The 2004 United States Executive Branch Elections occurred on November 2nd, 2004. Elections were held for the 7 Cabinet Positions elected by popular vote. The elections took place against the backdrop of the sharp Recession of 2003. Poor polling numbers, largely attributed to the Recession and ongoing investigations into the New Jersey Republican Party, caused President Bloom not to seek re-election.
The left wing Progressive Party made history by nominating its first non-white candidate for President, Interior Secretary James Kent. Kent’s handling of the Interior Department during the recession was widely praised, and he was the most prominent Progressive in the Cabinet. The Republicans looked outside of Washington DC to Washington State, and nominated Governor Tony Wu. Wu was seen as a moderate who could make the tough sell of small government during a recession. The Christian Democrats nominated Senator Thomas Wilbur of Florida. With the Progressives nominating a black man, and the Republicans discredited many feared that the Christian Democrats could break through with conservative views on social questions, but support for strong government programs. However Wilbur would far surpass recent Christian Democratic efforts, the outcome was never truly in doubts. Kent won with the largest margin since 1976, with over a 10 point gap over Wu.
The Vice Presidential ballot told much the same story. The incumbent Republican declined to run, and New York Senator Jean Mulch defeated the Republican and Christian Democratic candidates easily. She did, however, run slightly behind Kent, which caused much mutterings among the political chattering class. Running behind the Presidential ballot is not considered a good sign even for a victorious candidats.
Incumbent Treasury Secretary Sarah Hughes last badly to Mary Kliet, having failed in her efforts to paint over spending by the government as the cause of the Recession, and being even more embroiled in the New Jersey GOP corruption fiasco than President Marsh.
One might think that being the heir of one of New England’s richest families would have put Attorney General W.F. Morton in a bad position. However as Attorney General he had little to do with the economy, having spent the last year launching not very subtle jabs at the other Republican Cabinet measures. And his family’s personal wealth meant he had a source of funds in a year where other Republicans were running dry on cash. Morton would still lose, but only narrowly, to Congressman Todd Marsh of Utah. This narrow loss has made Morton a possible front runner for the GOP in 2008.
The Interior Department, charged with control of the vast American Welfare System, had been the primary source of relief for Americans bereaved by the Recession. Thus when Republican candidate Henry Wentworth bucked Wu’s moderate party line in favor of massive cuts, he was met with a strong backlash from all sides. Combined with popular Commerce and Labor Secretary Paul Schneider’s energetic campaign, and the Republicans were handed a firm rebuke. Schneider received that rarest of political honors: a majority.
As with every election since 1992, nominally Republican but functionally independent Agriculture Secretary Jon Myers was unopposed by any of the major parties. Kyle Hunter of the small radically libertarian Liberty Party would barely scrape 5% of the vote, but overall America would give Jon Myers another hearty pat on the back.
The sudden death of presumptive Progressive nominee Laura Henderson, President of the National Labor Board, two days before the Primary through the race into shock. After numerous court battles surrounding how to count the ballots Maria De Leon of Nevada was nominated, largely on the basis or her name’s similarity to a famous movie star. This got her off to a late start, and De Leon had no actual experience. Meanwhile Tyler Cooper was running far to the left of other Republicans, and picking up votes for it. The Christian Democrats nominated an actual Police Union President,mane would earn their highest percentage in this race. The end result was the only conventional Republican victory in this cycle. Tyler Cooper was instantly launched from obscure Michigan Congressman to possible Presidential candidate in what was surely the most interesting of the year’s elections.