The election of 2000 was one of the most dramatic and controversial elections in American history. Entering the new millennium, the United States was enjoying peace and prosperity, but the year ended in a constitutional crisis over ballots, recounts, and a Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency.
Clinton’s Second Term & Vice President Gore
As Bill Clinton’s second term wound down, he presided over a booming economy, a budget surplus, and a strong approval rating that hovered near 60% — despite the cloud of scandal. His administration had overseen peace efforts in Bosnia and Northern Ireland, attempted negotiations in the Middle East, and managed the Kosovo conflict. Yet critics pointed to inaction during the Rwandan genocide and unfinished business in Somalia.
Domestically, Clinton signed the 1994 Crime Bill and the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act repealing Glass-Steagall, both of which became controversial in later years. But the biggest shadow was the Monica Lewinsky affair and impeachment trial. Though Clinton was acquitted, the scandal left Vice President Al Gore with a difficult choice: embrace Clinton’s popularity or distance himself. He chose the latter — a decision historians believe weakened his campaign.
Gore secured the Democratic nomination after defeating former Senator Bill Bradley. His campaign theme, “Prosperity and Progress,” highlighted the strong economy while promising reform. To reinforce moral credibility, he chose Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman — the first Jewish candidate on a major-party ticket and notably a Democrat who had publicly rebuked Clinton over Lewinsky.
The 2000 Republican Presidential Candidates
The Republican primary initially looked competitive. Texas Governor George W. Bush, son of former President George H.W. Bush, positioned himself as a “compassionate conservative” and raised record-breaking funds. His chief rival was Arizona Senator John McCain, a Vietnam War hero whose “Straight Talk Express” campaign buses and blunt style won media praise and independent voters.
McCain stunned Bush by winning the New Hampshire primary, but Bush’s team — guided by strategist Karl Rove — regained momentum with aggressive tactics in South Carolina. Negative ads and whisper campaigns about McCain’s record and family undercut his rise, and Bush dominated Super Tuesday. By spring, Bush had secured the GOP nomination.
For his running mate, Bush chose Dick Cheney — who had ironically been tasked with helping select a VP. Cheney, a former Defense Secretary, bolstered Bush’s foreign policy credentials but also tied him to corporate interests through Halliburton.
Campaign Strategies & Debates
Al Gore campaigned on fiscal discipline, pledging to balance the budget annually, protect Medicare and Social Security in a “lockbox,” and pay down the national debt. His message was technocratic but tied to continued prosperity.
Bush promised broad tax cuts, education reform, and an end to Washington partisanship, pledging to bring “honor and dignity back to the White House.” He emphasized humility and bipartisanship, themes designed to contrast with Clinton-era scandals.
Meanwhile, Green Party candidate Ralph Nader ran on the slogan “Not for Sale,” accusing both major parties of being beholden to corporations. He attracted young progressives, environmentalists, and independents dissatisfied with the status quo.
The debates became defining moments. Gore was well-prepared and detailed, but his frequent sighs, eye rolls, and interruptions came across as arrogant. Bush, with lower expectations, benefited by appearing affable and relatable, even if he stumbled on policy details. Nader, polling near 3%, was excluded from the debates, angering his supporters.
Election of 2000 Fiasco
On November 7, 2000, the nation braced for a close contest — but few expected the chaos that unfolded.
Networks first called Florida for Gore, then retracted it. Later they called it for Bush, then pulled it back again. By midnight, the presidency hinged on Florida alone, where the margin was just a few hundred votes. Gore phoned Bush to concede, then retracted his concession as results tightened.
The controversy quickly focused on Florida’s ballots: “hanging chads” (incompletely punched paper ballots), “dimpled chads,” and the infamous Palm Beach County “butterfly ballot,” which confused thousands of voters — some accidentally casting votes for Pat Buchanan instead of Gore. Florida’s Republican Secretary of State, Katherine Harris, certified Bush’s narrow lead of 930 votes, while Democrats pressed for manual recounts in key counties.
Supreme Court Ruling & Election Results
The recount battle culminated in Bush v. Gore. On December 12, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5–4 decision, halted recounts, ruling that varying standards violated the Equal Protection Clause. The ruling applied only to this case — a highly unusual limitation.
With recounts stopped, Bush’s certified margin in Florida stood at just 537 votes out of nearly six million cast. That razor-thin margin handed him the state’s 25 electoral votes and, with them, the Election of 2000 and the presidency.
George W. Bush became the 43rd President of the United States with 271 electoral votes, while Al Gore received 266 (one D.C. elector abstained). Gore, however, won the national popular vote: 48.4% to Bush’s 47.9% — a margin of about 544,000 votes. Ralph Nader won 2.7%, widely blamed by Democrats for siphoning critical votes in Florida and New Hampshire, though debate continues about his true impact.
Outro: A Disputed Mandate
The election of 2000 was the closest in modern history and the first since 1888 where the popular vote winner lost the presidency. Just four years earlier, in the election of 1996, Bill Clinton had coasted to re-election amid peace and prosperity. By 2000, America remained prosperous, but bitterly divided.
George W. Bush entered office with a disputed mandate, his legitimacy questioned by millions. Yet within a year, the September 11 attacks would redefine his presidency and overshadow the controversy of his election, setting the stage for a new era in American politics, and America itself.
