1992 United States presidential election — 52nd quadrennial U.S. presidential election
Bill Clinton's 1992 victory ended 12 years of Republican White House control and featured the strongest third-party popular vote share since 1912.
Key Facts
- Election date
- November 3, 1992
- Perot popular vote share
- 18.9%
- States flipped by Clinton
- 22 states previously won by Republicans in 1988
- Republican White House streak broken
- 12 consecutive years
- Contests won by absolute majority
- 2 (Arkansas and Washington D.C.)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Incumbent President George H. W. Bush faced eroding support after breaking his no-new-taxes pledge, and his foreign policy strengths were diminished by the end of the Cold War and the Gulf War's resolution. Slow perceived economic growth further weakened his standing, opening space for a credible Democratic challenger and a strong independent candidacy.
On November 3, 1992, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton and Senator Al Gore defeated Bush and Quayle on the Democratic ticket, while independent candidate Ross Perot ran a notable campaign emphasizing opposition to NAFTA and national debt reduction. Clinton won a plurality of the popular vote and a majority of electoral votes in a three-way contest.
Clinton's win ended three consecutive Republican presidential victories and over two decades of broad Republican dominance dating to 1968. Perot's 18.9% popular vote share was the highest for a non-major-party candidate since 1912, reshaping discussions about third-party viability in American presidential politics.
Political Outcome
Democratic ticket of Bill Clinton and Al Gore won the presidency, defeating incumbent Republican George H. W. Bush and independent Ross Perot.
Republican presidency under George H. W. Bush
Democratic presidency under Bill Clinton