What is a presidential election?

Candidate Party Electoral Votes Popular Votes George W. Bush Republican 271 50, 456, 062 Albert Gore, Jr. Democratic 266 50, 996, 582 The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush (1989–1993), and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President.

Bill Clinton, the incumbent President, was vacating the position after serving the maximum two terms allowed by the Twenty-second Amendment. Bush narrowly won the November 7 election, with 271 electoral votes to Gore's 266 (with one elector abstaining in the official tally).

The election was noteworthy for a controversy over the awarding of Florida's 25 electoral votes, the subsequent recount process in that state, and the unusual event of the winning candidate having received fewer popular votes than the runner-up. It was the closest election since 1876 and only the fourth election in which the electoral vote did not reflect the popular vote.1

2000 Election Facts

• Outcome of race unknown for several weeks due to dispute over close vote totals in Florida
• Green Party candidate Ralph Nader received 2, 882, 728 votes, but no Electoral Votes
• Gore won DC; however one Elector did not cast a vote
• One of only 4 elections, and first in over 100 years (1824, 1876, 1888, 2000) where the popular vote winner was defeated
• Issues of the Day: Impeachment, Presidential ethics, Good economy