The Omnibus

Issue date: 11/4/04 Section: News

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"We are entering a season of hope" said President Bush during his victory speech following the concession of Democrat challenger John Kerry.

Media Credit: Jil Shipe Senior Justin Newkirk reads over his election ballot as he prepares to vote in the Tuesday, Nov. 2 General Election.

Before Kerry's concession, many U.S. voters were hoping the ballot box issues experienced in the 2000 presidential election would be avoided. These anxieties, however, were put to rest shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3 when Kerry called Bush to concede Ohio and the presidential race. In the end, the Electoral College is expected to go Bush with 279 votes to Kerry's 252.

Bush became the first president in several decades to be re-elected and gain partisan seats in Congress. The Republican party gained five Senate and four House of Representatives seats. Many analysts say the gained seats will help Bush with economic reform and the appointment of judges.

The Republican senate seat gains included South Dakota where John Thune defeated Tom Daschle, the Senate Minority leader. Republicans also gained seats in Louisiana, North Carolina and Florida.

In Florida, Mel Martinez claimed the seat formerly held by Bob Graham, making him the first Cuban-American to be elected to the Senate.

In other senate races, Illinois Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican Alan Keyes. In Georgia, the seat of retiring conservative Democrat Zell Miller went to Johnny Isakson, a Republican.

Eleven states saw voters pass marriage amendments stipulating the institution of marriage as being between a man and a woman. Utah, Oregon, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Ohio, North Dakota, Montana, Mississippi, Michigan, Kentucky and Georgia passed such amendments.

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