2004Final results
2004 election for Illinois's 18th District
U.S. House · Illinois
Ray LaHood (R) won with 70.2% of the vote, defeating Steve Waterworth (D) by 40.5 points.
Ray LaHoodRepublican · winner
70.2%216,047
Steve WaterworthDemocrat
29.8%91,548
307,595 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2004
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Steve WaterworthRay LaHood
$4.5K
Raised by the campaign
$1.3M
$4.5K
Spent by the campaign
$955.8K
$0
Cash on hand
$703K
Campaign money: FEC, through Nov 30, 2004; FEC, through Dec 31, 2004.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2004