27–30, 2004	600 (LV)	± 4.1%	46%		49%	1%	4%
Reuters/Zogby International	October 26–29, 2004	600 (LV)	± 4.1%	45%		50%	2%	3%
Reuters/Zogby International	October 25–28, 2004	600 (LV)	± 4.1%	43%		52%	1%	4%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)	October 25–27, 2004	500 (LV)	± 4.3%	42%		48%	–	4%
Mason-Dixon	October 25–27, 2004	625 (LV)	± 4.8%	46%	46%	1%	7%
Reuters/Zogby International	October 24–27, 2004	600 (LV)	± 4.1%	42%		53%	1%	4%
Reuters/Zogby International	October 23–26, 2004	600 (LV)	± 4.1%	43%		53%	–	4%
Reuters/Zogby International	October 22–25, 2004	600 (LV)	± 4.1%	44%		50%	–	6%
Reuters/Zogby International	October 21–24, 2004	600 (LV)	± 4.1%	42%		51%	–	7%
SurveyUSA	October 18–20, 2004	596 (LV)	± 4.1%		50%	46%	3%	1%
Ciruli Associates	October 15–19, 2004	600 (RV)	± 4.0%	43%		47%	–	10%
Rasmussen Reports	October 18, 2004	500 (LV)	± 4.5%		49%	48%	2%	1%
Gallup/CNN/USA Today	October 14–17, 2004	666 (LV)	± 4.0%	48%		49%	–	3%
815 (RV)	45%		51%	–	4%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)	October 13–15, 2004	400 (V)	± 4.9%		45%	40%	6%	6%
SurveyUSA	October 5–7, 2004	594 (LV)	± 4.1%	48%	48%	3%	1%
Mason-Dixon	October 4–6, 2004	630 (RV)	± 4.0%	44%		46%	1%	9%
Gallup/CNN/USA Today	October 3–6, 2004	667 (LV)	± 5.0%	43%		54%	–	3%
820 (RV)	± 4.0%	43%		53%	–	4%
SurveyUSA	September 21–23, 2004	625 (LV)	± 4.0%		51%	46%	3%	–
Rasmussen Reports	September 16, 2004	500 (LV)	± 4.3%		49%	48%	1%	1%
Ciruli Associates	September 14–18, 2004	600 (RV)	± 4.0%	45%		46%	–	9%
Tarrance Group (R)	September 14–16, 2004	–	± 4.5%	44%		46%	–	10%
Public Opinion Strategies (R){{Cite web	url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/election/article/0,1299,DRMN_36_3191263,00.html	title=Voters favor Salazar	last=Bartels	website=Rocky Mountain News	date=September 18, 2004	access-date=June 4, 2025	archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010215852/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/election/article/0,1299,DRMN_36_3191263,00.html	archive-date=October 10, 2004}}	September 12–13, 2004	500 (LV)	± 4.3%	42%	53%	1%
Tarrance Group (R)	August 24–26, 2004	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	43%		47%	–	10%
Rasmussen Reports	August 19, 2004	500 (LV)	± 4.5%	45%		49%	2%	4%
SurveyUSA	August 14–16, 2004	618 (LV)	± 4.0%		48%	47%	4%	1%
Harstad Strategic Research (D)	August 2004	–	± 3.5%	42%		48%	–	10%
Mason-Dixon	June 15–18, 2004	800 (RV)	± 3.5%	40%		47%	–	13%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)	April 20–24, 2004	600 (RV)	–	36%		52%	–	12%
Rasmussen Reports	April 14, 2004	500 (LV)	± 4.3%	41%		47%	3%	8%

Bob Schaffer vs. Ken Salazar

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Bob
Schaffer (R)	Ken
Salazar (D)	Other	Undecided
Mason-Dixon	June 15–18, 2004	800 (RV)	± 3.5%	35%	49%	–	16%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)	April 20–24, 2004	600 (RV)	–	37%	48%	–	15%
Rasmussen Reports	April 14, 2004	500 (LV)	± 4.3%	37%	49%	5%	9%

Pete Coors vs. Mike Miles

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Pete
Coors (R)	Mike
Miles (D)	Other	Undecided
Mason-Dixon	June 15–18, 2004	800 (RV)	± 3.5%	45%	30%	–	25%

Bob Schaffer vs. Mike Miles

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Bob
Schaffer (R)	Mike
Miles (D)	Other	Undecided
Mason-Dixon	June 15–18, 2004	800 (RV)	± 3.5%	43%	29%	–	28%

