List of United States presidential candidates by number of votes received explained

Following is a list of United States presidential candidates by number of votes received. Elections have tended to have more participation in each successive election, due to the increasing population of the United States, and, in some instances, expansion of the right to vote to larger segments of society. Prior to the election of 1824, most states did not have a popular vote. In the election of 1824, only 18 of the 24 states held a popular vote, but by the election of 1828, 22 of the 24 states held a popular vote. Minor candidates are excluded if they received fewer than 100,000 votes or less than 0.1% of the vote in their election year.

List of candidates

Popular votes in individual elections

List of presidential candidates by votes in individual elections^[1] ! Candidate! Year! Party! Popular vote! Percentage! Notes

	2020		Democratic		51.3%	Winner.
	2024		Republican		49.7%	Winner (former president).
	2024		Democratic		48.4%	Runner-up.
	2020		Republican		46.8%	Runner-up (incumbent).
	2008		Democratic		52.93%	Winner.
	2012		Democratic		51.06%	Winner (incumbent).
	2016		Democratic		48.2%	Runner-up. Won the popular vote, but lost the Electoral College.
	2016		Republican		46.1%	Winner. Lost the popular vote, but won the Electoral College.
	2004		Republican		50.73%	Winner (incumbent).
	2012		Republican		47.20%	Runner-up.
	2008		Republican		45.65%	Runner-up.
	2004		Democratic		48.27%	Runner-up.
	1984		Republican		58.8%	Winner (incumbent).
	2000		Democratic		48.38%	Runner-up. Won the popular vote, but lost the Electoral College.
	2000		Republican		47.86%	Winner. Lost the popular vote, but won the Electoral College.
	1988		Republican		53.37%	Winner.
	1996		Democratic		49.24%	Winner (incumbent).
	1972		Republican		60.67%	Winner (incumbent).
	1992		Democratic		43.01%	Winner.
	1980		Republican		50.75%	Winner.
	1964		Democratic		61.05%	Winner (incumbent).
	1988		Democratic		45.65%	Runner-up.
	1976		Democratic		50.08%	Winner.
	1996		Republican		40.71%	Runner-up.
	1976		Republican		48.02%	Runner-up (incumbent).
	1992		Republican		37.45%	Runner-up (incumbent).
	1984		Democratic		40.6%	Runner-up.
	1956		Republican		57.37%	Winner (incumbent).
	1980		Democratic		41.01%	Runner-up (incumbent).
	1960		Democratic		49.72%	Winner.
	1960		Republican		49.55%	Runner-up.
	1952		Republican		55.18%	Winner.
	1968		Republican		43.4%	Winner.
	1968		Democratic		42.7%	Runner-up.
	1972		Democratic		37.52%	Runner-up.
	1936		Democratic		60.80%	Winner (incumbent).
	1952		Democratic		44.33%	Runner-up.
	1940		Democratic		54.74%	Winner (incumbent).
	1964		Republican		38.47%	Runner-up.
	1956		Democratic		41.97%	Runner-up.
	1944		Democratic		53.39%	Winner (incumbent).
	1948		Democratic		49.55%	Winner (incumbent).
	1932		Democratic		57.4%	Winner.
	1940		Republican		44.78%	Runner-up.
	1944		Republican		45.89%	Runner-up.
	1948		Republican		45.07%	Runner-up.
	1928		Republican		58.11%	Winner.
	1992		Independent		18.91%	Highest vote total of any third-party or independent candidate and highest vote total of anyone to not win electoral votes.
	1936		Republican		36.54%	Runner-up.
	1920		Republican		60.35%	Winner.
	1932		Republican		39.6%	Runner-up (incumbent).
	1924		Republican		54.0%	Winner (incumbent).
	1928		Democratic		40.90%	Runner-up.
	1968		American Independent		13.5%	Third-party candidate. Last third-party candidate to receive pledged electoral college votes from any state.
	1920		Democratic		34.12%	Runner-up.
	1916		Democratic		49.24%	Winner (incumbent).
	1916		Republican		46.12%	Runner-up.
	1924		Democratic		28.8%	Runner-up.
	1996		Reform		8.40%	Third-party candidate.
	1908		Republican		51.57%	Winner.
	1904		Republican		56.42%	Winner (incumbent).
