November 29, 2024 | Jesse Singer

The Largest Victories In Presidential History


Big In The Electoral College

As we are reminded every four years, the President of the United States isn't chosen by a pure popular vote. Instead, each state has a number of electoral college delegates—and the candidate that wins the popular vote in that state (with the exception of a state or two) gets all the delegates. The number of electors has increased over the years—but since 1960 there have been 538 electors up for grabs, with 270 being the magic number to get the win.

Because the number of electors has changed over the years, rather than look at the number of electors won we judge these victories based on the percentage of the available electors that the victor won. So, let's get out the vote...

1856: James Buchanan (58.78%)

Total Electors: 296

James Buchanan (Democrat): 174

John C Frémont (Republican): 114

Millard Fillmore (Know Nothing/Whig): 8

Slavery was the main issue in the election and back then the Democrats were seen as the "pro-slavery party".

15th president of the United States James BuchananGeorge Peter Alexander Healy, Wikimedia Commons

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1812: James Madison (58.99%)

Total Electors: 217

James Madison (Democratic-Republican): 128

DeWitt Clinton (Democratic-Republican): 89

Fourth President of the United States James MadisonJohn Vanderlyn, Wikimedia Commons

1860: Abraham Lincoln (59.41%)

Total Electors: 252

Abraham Lincoln (Republican): 180

John C Breckinridge (Southern Democratic): 72

John Bell (Constitutional Union): 39

Stephen A Douglas (Democrat): 12

Although Lincoln won the popular vote by a healthy margin, his entire electoral plurality came from northern states. This accentuated the divide in the country that had been building for a decade and was a major catalyst for the states that would become the Confederacy seceding from the Union.

Abraham Lincoln half-length portrait facing right - 1860Cleveland Public Library, Wikimedia Commons

1896: William McKinley (60.63%)

Total Electors: 447

William McKinley (Republican): 271

William Jennings Bryan (Democrat): 176

This election took place during the economic depression known as the Panic of 1893.

25th president of the United States William McKinleyWhite House, Wikimedia Commons

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2012: Barack Obama (61.71%)

Total Electors: 538

Barack Obama (Democrat): 332

Mitt Romney (Republican): 206

Obama was the first president since Ronald Reagan in 1984 to win a majority of the national popular vote more than once.

Official photographic portrait of US President Barack ObamaPete Souza, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1844: James K Polk (61.82%)

Total Electors: 275

James K Polk (Democrat): 170

Henry Clay (Whig): 105

While Polk's electoral victory was solid, he barely won the popular vote—defeating Clay by fewer than 40,000 votes.

United States president James Knox PolkBrady, Mathew B, Wikimedia Commons

1892: Grover Cleveland (62.39%)

Total Electors: 444

Grover Cleveland (Democrat): 277

Benjamin Harrison (Republican): 145

James B Weaver (Populist): 22

With the win, Cleveland became the first president in American history to be elected to a non-consecutive second term.

President of the United States Grover ClevelandUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

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1900: William McKinley (65.32%)

Total Electors: 447

William McKinley (Republican): 292

William Jennings Bryan (Democrat): 155

This was a rematch of the previous elections from 1896—and while rematches had happened before, this was the first time the same candidate won both times.

25th president of the United States William McKinleyUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons

1908: William Howard Taft (66.46%)

Total Electors: 483

William Howard Taft (Republican): 321

William Jennings Bryan (Democrat): 162

Yup, Bryan lost again. William Jennings Bryan ran for president three times and came in second all three times. This being his worst loss of the three.

27th president of the United States William Howard TaftPach Brothers, Wikimedia Commons

2008: Barack Obama

Total Electors: 538

Barack Obama (Democrat): 365

John McCain (Republican): 173

Obama flipped 10 states from Republican to Democrat this election, including (and it sounds crazy to even think it today) Florida.

Barack Obama at the Presidential Health Forum in Las Vegas - 2007Center for American Progress Action Fund, CC-BY-SA-2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1828: Andrew Jackson (68.20%)

Total Electors: 261

Andrew Jackson (Democrat): 178

John Quincy Adams (National Republican): 83

9.5% of Americans cast a vote for president in 1828—compared with 3.4% in 1824.

7th president of the United States Andrew JacksonRalph Eleaser Whiteside Earl, Wikimedia Commons

1992: Bill Clinton (68.77%)

Total Electors: 538

Bill Clinton (Democrat): 370

George HW Bush (Republican): 168

Ross Perot (Independent): 0

While Perot didn't win a single electoral vote, he did get an impressive 19,743,821 votes—which equated to 18.9%.

