In 1912, Woodrow Wilson (Democratic) won 435 of 531 electoral votes, defeating Theodore Roosevelt by 347 EV during the Progressive Era era. In 1992, Bill Clinton (Democratic) won 370 of 538, defeating George H. W. Bush by 202 EV during the Modern Polarization era. Turnout: 59% vs 58.1%.
vs
1912
Progressive Era
Woodrow Wilson
Democratic
Electoral votes
435 of 531
EV margin
347
Popular vote
41.8%
Turnout
59.0%
Runner-up
Theodore Roosevelt (Prog)
Democrat Woodrow Wilson won in a landslide as Roosevelt's 'Bull Moose' Progressive Party split the Republican vote with incumbent Taft. Roosevelt, dissatisfied with Taft's conservatism, launched an independent campaign after losing the Republican nomination, finishing second in both popular and electoral votes — the best third-party performance in US history. Wilson won only 41.8% of the popular vote but carried 40 states. Eugene Debs, running as a Socialist, won 6% of the vote.
1992
Modern Polarization
Bill Clinton
Democratic
Electoral votes
370 of 538
EV margin
202
Popular vote
43.0%
Turnout
58.1%
Runner-up
George H. W. Bush (Rep)
Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton defeated incumbent George Bush as billionaire Ross Perot ran the most successful third-party campaign since Theodore Roosevelt in 1912. Perot won 18.9% of the popular vote and no electoral votes but significantly divided the anti-Clinton vote, helping Clinton win with just 43% of the popular vote. Clinton's campaign team's internal motto was 'It's the economy, stupid,' capitalizing on the 1990-91 recession. Clinton became the first Democratic president elected since Jimmy Carter in 1976.