1988 Republican Party presidential primaries

The 1988 Republican presidential primaries were the selection process that Republican voters used to choose their nominee for President of the United States in the 1988 U.S. presidential election.

1988 Republican Party presidential primaries

January 14 to June 14, 1988

Candidate George H. W. Bush Bob Dole Pat Robertson Home state Texas Kansas Virginia Contests won 42 5 4 Popular vote 8,253,512 2,333,375 1,097,446 Percentage 67.9% 19.2% 9.0%

Gold denotes a state won by George H. W. Bush. Green denotes a state won by Pat Robertson. Purple denotes a state won by Bob Dole. Grey denotes a state that did not hold a primary.

Previous Republican nominee Ronald Reagan Republican nominee George H. W. Bush

Incumbent Vice President George H.W. Bush won the nomination after winning the delegation count needed through primary elections and caucuses. He was formally nominated at the 1988 Republican National Convention held from August 15 to August 18, 1988, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Candidates

Nominee

Candidate		Experience	Home State	Campaign	Popular vote	Running mate
	George Bush	Vice President of the United States (1981–1989)	Texas	(campaign)	8,253,512 (67.90%)	Dan Quayle

Withdrew before convention

	Candidate	Experience	Home State	Campaign	Popular vote
	Bob Dole	U.S. Senator (1969–1996)	Kansas	(campaign)	2,333,375 (19.19%)
	Pat Robertson	None	Virginia	(campaign)	1,097,446 (9.02%)
	Jack Kemp	U.S. Representative (1971–89)	New York	(campaign)	331,333 (2.72%)

Candidates who received less than 1%

• 
  Former Governor
  Pete du Pont
  of Delaware
  (Withdrew Feb. 18)
• 
  Former U.S. Secretary of State
  Alexander Haig
  (Withdrew Feb. 12)
  (Endorsed Bob Dole)
• 
  Former U.S. Senator
  Paul Laxalt
  of Nevada
  (Withdrew Aug. 26, 1987)
• 
  Former Governor
  Harold E. Stassen
  of Minnesota
• 
  Retired engineer Jack Fellure of West Virginia

Declined to seek nomination

• 
  Real estate developer and future U.S. President Donald Trump (Declined October 22, 1987)