2003–04 Baltimore mayoral election

Baltimore mayoral election, 2003–2004

November 2, 2004

Candidate Martin O'Malley Elbert R. Henderson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 173,030 24,445 Percentage 87.21% 12.32%

Mayor before election Martin O'Malley Democratic Elected mayor Martin O'Malley Democratic

The 2003–2004 Baltimore mayoral election saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Martin O'Malley.

In 1999, Baltimore citizens voted to move mayoral elections to take place in presidential election years, effective with the 2004 elections. However, primary dates in Maryland can only be set by the General Assembly, which refused to move the primary to 2004. As a result, while the primary took place on September 9, 2003; the general election took place 14 months later, on November 2, 2004. Democratic incumbent Martin O'Malley was reelected, but only to a three-year term rather than the usual four-year term.

It would be 2012 before the General Assembly finally agreed to move municipal elections to coincide with presidential elections, effective in 2016.

As of 2020, O'Malley is the last mayor of Baltimore to win re-election to a second full term.

Nominations

Democratic primary

2003 Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Martin O'Malley (incumbent)	59,569	66.61%
	Democratic	Andrey Bundley	28,551	31.93%
	Democratic	A. Robert Kaufman	667	0.75%
	Democratic	Marvin Ray Jones	348	0.39%
	Democratic	Charles U. Smith	288	0.32%
Total votes			89,423

Republican primary

2003 Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Elbert R. Henderson	2,504	100.00%
Total votes			2,504

General election

Baltimore City Mayoral General Election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Martin O'Malley (incumbent)	173,030	87.21%
	Republican	Elbert R. Henderson	24,445	12.32%
	Democratic	Frank M. Conaway (write-in)	926	0.47%
	Democratic	Charles U. Smith (write-in)	4	0.00%
Total votes			198,405
	Democratic hold