42nd president of the United States Bill ClintonKenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1808: James Madison (69.71%)

Total Electors: 175

James Madison (Democratic-Republican): 122

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (Federalist): 47

James Madison, President of the United StatesEdwin, David, Wikimedia Commons

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1996: Bill Clinton (70.45%)

Total Electors: 538

Bill Clinton (Democrat): 379

Bob Dole (Republican): 159

Ross Perot (Independent): 0

Perot again won no electoral votes, but this time picked up 8,085,294 votes (8.4%).

42nd president of the United States Bill ClintonThe U.S. National Archives, Picryl

1904: Theodore Roosevelt (70.59%)

Total Electors: 476

Theodore Roosevelt (Republican): 336

Alton B Parker (Democrat): 140

Roosevelt became the first presidential candidate to receive over 300 electoral votes in a presidential election.

26th president of the United States Theodore RooseveltPach Brothers, Wikimedia Commons

1924: Calvin Coolidge (71.94%)

Total Electors: 531

Calvin Coolidge (Republican): 382

John W Davis (Democrat): 136

Robert M La Follette (Progressive): 13

Davis won the lowest share of the popular vote of any Democratic nominee in history (28.8%).

30th president of the United States Calvin CoolidgeNotman Studio, Boston, Wikimedia Commons

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1868: Ulysses S Grant (72.79%)

Total Electors: 294

Ulysses S Grant (Republican): 214

Horatio Seymour (Democrat): 80

This was the first post-civil war election and the first since abolition.

Official Presidential portrait of Ulysses Simpson GrantHenry Ulke, Wikimedia Commons

1920: Warren G Harding (76.08%)

Total Electors: 531

Warren G Harding (Republican): 404

James M Cox (Democrat): 127

The first election following the ratification of the 19th Amendment—giving men and women equal voting rights.

29th president of the United States Warren G HardingHarris & Ewing, Wikimedia Commons

1832: Andrew Jackson (76.57%)

Total Electors: 286

Andrew Jackson (Democrat): 219

Henry Clay (National Republican): 49

John Floyd (Nullifier): 11

William Wirt (Anti-Masonic): 7

The first election to use presidential nominating conventions.

Engraving of the 7th President Andrew JacksonAlexander Hay Ritchie, Wikimedia Commons

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1988: George HW Bush (79.18%)

Total Electors: 538

George HW Bush (Republican): 426

Michael Dukakis (Democrat): 111

Lloyd Bentsen: 1

Although Lloyd Bentsen was on the Democratic ticket as Dukakis' Vice Presidential running mate, a rare event occurred with a West Virginian faithless elector casting her electoral vote for Bentsen.

President George W. Bush delivers his Inaugural AddressTSgt. Lou Briscese, USAF, Wikimedia Commons

1840: William Henry Harrison (79.59%)

Total Electors: 294

William Henry Harrison (Whig): 234

Martin Van Buren (Democrat): 60

The first, of two times, where the Whig party won the presidency.

9th President of the United States William Henry HarrisonAlbert Gallatin Hoit, Wikimedia Commons

1944: Franklin D Roosevelt (81.36%)

Total Electors: 531

Franklin D Roosevelt (Democrat): 432

Thomas E Dewey (Republican): 99

This victory gave FDR his unprecedented 4th term in office.

32nd president of the United States Franklin Delano RooseveltLeon Perskie, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1912: Woodrow Wilson (81.92%)

Total Electors: 531

Woodrow Wilson (Democrat): 435

Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive): 88

William Howard Taft (Republican): 8

Eugene V Debs (Socialist): 0

Theodore Roosevelt had previously served two terms as President (1901-09) as a member of the Republican Party.

28th president of the United States Woodrow WilsonHarris & Ewing, Wikimedia Commons

1872: Ulysses S Grant (81.95%)

Total Electors: 352

Ulysses S Grant (Republican)

Horace Greeley (Liberal Republican)

Grant carried 31 of the 37 states.

18th president of the United States Ulysses S. GrantBrady-Handy Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons

1952: Dwight D Eisenhower (83.24%)

Total Electors: 531

Dwight D Eisenhower (Republican): 442

Adlai Stevenson II (Democrat): 89

Eisenhower was the first Republican President in 20 years.

34th president of the United States Dwight D. EisenhowerThe U.S. National Archives, Picryl

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1928: Herbert Hoover (83.62%)

Total Electors: 531

Herbert Hoover (Republican): 444

Al Smith (Democrat): 87

Hoover became the first president born west of the Mississippi River.

US President Herbert C. Hoover in 1928Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons

1816: James Monroe (84.33%)

Total Electors: 217

James Monroe (Democratic-Republican): 183

Rufus King (Federalist): 34

This would be the last time the Federalist Party yielded a candidate.

