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	February 27th 2006 Group Presses States to Team Up Against Electoral College Congressional Quarterly An article that summarizes the recent kickoff of FairVote's National Popular Vote campaign. February 12th 2006 The Youth Vote L.A. Times FairVote's Chris Pearson argues that one reason for low voter turnout among young people is the two-tiered system of battleground and spectator states. February 12th 2006 Electoral Vote Fosters Neglect of Most States by Candidates The Mercury News FairVote Chair John Anderson, shows how the Electoral College neglects a large majority of voters in this most important of elections. January 1st 2006 Presidential elections all but ignore Illinois Chicago Tribune FairVote Chair John Anderson on the harmful impact of the Electoral College. November 30th 2005 Presidential races don't value state, group says Aberdeen News FairVote's Who Picks the President? report sparks discussion about primary reform [ Previous ] [ Next ]