The history of US elections is filled with remarkable patterns, surprising statistics, and defining moments that have shaped the nation’s political landscape. From landslide victories and controversial defeats to the rise of modern campaigning and the rare achievements of third parties, the numbers behind these contests tell a story of change, resilience, and transformation. Looking back across more than two centuries of democracy, these statistics reveal not only how Americans have voted, but also how political strategies, social movements, and shifting demographics have influenced the outcome of presidential races. Here, we explore 10 compelling insights into the history of US elections.
1988 Was the Last Time an Incumbent Vice President Was Elected President Since 1836
In 1988, George H. W. Bush strolled to victory, handily defeating Democratic Party nominee Michael Dukakis. At the time, Ronald Reagan was president, and Bush—then vice president—became the first sitting VP to succeed to the presidency via election since Martin Van Buren in 1836.
He was also the first person to succeed a president from his own party in an election since 1928, and the last one to do so to date.
The Last Occasion in Which a Third Party Won Any States Was in 1968
Despite his impressive performance in 1992, where he won nearly 20% of the vote, Ross Perot was unable to secure any electoral college votes. The last third party to carry any states was in 1968, when George Wallace’s American Independence Party captured five Southern states—Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and Wallace’s home state of Alabama—earning 46 electoral votes.
Wallace, a hardline segregationist, was notorious for his motto: “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.”
Richard Nixon Was on All but One Republican Presidential Ticket, 1952–1976
With the exception of 1964, Richard Nixon appeared on every Republican presidential ticket from 1952 to 1976. He began as Dwight Eisenhower’s running mate in 1952, won re-election as VP in 1956, and narrowly lost the 1960 presidential race to John F. Kennedy.
In 1968, Nixon staged a comeback, winning the Republican nomination on the first ballot and defeating Hubert Humphrey with a law-and-order campaign. He dominated again in 1972, winning 49 states and 520 electoral votes, just as the Watergate scandal was beginning to unfold.
The only exception to his streak was 1964, when Barry Goldwater ran with William E. Miller. On a similar note, every presidential ticket from 1980–2008, with the exception of 1996, featured a member of the Bush family.
The Modern Presidential Campaign Was Conceived in 1896
Today, presidential campaigns are billion-dollar affairs—the 2020 race cost an estimated $14 billion.
One of the first truly modern campaigns came in 1896, when Democrat William Jennings Bryan barnstormed across 27 states, delivering 500 speeches in 100 days and reaching an audience of five million.
He covered 18,000 miles in three months, once making 36 speeches in a single day. Though he lost, Bryan would run again in 1900 and 1908, becoming one of just two individuals to win electoral votes in three elections without ever becoming president.
1932 Was the Last Occasion Republicans Won the Majority of African-American Votes
In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Herbert Hoover in a landslide during the depths of the Great Depression. Before then, African-Americans had largely supported Republicans, the “party of Lincoln.” But Roosevelt’s New Deal programs began shifting that loyalty.
By 1936, African-American voters had moved firmly into the Democratic column—making 1932 the last time Republicans carried most of their votes.
Only Four Presidents Had a Lower Percentage of the Vote in Successful Re-Elections
Franklin D. Roosevelt is one of just four presidents whose vote share declined in later re-elections. Though his Electoral College tally rose from 472 in 1932 to 523 in 1936, his percentage dipped in both 1940 and 1944.
The other three were:
- James Madison: 72% in 1808 → 59% in 1812
- Woodrow Wilson: 82% in 1912 → 52% in 1916
- Barack Obama: 68% in 2008 → 62% in 2012
1996 Saw the First Presidential Campaign Websites
The otherwise forgettable 1996 race between Bill Clinton and Bob Dole marked a digital milestone: the first presidential campaign websites. Dole and running mate Jack Kemp launched their site with help from two Arizona State students. Clinton and Gore quickly followed, ushering in the era of digital politics.
The Largest Height Difference Between Presidential Candidates Was a Foot
The 1860 election pitted Abraham Lincoln, at 6’4” (the tallest US president ever), against Stephen Douglas, just 5’4”. The contest was one of the most consequential in US history, leading to Southern secession and the Civil War.
It was also a rematch of their famous 1858 Senate debates, when “Little Giant” Douglas prevailed in the Illinois race despite losing the popular vote.
The First Woman to Run for President Was in 1872
Long before Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, or Geraldine Ferraro, Victoria Woodhull ran for president in 1872. Representing the Equal Rights Party, she championed women’s suffrage, labour reform, and social justice.
At just 34, she was technically underage, and on Election Day she was actually in jail. Her running mate, abolitionist Frederick Douglass, never formally accepted the nomination, but is sometimes considered the first African-American on a presidential ticket.
Her campaign was largely dismissed, hindered by scandal, and she is believed to have received around 2,000 votes.
The Presidential Candidate Who Ran from Prison
In 1920, Socialist candidate Eugene Debs ran for president from a prison cell, serving 10 years for sedition under the Espionage Act. Debs had already run in 1900, 1904, 1908, and 1912, where he earned his best result (6%). In 1920, Convict No. 9653 still won nearly a million votes (3.4%).
After the election, actress Mae West petitioned President Warren Harding to release him, and Harding commuted Debs’ sentence in 1921.
Senator Bernie Sanders later admitted in his autobiography: “I have a plaque of Debs on a wall in my Senate office.”
Closing Thoughts
From Victoria Woodhull to Eugene Debs, George Wallace to Richard Nixon, the history of US elections is filled with fascinating stories and unusual statistics. These moments show how unpredictable and uniquely human the American democratic process can be.