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Pueblo (largest city: Pueblo)
Larimer (largest city: Fort Collins)
Routt (Largest city: Steamboat Springs)
Garfield (largest municipality: Glenwood Springs)
Eagle (largest municipality: Edwards)
Summit (largest municipality: Breckenridge)
Jefferson (largest city: Lakewood)
Clear Creek (largest city: Idaho Springs)
Gilpin (largest city: Central City)
Adams (largest city: Thornton)
Arapahoe (largest city: Aurora)
Gunnison (Largest city: Gunnison)
Lake (Largest city: Leadville)
Pitkin (Largest city: Aspen)
La Plata (largest municipality: Durango)
San Juan (largest municipality: Silverton)
Rio Grande (Largest city: Monte Vista)
Archuleta (Largest city: Pagosa Springs)
Mineral (Largest city: Creede)
Conejos (largest municipality: Manassa)
Huerfano (largest city: Walsenburg)
Alamosa (largest municipality: Alamosa)
Costilla (largest municipality: San Luis)
Saguache (largest city: Center)
Las Animas (largest city: Trinidad)
Bent (Largest city: Las Animas)

Notes

Partisan clients

References

(4 March 2004). "G.O.P. Senator Campbell of Colorado Will Retire". The New York Times.
"Analysis: Owens focus of Senate talk - UPI Archives".
Chris Cillizza. (2004-03-03). "Campbell Exit Sparks a Scramble".
Writer, Steven K. Paulson/AP. (2004-03-10). "Rep. Udall announces his bid for senate".
Chris Cillizza. (2004-03-10). "Salazar Clears the Field".
"Colorado - Election Results 2008 - The New York Times".
"Archived copy".
(7 April 2004). "Trouble Brewing In Colo.?". [[Roll Call]].
(14 April 2004). "Coors launches bid for U.S. Senate". [[CNN]].
"Rocky Mountain News: Denver News, Business, Homes, Jobs, Cars, & Information".
(August 9, 2004). "Colorado hopefuls all tied up".
Cillizza, Chris. (July 19, 2004). "New 527 Targets Coors".
"The New York Times > Congressional Quarterly > Washington > Campaign 2004 > CQ Today: Republican Coors Gets Primary Win for Colorado Senate Seat".
Archives, L. A. Times. (2004-08-11). "Coors Among Winners in Primaries for U.S. Senate".
"Archived copy".
"The Coors campaign's deceptive advertising - Salon.com".
[https://web.archive.org/web/20121026101940/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-2762144.html HighBeam]
(November 2004). "The Final Predictions".
(November 1, 2004). "CO, at the Wire: Salazar Atop Coors; Bush Holds On, Barely".
(November 2, 2004). "Election 2004 Zogby Battleground State Polls".
Brennan, Charlie. (October 28, 2004). "Salazar pulls ahead of Coors as the finish line approaches".
Whaley, Monte. (October 29, 2004). "Tight sprint to Senate – Rivals at 46% each in poll before final bids for votes".
(October 21, 2004). "CO: Bush Stable, Would Get 9 ECV Today; Coors 4 Pts Atop Salazar".
Roper, Peter. (October 22, 2004). "Bush lead shrinking in Colorado – Salazar ahead of Coors".
(October 21, 2004). "Colorado Senate: Coors 49% Salazar 48%".
(October 18, 2004). "Bush gains edge in Colorado".
Bartel, Lynn. (October 19, 2004). "Poll: Coors jumps ahead".
(October 8, 2004). "Bush Up 8 in CO, but Would He Get 5 or 9 ECV? Coors, Salazar Tied".
(October 9, 2004). "'Close race,' but Salazar has edge".
(October 7, 2004). "Dead heat in Colorado; Bush lead slim in New Mexico, Wisconsin".
(September 24, 2004). "Colorado: Bush Now 8 Points Ahead of Kerry, 39 Days to Go".
(September 20, 2004). "Colorado Senate: Coors 49% Salazar 48%".
Roper, Peter. (November 1, 2004). "Coors and Salazar locked in dead heat".
"Colorado 2004 Polls".
(August 20, 2004). "Colorado Senate: Salazar 49% Coors 45%".
(August 17, 2004). "No Breathing Room in Colorado: President & U.S. Senate Races Tied".
Moulitsas, Markos. (September 8, 2004). "CO-Sen: Salazar takes the lead".
(June 28, 2004). "Poll: Salazar leads Senate candidates".
Roberts, Joel. (April 28, 2004). "Washington Wrap".
(April 15, 2004). "Colorado Senate: Salazar 47% Coors 41%".
"Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".

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