The American Vote
2024 result
Candidate

William Jennings Bryan

Democratic

Elections
3
Won
0
Electoral votes, all elections
493
Years
1896–1908

Record

William Jennings Bryan: result of each presidential election
YearElectoral votesPopular voteResult
1896
176
of 447
6,502,685
46.7%
Lost
1900
155
of 447
6,357,299
45.5%
Lost
1908
162
of 483
6,409,104
43.0%
Lost

Popular vote is the sum of the sourced state counts, shown only where every state that held a popular vote has one; sums from county returns (1868–1972) can run a few tenths of a point below national totals published elsewhere.

Electoral votesNational Archives, Electoral College results: 1896, 1900, 1908 (public domain, read 2026-10-03). How these figures were compiled

SourcesThe World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1897 (Public domain in the United States: published before 1931, retrieved 2026-10-03); The World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1901 (Public domain in the United States: published before 1931, retrieved 2026-10-03); The World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1910 (Public domain in the United States: published before 1931, retrieved 2026-10-03). How these figures were compiled

Election by election

1896Democratic · Lost

States carried · 22 of 45
Closest states won
  1. South Dakotaby 183 · 0.2 pts
  2. Wyomingby 583 · 2.8 pts
  3. Kansasby 12,269 · 3.7 pts
Closest states lost
  1. KentuckyMcKinley by 281 · 0.06 pts
  2. CaliforniaMcKinley by 2,797 · 0.9 pts
  3. OregonMcKinley by 2,117 · 2.2 pts

Margins computed for 45 of 45 states: those with a sourced popular vote that names Bryan.

SourceThe World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1897 (Public domain in the United States: published before 1931, retrieved 2026-10-03). How these figures were compiled

From the National Archives

V.P. Garret A. Hobart died November 21, 1899.

National Archives, Electoral College results for 1896, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.

1900Democratic · Lost

States carried · 17 of 45
Closest states won
  1. Kentuckyby 7,975 · 1.7 pts
  2. Idahoby 2,448 · 4.2 pts
  3. Missouriby 37,821 · 5.5 pts
Closest states lost
  1. UtahMcKinley by 2,133 · 2.3 pts
  2. NebraskaMcKinley by 7,822 · 3.2 pts
  3. IndianaMcKinley by 26,479 · 4.0 pts

Margins computed for 45 of 45 states: those with a sourced popular vote that names Bryan.

SourceThe World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1901 (Public domain in the United States: published before 1931, retrieved 2026-10-03). How these figures were compiled

From the National Archives

William McKinley was shot September 6, 1901 and died September 14, 1901. He was succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt.

National Archives, Electoral College results for 1900, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.

1908Democratic · Lost

States carried · 16 of 46
Closest states won
  1. Coloradoby 2,944 · 1.1 pts
  2. Nebraskaby 4,102 · 1.5 pts
  3. Kentuckyby 8,381 · 1.7 pts
Closest states lost
  1. MissouriTaft by 629 · 0.09 pts
  2. MarylandTaft by 605 · 0.3 pts
  3. IndianaTaft by 10,731 · 1.5 pts

Margins computed for 46 of 46 states: those with a sourced popular vote that names Bryan.

SourceThe World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1910 (Public domain in the United States: published before 1931, retrieved 2026-10-03). How these figures were compiled

From the National Archives

V.P. James S. Sherman died October 30, 1912.

National Archives, Electoral College results for 1908, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.

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