Apple C. 2020. The 18 closest
presidential elections. The Atlanta Journal Constitution. (November 24): A6.
Summary by James R. Martin, Ph.D., CMA
Professor Emeritus, University of South Florida
Political Issues Main
The author provides the 18 closest elections in U.S. history along with some
additional comments about each election. Trump's win in 2016 is the 3rd closest
election, and Biden's win in 2020 is the 13th closest election. Note that the
popular vote percentages do not add to 100 percent because there were always
other candidates in each race. In the five closest races, the candidate with the
most popular votes did not win the election.
18. 1948: Truman won vs. Dewey
Popular Vote Margin: +4.5%. (Truman 49.6%, Dewey 45.1%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +114 (Truman 303, Dewey 189)
17. 1896: McKinley won vs. Bryan
Popular Vote Margin: +4.3% (McKinley 51.0%, Bryan
46.7%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +95 (McKinley 271, Bryan 176
16. 2012: Obama won vs. Romney
Popular Vote Margin: +3.9% (Obama 51.1%, Romney 47.2%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +126 (Obama 332, Romney 206)
15. 1916: Wilson won vs. Hughes
Popular Vote Margin: +3.1% (Wilson 49.2%, Hughes
46.1%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +23 (Wilson 277, Hughes 254)
14. 1892: Cleveland won vs. Harrison
Popular Vote Margin: +3.0% (Cleveland 46.0% Harrison
43%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +132 (Cleveland 277, Harrison
145)
13. 2020: Biden won vs. Trump
Popular Vote Margin: +2.8% (Biden 51%, Trump 47.2%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +74 (Biden 306, Trump 232)
12. 2004: Bush won vs. Kerry
Popular Vote Margin: +2.4% (Bush 50.7%, Kerry 48.3%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +35 (Bush 286, Kerry 251)
11. 1976: Carter won vs. Ford
Popular Vote Margin: +2.1% (Carter 50.1%, Ford 48.0%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +57 (Carter 297, Ford 240)
10. 1844: Polk won vs. Clay
Popular Vote Margin: +1.4% (Polk 49.5%, Clay 48.1%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +65 (Polk 170, Clay 105)
9. 1968: Nixon won vs. Humphrey
Popular Vote Margin: +0.7% (Nixon 43.4%, Humphrey
42.7%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +110 (Nixon 301, Humphrey 191)
8. 1884: Cleveland won vs. Blaine
Popular Vote Margin: +0.57% (Cleveland 48.85%, Blaine
48.28%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +37 (Cleveland 219, Blaine
182)
7. 1960: Kennedy won vs. Nixon
Popular Vote Margin: +0.17% (Kennedy 49.72%, Nixon
49.55%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +84 (Kennedy 303, Nixon 219)
6. 1880: Garfield won vs. Hancock
Popular Vote Margin: +0.11% (Garfield 48.32%, Hancock
48.21%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +59 (Garfield 214, Hancock
155)
5. 2000: Bush won vs. Gore
Popular Vote Margin: -0.5% (Bush 47.9%, Gore 48.4%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +5 (Bush 271, Gore 266)
4. 1888: Harrison won vs. Cleveland
Popular Vote Margin: -0.8% (Harrison 47.8%, Cleveland
48.65%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +65 (Harrison 233, Cleveland
168)
3. 2016: Trump won vs. Clinton
Popular Vote Margin: -2.1% (Trump 46.1%, Clinton
48.2%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +77 (Trump 304, Clinton 227)
2. 1876: Hayes won vs. Tilden
Popular Vote Margin: -3% (Hayes 47.9%, Tilden 50.9%)
Electoral Vote Margin: +1 (Hayes 185, Tilden 184)
1. 1824: Adams won vs. Jackson and others*
Popular Vote Margin: -10.5% (Adams 30.9%, Jackson
41.4%)
Electoral Vote Margin: -15 (Adams 84, Jackson 99)
_____________________________
* In 1824 there were two other candidates in the race, Crawford and
Clay. Together they received 24.2% of the popular vote and 78 electoral
votes. The election was settled by the House of Representatives and they
gave it to Adams.
Sources:
Barsanti, C. The Ballot Box: 10 Presidential Elections that
Changed History.
Cornog, E. and R. Whelan. Hats in the Ring.
Insidegov.com.
Moore, K. The American President.
Smith, C. Presidents: All You Need to Know.
USElectionAtlas.org.
