FairVote - Third Parties Earn Votes

Third Party Elections

Election Years in which a third party candidate walked away with any amount of Electoral votes

1912
1924
1948
1960
1968
1956, 1972, 1976, 1988

1912

Candidate: Teddy Roosevelt

Party: Progressive

Popular Vote: 4,119,207 (27.4%)

Electoral Votes: 88

States: Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, Washington, Pennsylvania, California (split)

*Roosevelt actually beat Democratic candidate William Howard Taft in the Electoral College;
Taft received only 8 votes

1924

Candidate: Robert Marion LaFollette

Party: Progressive

Popular Vote: 4,822,856 (16.6%)

Electoral Votes: 13

States: Wisconsin

1948

Candidate: Strom Thurmond

Party: Dixiecrat

Popular Vote: 1,176,125 (2.4%)

Electoral Votes: 39

States: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee (split)

1960

Candidate: Harry Flood Byrd

Byrd

Party: Democrat

Popular Vote: 116,248 (0.2%)

Electoral Votes: 15

States: Mississippi, Alabama (split), Oklahoma (split)

1968

Candidate: George Corley Wallace

Wallace

Party: American Independent

Popular Vote: 9,446,167 (12.9%)

Electoral Votes: 46

States: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina (split)

1956, 1972, 1976, 1988

*In each of these elections, a candidate got a single (1) electoral vote:

Walter Burgwyn Jones in 1956

John Hospers in 1972

Ronald Reagan in 1976

Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr. in 1988



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	Third Party Elections Election Years in which a third party candidate walked away with any amount of Electoral votes 1912 1924 1948 1960 1968 1956, 1972, 1976, 1988 1912 Candidate: Teddy Roosevelt Party: Progressive Popular Vote: 4,119,207 (27.4%) Electoral Votes: 88 States: Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, Washington, Pennsylvania, California (split) Roosevelt actually beat Democratic candidate William Howard Taft in the Electoral College; Taft received only 8 votes Back to Top 1924 Candidate: Robert Marion LaFollette Party: Progressive Popular Vote: 4,822,856 (16.6%) Electoral Votes: 13 States: Wisconsin Back to Top 1948 Candidate: Strom Thurmond Party: Dixiecrat Popular Vote: 1,176,125 (2.4%) Electoral Votes: 39 States: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee (split) Back to Top 1960 Candidate: Harry Flood Byrd Party: Democrat Popular Vote: 116,248 (0.2%) Electoral Votes: 15 States: Mississippi, Alabama (split), Oklahoma (split) Back to Top 1968 Candidate: George Corley Wallace Party: American Independent Popular Vote: 9,446,167 (12.9%) Electoral Votes: 46 States: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina (split) Back to Top 1956, 1972, 1976, 1988 In each of these elections, a candidate got a single (1) electoral vote: Walter Burgwyn Jones in 1956 John Hospers in 1972 Ronald Reagan in 1976 Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr. in 1988 Back to Top Controversial Elections Electoral College Table of Contents	October 1st 2007 Electoral College Reform? Washington Lawyer A thorough look at the ins and out of the Electoral College, featuring insight from FairVote chairman John Anderson in this cover story. September 27th 2007 Disillusioned voters challenging electoral system The Hill Members of National Popular Vote discuss their plan for direct election of the president, a hope shared by the majority of Americans. September 25th 2007 The Democrats' fifty-state strategy The Nation FairVote NC member Lee Mortimer takes aim at the segmentation of our country into swing states and safe states, forcing candidates to ignore most of us. September 24th 2007 Is it time for electoral reform? Stoneham Sun A call for serious consideration of the National Popular Vote plan in the Massachusetts legislature. September 19th 2007 The manipulators are ready to tilt the next election Seattle Times Why Washington's Legislature should consider joining Maryland in the National Popular Vote compact and "respect the choice of the people in 2008." [ Previous ] [ Next ]