	1900		Republican		51.64%	Winner (incumbent).
	1896		Republican		51.03%	Winner.
	1896		Democratic		46.70%	Runner-up. Also endorsed by the Populist Party and the Silver Party.
	1908		Democratic		43.04%	Runner-up.
	1900		Democratic		45.5%	Runner-up.
	1912		Democratic		41.84%	Winner.
	1980		Independent		6.61%	Independent candidate.
	1892		Democratic		46.02%	Winner (former president).
	1888		Democratic		48.6%	Runner-up (incumbent). Won the popular vote, but lost the Electoral College.
	1888		Republican		47.8%	Winner. Lost the popular vote, but won the Electoral College.
	1892		Republican		43.0%	Runner-up (incumbent).
	1904		Democratic		37.59%	Runner-up.
	1884		Democratic		48.8%	Winner.
	1884		Republican		48.3%	Runner-up.
	1924		Progressive		16.6%	Third-party candidate. Also endorsed by the Socialist Party and the Farmer–Labor Party.
	2016		Libertarian		3.28%	Third-party candidate.
	1880		Republican		48.32%	Winner.
	1880		Democratic		48.21%	Runner-up.
	1876		Democratic		50.9%	Runner-up. Won the popular vote, but lost the Electoral College.
	1912		Progressive		27.40%	Runner-up (former president).
	1876		Republican		47.9%	Winner. Lost the popular vote, but won the Electoral College.
	1872		Republican		55.6%	Winner (incumbent).
	1912		Republican		23.17%	Third place (incumbent). Only post-Civil War election in which a candidate from one of the two major parties came in third place.
	1868		Republican		52.7%	Winner.
	2000		Green		2.74%	Third-party candidate.
	1872		Liberal Republican		43.8%	Runner-up. Also endorsed by the Democratic Party.
	1868		Democratic		47.3%	Runner-up.
	1864		National Union		55.1%	Winner (incumbent). Lincoln was the only member of the National Union party elected president.
	2020		Libertarian		1.18%	Third-party candidate.
	1860		Republican		39.7%	Winner. Lincoln was the first member of the Republican party elected president.
	1856		Democratic		45.3%	Winner.
	1864		Democratic		44.9%	Runner-up.
	1852		Democratic		50.84%	Winner.
	2016		Green		1.07%	Third-party candidate.
	1852		Whig		43.87%	Runner-up.
	1860		Northern Democratic		21.5%	Runner-up.
	1848		Whig		47.3%	Winner. Taylor was the last member of the Whig party elected president.
	1856		Republican		33.1%	Runner-up.
	1844		Democratic		49.4%	Winner.
	1844		Whig		48.2%	Runner-up.
	2012		Libertarian		0.99%	Third-party candidate.
	1840		Whig		52.87%	Winner. Harrison was the first member of the Whig party elected president.
	1848		Democratic		42.5%	Runner-up.
	1948		Dixiecrat		2.41%	Third-party candidate.
	1948		Progressive		2.37%	Third-party candidate.
	1840		Democratic		46.82%	Runner-up (incumbent).
	1972		American Independent		1.42%	Independent candidate.
	1892		Populist		8.6%	Third-party candidate.
	1980		Libertarian		1.06%	Third-party candidate.
	1920		Socialist		3.41%	Third-party candidate.
	1912		Socialist		5.99%	Third-party candidate.
	1936		Union		1.95%	Third-party candidate.
	1932		Socialist		2.23%	Third-party candidate.
	1856		American		21.5%	Third-party candidate. Also endorsed by the Whig Party.
	1860		Southern Democratic		14.4%	Party split.
	2024		Green		0.53%	Third-party candidate.
	1836		Democratic		50.8%	Winner.
	2024		Independent		0.49%	Independent candidate.
	1976		Independent		0.91%	Independent candidate.
	2008		Independent		0.56%	Independent candidate.
	2016		Independent		0.54%	Independent candidate.
	1832		Democratic		54.2%	Winner (incumbent).
	1996		Green		0.71%	Third-party candidate.
	1828		Democratic		55.33%	Winner. Jackson was the first member of the Democratic party elected president.
	2024		Libertarian		0.42%	Third-party candidate.
	1860		Constitutional Union		12.6%	Party split.
	1916		Socialist		3.19%	Third-party candidate.
	1836		Whig		36.6%	Runner-up.
	2008		Libertarian		0.40%	Third-party candidate.