White House of President James Monroe in 1819Samuel Finley Breese Morse, Wikimedia Commons

1940: Franklin D Roosevelt (84.56%)

Total Electors: 531

Franklin D Roosevelt (Democrat): 449

Wendell Willkie (Republican): 82

This was when FDR was elected to his third term in office, something that had never been done before (and never would be done again).

Official Presidential portrait of Franklin Delano RooseveltFrank O. Salisbury, Wikimedia Commons

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1852: Franklin Pierce (85.81%)

Total Electors: 296

Franklin Pierce (Democrat): 254

Winfield Scott (Whig): 42

It would be 80 years before the Democrats would once again win a majority in both the popular vote and the electoral college.

14th president of the United States Franklin PierceMathew Benjamin Brady, Wikimedia Commons

1956: Dwight D Eisenhower (86.06%)

Total Electors: 531

Dwight D Eisenhower (Republican): 457

Adlai Stevenson II (Democrat): 73

This was the last election before the institution of the 22nd Amendment, which established term limits.

34th president of the United States Dwight D. EisenhowerWhite House photographer, Wikimedia Commons

1932: Franklin D Roosevelt (88.89%)

Total Electors: 531

Franklin D Roosevelt (Democrat): 472

Herbert Hoover (Republican): 59

FDR defeated incumbent president Hoover and became the first Democrat to be elected president since 1916.

Franklin D. Roosevelt in the early 1930sVincenzo Laviosa, Wikimedia Commons

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1964: Lyndon B Johnson (90.33%)

Total Electors: 538

Lyndon B Johnson (Democrat): 486

Barry Goldwater (Republican): 52

LBJ won an amazing 61.1% of the popular vote.

President Lyndon B. Johnson in the Oval OfficeArnold Newman, Wikimedia Commons

1980: Ronald Reagan (90.89%)

Total Electors: 538

Ronald Reagan (Republican): 489

Jimmy Carter (Democrat): 49

John B Anderson (Independant): 0

Carter was the first incumbent Democratic president to lose an election since 1888.

Ronald Reagan's presidential portrait, 1981Michael Evans, Wikimedia Commons

1864: Abraham Lincoln (90.99%)

Total Electors: 233

Abraham Lincoln (Republican): 212

George B McClellan (Democrat): 21

Lincoln became the first Northern president to ever win re-election.

16th president of the United States Abraham LincolnWard Hill Lamon, Wikimedia Commons

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1804: Thomas Jefferson (92.05%)

Total Electors: 176

Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican): 162

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (Federalist): 14

The first election post the ratification of the 12th amendment—which reformed the procedures for electing the

 President and Vice-President.

Official presidential portrait of Thomas JeffersonRembrandt Peale, Wikimedia Commons

1972: Richard Nixon (96.65%)

Total Electors: 538

Richard Nixon (Republican): 520

George McGovern (Democrat): 17

Nixon's 60.7% of the popular vote is the largest popular vote victory by any Republican president...ever.

37th president of the United States Richard NixonOllie Atkins, White House photographer, Wikimedia Commons

1984: Ronald Reagan (97.58%)

Total Electors: 538

Ronald Reagan (Republican): 525

Walter Mondale (Democrat): 13

Mondale won just one state and the District of Columbia.

President Ronald Reagan Making A Statement To The PressReagan White House Photographs, Wikimedia Commons

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1936: Franklin D Roosevelt (98.49%)

Total Electors: 531

Franklin D Roosevelt (Democrat): 523

Alf Landon (Republican): 8

FDR's 60.8% of the popular vote was the largest since 1820 (although, that one doesn't really count).

Portrait of President Franklin D. RooseveltFDR Presidential Library & Museum, Flickr

1820: James Monroe (99.57%)

Total Electors: 232

James Monroe (Democratic-Republican): 231

Monroe ran pretty much unopposed. The only electoral vote he didn't get was from faithless elector William Plumer—who gave his vote to Secretary of State John Quincy Adams.

Portrait of President James MonroeGilbert Stuart, Wikimedia Commons

1788–1789: George Washington (100%)

Total Electors: 69

George Washington (Independent): 69

The first presidential election in the history of the United States of America. While the new constitution had established an Electoral College, different states had different methods for determining their electoral votes. At this time each elector would cast two votes for two candidates.

All 69 electors cast one vote for Washington—thus making his election unanimous. John Adams won 34 electoral votes—giving him the vice presidency. The 35 other electoral votes were split among 10 candidates.

President George Washington, a 1795 portraitGilbert Stuart, Wikimedia Commons

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1792: George Washington (100%)

Total Electors: 132

George Washington (Independent): 132

Washington again received one vote from all 132 electors. Adams won 77 electoral votes, enough to win re-election as VP.

First president of the United States George WashingtonGilbert Stuart, Wikimedia Commons


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