1988 United States presidential election

51st quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1988 United States presidential election happened on November 8, 1988. George H. W. Bush, the Republican candidate and Vice President of the United States, won the election. He defeated the Democratic candidate, Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts.

1988 United States presidential election

← 1984 November 8, 1988 1992 →

538 members of the Electoral College
270 electoral votes needed to win
Turnout50.2%[1] Decrease 3.1 pp
 
Nominee George H. W. Bush Michael Dukakis
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Texas Massachusetts
Running mate Dan Quayle Lloyd Bentsen
Electoral vote 426 111[2]
States carried 40 10 + DC
Popular vote 48,886,597 41,809,074
Percentage 53.4% 45.6%

1988 United States presidential election in California1988 United States presidential election in Oregon1988 United States presidential election in Washington (state)1988 United States presidential election in Idaho1988 United States presidential election in Nevada1988 United States presidential election in Utah1988 United States presidential election in Arizona1988 United States presidential election in Montana1988 United States presidential election in Wyoming1988 United States presidential election in Colorado1988 United States presidential election in New Mexico1988 United States presidential election in North Dakota1988 United States presidential election in South Dakota1988 United States presidential election in Nebraska1988 United States presidential election in Kansas1988 United States presidential election in Oklahoma1988 United States presidential election in Texas1988 United States presidential election in Minnesota1988 United States presidential election in Iowa1988 United States presidential election in Missouri1988 United States presidential election in Arkansas1988 United States presidential election in Louisiana1988 United States presidential election in Wisconsin1988 United States presidential election in Illinois1988 United States presidential election in Michigan1988 United States presidential election in Indiana1988 United States presidential election in Ohio1988 United States presidential election in Kentucky1988 United States presidential election in Tennessee1988 United States presidential election in Mississippi1988 United States presidential election in Alabama1988 United States presidential election in Georgia1988 United States presidential election in Florida1988 United States presidential election in South Carolina1988 United States presidential election in North Carolina1988 United States presidential election in Virginia1988 United States presidential election in West Virginia1988 United States presidential election in the District of Columbia1988 United States presidential election in Maryland1988 United States presidential election in Delaware1988 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania1988 United States presidential election in New Jersey1988 United States presidential election in New York1988 United States presidential election in Connecticut1988 United States presidential election in Rhode Island1988 United States presidential election in Vermont1988 United States presidential election in New Hampshire1988 United States presidential election in Maine1988 United States presidential election in Massachusetts1988 United States presidential election in Hawaii1988 United States presidential election in Alaska1988 United States presidential election in the District of Columbia1988 United States presidential election in Maryland1988 United States presidential election in Delaware1988 United States presidential election in New Jersey1988 United States presidential election in Connecticut1988 United States presidential election in Rhode Island1988 United States presidential election in Massachusetts1988 United States presidential election in Vermont1988 United States presidential election in New Hampshire
Presidential election results map. Red denotes states won by Bush/Quayle and blue denotes those won by Dukakis/Bentsen. Light blue is the electoral vote for Bentsen/Dukakis by a West Virginia faithless elector. Numbers indicate electoral votes cast by each state and the District of Columbia.

President before election

Ronald Reagan
Republican

Elected President

George H. W. Bush
Republican

This presidential election was the first since 1948, as well as the most recent one to date, in which a political party won a third presidential election in a row. This also remains the most recent in which a candidate won over 400 electoral votes. Since the 1988 election, no candidate has managed to equal or surpass Bush's number of electoral votes won or popular vote percentage.

Bush ran an aggressive campaign taking advantage of a good economy, a stable international stage, and President Ronald Reagan's popularity. Meanwhile, Dukakis's campaign suffered from several miscues, including failure to defend from Bush's attacks. This allowed Bush to win with a substantial margin of the popular vote; while winning the Electoral College by a landslide.

Bush won the election by 426 electoral votes. Governor of Massachusetts Michael Dukakis got 111 electoral votes. Lloyd Bentsen got 1 electoral vote by a West Virginia faithless elector.

Candidates change

Democratic Party change

Democratic candidates:

Candidates Gallery change

Republican Party change

Republican candidates:

Candidates Gallery change

References change

  1. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  2. A faithless Democratic elector voted for Bentsen for president and Dukakis for vice president
  3. "Dukakis announces bid for presidential nomination". The Milwaukee Sentinel. April 30, 1987. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  4. Mattiace, Peter (September 8, 1987). "Jesse Jackson announces plan to seek nomination". Gettysburg Times. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  5. "Sen. Gore announces presidential aspiration". Bangor Daily News. April 12, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  6. "Gephardt Announces Bid For White House". The Dispatch. February 23, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  7. "Sen. Simon announces candidacy". The Lewiston Daily Sun. April 10, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  8. "Gary Hart announces he will seek the presidency in 1988". The Fort Scott Tribune. April 13, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  9. Gailey, Phil (January 8, 1987). "BABBITT OF ARIZONA FIRST DEMOCRAT TO FORM KEY PRESIDENTIAL GROUP". The New York Times. p. 24. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  10. "Sen. Biden announces candidacy". The Milwaukee Journal. June 9, 1987. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  11. "LaRouche announces candidacy". Eugene Register-Guard. January 27, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  12. "Former Klan leader announces bid". Spokane Chronicle. June 9, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  13. Wilkinson, D.A. (December 4, 1987). "Traficant hat tossed into ring". The Vindicator. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  14. "Applegate To Run As Favorite Son". Portsmouth Daily Times. November 24, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  15. "Man causes Statehouse Stir". The Day. May 8, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  16. "Bush Announces Quest for Presidency". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. October 13, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  17. "Dole announces presidential hopes in hometown talk". Star-News. November 10, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  18. "Robertson announces". Ellensburg Daily Record. October 2, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  19. "Kemp announces bid for nomination". The Bryan Times. April 6, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  20. Dionne Jr., E. J. (September 17, 1986). "DU PONT ENTERS THE G.O.P. RACE FOR PRESIDENT". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  21. "Haig announces his bid for presidency". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 24, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  22. Wallace, David (August 6, 1987). "GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MAKES STOP IN SOUTH FLORIDA". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  23. Witt, Evans (April 29, 1987). "Laxalt announces bid for presidency, says 'there is unfinished work to do'". Gettysburg Times. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  24. "Rumsfeld enters race". The Telegraph-Herald. January 20, 1987. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  25. "Stassen announces his candidacy". The Milwaukee Journal. September 22, 1987. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  26. "'Super Tuesday' Ballots Ready; Some Unfamiliar Names Explained". The Durant Daily Democrat. March 6, 1988. Retrieved February 16, 2013.