	1828		National Republican		43.98%	Runner-up (incumbent).
	1996		Libertarian		0.50%	Third-party candidate.
	1832		National Republican		37.4%	Runner-up.
	2012		Green		0.36%	Third-party candidate.
	2004		Independent		0.38%	Independent candidate. Also endorsed by the Reform Party.
	2000		Reform		0.43%	Third-party candidate.
	1988		Libertarian		0.47%	Third-party candidate.
	1908		Socialist		2.83%	Third-party candidate.
	2020		Green		0.26%	Third-party candidate.
	1904		Socialist		2.98%	Third-party candidate.
	2004		Libertarian		0.32%	Third-party candidate.
	2000		Libertarian		0.36%	Third-party candidate.
	1880		Greenback		3.35%	Third-party candidate.
	1848		Free Soil		10.1%	Third-party candidate (former president).
	1992		Libertarian		0.28%	Third-party candidate.
	1892		Prohibition		2.24%	Third-party candidate.
	1928		Socialist		0.73%	Third-party candidate.
	1920		Farmer–Labor		0.99%	Third-party candidate.
	1904		Prohibition		1.92%	Third-party candidate.
	1908		Prohibition		1.71%	Third-party candidate.
	1888		Prohibition		2.20%	Third-party candidate.
	1980		Citizens		0.27%	Third-party candidate.
	1984		Libertarian		0.25%	Third-party candidate.
	1916		Prohibition		1.19%	Third-party candidate.
	1988		New Alliance		0.24%	Third-party candidate.
	1900		Prohibition		1.51%	Third-party candidate.
	1912		Prohibition		1.38%	Third-party candidate.
	2016		Constitution		0.15%	Third-party candidate.
	2008		Constitution		0.15%	Third-party candidate.
	1920		Prohibition		0.70%	Third-party candidate.
	1936		Socialist		0.41%	Third-party candidate.
	1996		Taxpayers		0.19%	Third-party candidate.
	1976		Libertarian		0.21%	Third-party candidate.
	1976		American Independent		0.21%	Third-party candidate.
	2008		Green		0.12%	Third-party candidate.
	1976		American		0.19%	Third-party candidate.
	1852		Free Soil		4.91%	Third-party candidate.
	2024		Socialism and Liberation		0.10%	Third-party candidate.
	1824		Democratic-Republican		40.5%	Runner-up. Won the popular vote and received the most electoral votes, but lost the electoral college majority and contingent election.
	1884		Prohibition		1.50%	Third-party candidate.
	1888		Union Labor		1.31%	Third-party candidate.
	1836		Whig		9.7%	The Whig Party fielded two different presidential tickets in different parts of the country.
	2004		Constitution		0.12%	Third-party candidate.
	1952		Progressive		0.23%	Third-party candidate.
	1812		Democratic-Republican		52.3%	Winner (incumbent). A limited number of states counted the popular vote.
	1948		Socialist		0.29%	Third-party candidate.
	1896		National Democratic		0.97%	Third-party candidate.
	1884		Anti-Monopoly		1.33%	Third-party candidate. Also endorsed by the Greenback Party.
	1812		Democratic-Republican		45.4%	Runner-up. Also endorsed by much of the Federalist Party. A limited number of states counted the popular vote.
	1896		Prohibition		0.94%	Third-party candidate.
	1808		Democratic-Republican		65.0%	Winner. A limited number of states counted the popular vote.
	2004		Green		0.10%	Third-party candidate.
	1940		Socialist		0.23%	Third-party candidate.
	1904		Populist		0.84%	Third-party candidate.
	1996		Natural Law		0.12%	Third-party candidate.
	1824		Democratic-Republican		32.7%	Winner. Lost the popular vote and electoral college, but won the contingent election. Adams was the last member of the Democratic-Republican party elected president and the only member of the National Republican party elected president.
	1956		States' Rights		0.18%	Third-party candidate.
	1992		Populist		0.10%	Third-party candidate.
	1804		Democratic-Republican		73.2%	Winner (incumbent). A limited number of states counted the popular vote.
	1948		Prohibition		0.21%	Third-party candidate.
	1932		Communist		0.26%	Third-party candidate.
	1832		Anti-Masonic		7.8%	Third-party candidate.

