Presidential Elections

Trump became the second president to win non-consecutive terms.

Highest voter turnout since 1900. Biden won over 81 million votes.

Trump won despite losing the popular vote by nearly 3 million.

Obama won every swing state except North Carolina.

Obama became the first African American elected president.

Ohio was the decisive state.

Decided by 537 votes in Florida. Bush v. Gore.

First Democrat to win reelection since FDR.

Ross Perot won 18.9% as an independent.

"Read my lips: no new taxes."

Reagan won 49 of 50 states.

"Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

Carter was a little-known Georgia governor who ran as an outsider.

Nixon won 49 of 50 states. Resigned less than two years later.

George Wallace won 5 Southern states as a third-party segregationist.

LBJ won the largest popular vote percentage since 1820.

Closest popular vote of the 20th century. First televised debates.

Rematch of 1952.

"I Like Ike" pioneered modern campaign advertising.

Greatest upset in presidential election history. "Dewey Defeats Truman."

FDR won an unprecedented fourth term. Died 82 days into the term.

FDR broke the two-term tradition.

Most lopsided Electoral College victory since 1820.

FDR won 42 of 48 states.

Smith was the first Catholic major-party nominee.

Robert La Follette ran a strong third-party campaign.

First election in which women could vote nationwide.

Wilson campaigned on "He Kept Us Out of War."

Four-way race: Wilson, Roosevelt, Taft, Debs.

Bryan lost for the third time.

Roosevelt won in a landslide.

McKinley was assassinated in 1901, making Roosevelt president.

Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech is one of the most famous in political history.

Cleveland became the only president to serve non-consecutive terms.

Cleveland won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College.

First Democrat elected since the Civil War.

Popular vote margin was fewer than 10,000 votes.

Most disputed election in U.S. history.

Greeley died before the Electoral College voted.

First election where African Americans could vote in some states.

Election held during the Civil War.

Lincoln won with under 40% in a four-way race. Triggered secession.

First election featuring the Republican Party.

Last election won by the Whig Party.

Taylor had never voted before.

Polk was the first "dark horse" candidate.

Harrison died 31 days after inauguration.

Whigs ran multiple regional candidates.

First election with national nominating conventions.

Jackson founded the modern Democratic Party.

The House chose Adams despite Jackson winning more votes — the "Corrupt Bargain."

Monroe ran virtually unopposed.

Last election featuring the Federalist Party.

First wartime presidential election.

Madison was Jefferson's handpicked successor.

First election under the 12th Amendment.

Jefferson and Burr tied. The House chose Jefferson after 36 ballots. Led to the 12th Amendment.

First contested presidential election.

Washington again received every electoral vote.

Washington was unanimously elected by the Electoral College.