2012 United States presidential election — 57th quadrennial U.S. presidential election
Barack Obama won re-election with 332 electoral votes, becoming the third consecutive sitting president to win a second term.
Key Facts
- Obama Electoral Votes
- 332
- Romney Electoral Votes
- 206
- Obama Popular Vote Share
- 51.1 %
- Romney Popular Vote Share
- 47.2 %
- Swing States Won by Obama
- 8 of 9
- Election Date
- November 6, 2012
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Incumbent President Barack Obama sought re-election amid ongoing recovery from the Great Recession. The Republican Party held a competitive primary in which Mitt Romney defeated Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul, among others, to secure the nomination. Campaigns centered on economic policy, federal spending, the Affordable Care Act, and foreign policy, including the end of the Iraq War.
On November 6, 2012, American voters chose between incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama with running mate Joe Biden and the Republican ticket of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan. Both campaigns engaged in record fundraising, including from Super PACs. Obama defended his domestic record while Romney characterized administration policies as ineffective and fiscally unsound.
Obama won 332 electoral votes and 51.1% of the popular vote, carrying all 18 'blue wall' states and key swing states including Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Colorado, and Nevada. Romney flipped Indiana and North Carolina from 2008 but lost the election. Obama became the third consecutive sitting president to win a second term, following Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Political Outcome
Barack Obama and Joe Biden re-elected; Obama won 332 electoral votes and 51.1% of the popular vote, defeating Romney's 206 electoral votes and 47.2%.
Barack Obama, first term as President of the United States
Barack Obama, second term as President of the United States