Lifetime popular votes

The following list indicates lifetime popular votes received across multiple elections in which the candidate was the nominee of a political party or was otherwise on a presidential ballot. It does include write-in votes that may have been received by candidates in elections in which they were not candidates.

Candidate	Party	Popular vote	Elections
				2016 W, 2020 L, 2024 W
				2008 W, 2012 W
				1960 L, 1968 W, 1972 W
				2000 W, 2004 W
				1932 W, 1936 W, 1940 W, 1944 W
				1980 W, 1984 W
				1992 W, 1996 W
				1988 W, 1992 L
				2020 W
				1976 W, 1980 L
				2024 L
				1952 W, 1956 W
				2016 L
				2012 L
				2008 L
				2004 L
				1952 L, 1956 L
				2000 L
				1944 L, 1948 L
				1964 W
				1988 L
				1996 L
				1976 L
				1984 L
				1928 W, 1932 L
				1960 W
				1968 L
				1972 L
				1992 L, 1996 L
				1964 L
				1948 W
				1940 L
				1896 L, 1900 L, 1908 L
				1936 L
				1920 W
				1884 W, 1888 L, 1892 W
				1924 W
				1912 W, 1916 W
				1928 L
				1896 W, 1900 W
				1904 W, 1912 L
				1908 W, 1912 L
				1888 W, 1892 L
				1968 L
				1920 L
				1916 L
				1924 L
				1868 W, 1872 W
				2012 L, 2016 L
				1980 L
				1904 L
				1880 L
				1924 L
				1996 L, 2000 L, 2004 L, 2008 L
				1880 W
				1880 L
				1876 L
				1860 W, 1864 W
				1876 W
				1872 L
				1900 L, 1904 L, 1908 L, 1912 L, 1920 L
				2012 L, 2016 L, 2024 L
				1868 L
				1836 W, 1840 L, 1848 L
				2020 L
				1856 W
				1824 L, 1832 L, 1844 L
				1836 L, 1840 W
				1864 L
				1928 L, 1932 L, 1936 L, 1940 L, 1944 L, 1948 L
				1852 W
				1824 L, 1828 W, 1832 W
				1852 L
				1860 L
				1848 W
				1880 L, 1892 L
				1856 L
				1844 W
				1848 L
				1948 L
				1948 L
				1972 L
				1980 L
				1936 L
				1856 L
				1996 L, 2000 L
				1860 L
				1968 L, 1976 L, 1988 L
				2024 L
				2016 L
				2024 L
				1824 W, 1828 L
				1860 L
				1916 L
				2008 L
				1988 L, 2008 L, 2012 L
				1908 L, 1912 L
				2000 L
				2020 L
				2004 L
				1992 L, 1996 L, 2000 L
				1988 L, 1992 L
				1992 L
				1892 L
				1920 L
				1808 W, 1812 W
				1904 L
				1888 L
				1992 L, 1996 L, 2000 L
				1980 L
				1984 L
				1916 L
				1900 L
				2016 L
				2008 L
				1924 L, 1928 L, 1932 L
				1920 L
				1944 L, 1948 L
				1796 L, 1800 W, 1804 W
				1976 L
				1976 L
				2008 L
				1976 L
				1852 L
				2024 L
				1884 L
				1888 L
				1836 L
				2004 L
				1904 L, 1908 L
				1952 L
				1812 L, 1820 L
				1896 L
				1884 L
				1896 L
				2004 L
				2016 L
				1956 L
				1992 L
				1832 L

Lifetime electoral votes

The following list indicates lifetime electoral votes received across multiple elections in which the candidate was the nominee of a political party or was otherwise on a presidential ballot. Note that the counting for Electoral College votes for this purpose is complicated by the fact that in the earliest elections, the Electoral College did not distinguish between votes for president and vice-president, with the candidate receiving the second-highest number of such votes becoming the vice-president. As with the popular vote, the total number of Electoral College votes available has increased over time, as additional states have been admitted to the union.

Candidate	Electoral votes
	1,876
	1,040
	1,015
	899
	848
	749
	712
	697
	664
	594
	563
	557
	503
	500
	496
	493
	486
	424
	414
	404
	392
	382
	378
	346
	329
	307
	306
	303
	303
	303
	288
	266
	254
	254
	251
	250
	247
	240
	230
	227
	226
	214
	206
	203
	191
	191
	185
	184
	182
	174
	173
	170
	168
	163
	162
	159
	155
	140
	136
	127
	127
	114
	111
	89
	87
	82
	80
	72
	61
	52
	46
	42
	42
	41
	39
	39
	34
	26
	22
	21
	18
	17
	15
	14
	13
	13
	12
	11
	11
	8
	8
	7
	6
	3
	2
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1

See also

• List of people who received an electoral vote in the United States Electoral College
• List of United States presidential elections by popular vote margin
• List of United States presidential elections in which the winner lost the popular vote
• List of United States presidential candidates by number of primary votes received

Notes and References

1. • Web site: National election results. August 7, 2005. David. Leip. Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
   • Web site: Presidential Election of 1832: A Resource Guide (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress). www.loc.gov.
   • Book: Petersen, Svend . A Statistical History of the American Presidential Elections . Frederick Ungar . New York, New York . 1963 . 49 . 500975 .
   • Book: Schlesinger, Arthur M. Jr.. History of American Presidential Elections 1789–1968, Volume II.
   • 1996 Presidential General Election Results.
   • 2000 Presidential General Election Results by State
   • 2004 Presidential General Election Results
   • 2008 official Federal Election Commission report
   • 2012 official Federal Election Commission report
   • 2016 official Federal Election Commission report
   • Web site: Official 2020 presidential general election results . . 6 February 2021 . 1 February 2021.
   • Web site: A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787-1825. elections.lib.tufts.edu.