1912 United States presidential election — 32nd quadrennial U.S. presidential election
A four-way race in which a Republican split gave Democrat Wilson a landslide electoral victory with only 41.8% of the popular vote.
Key Facts
- Wilson popular vote share
- 41.8%
- Wilson electoral votes
- 400+ electoral votes
- States won by Wilson
- 40 states
- Roosevelt electoral votes
- 88 electoral votes
- Debs popular vote share
- 6%
- Taft states carried
- 2 (Vermont and Utah)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
President Taft's conservative governance alienated former president Theodore Roosevelt, who challenged Taft for the 1912 Republican nomination. When Taft's conservative allies narrowly prevailed at the convention, Roosevelt launched a third-party Progressive 'Bull Moose' campaign, fracturing the Republican electorate and setting the stage for an unusually competitive multi-candidate race.
On November 5, 1912, American voters chose among four major candidates: Democrat Woodrow Wilson, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, Republican incumbent William Howard Taft, and Socialist Eugene V. Debs. Wilson won the nomination on the 46th Democratic convention ballot with progressive backing, while each candidate campaigned on a distinct platform ranging from Wilson's 'New Freedom' to Roosevelt's 'New Nationalism' to Debs's socialist agenda.
The Republican split delivered Wilson a landslide electoral college victory despite winning less than 42% of the popular vote, making him the first Democrat elected president since 1892. Roosevelt's second-place finish marked the last time a third-party candidate outpolled a major-party nominee in a U.S. presidential election. Debs's 6% remains the highest popular vote share ever won by a Socialist presidential candidate in American history.
Political Outcome
Democrat Woodrow Wilson elected president, carrying 40 states and over 400 electoral votes with 41.8% of the popular vote amid a four-way contest.
Republican William Howard Taft held the presidency
Democrat Woodrow Wilson assumed the presidency