In 1916, Woodrow Wilson (Democratic) won 277 of 531 electoral votes, defeating Charles Evans Hughes by 23 EV during the Progressive Era era. In 2000, George W. Bush (Republican) won 271 of 538, defeating Al Gore by 5 EV during the Modern Polarization era. Turnout: 61.8% vs 54.2%.
vs
1916
Progressive Era
Woodrow Wilson
Democratic
Electoral votes
277 of 531
EV margin
23
Popular vote
49.2%
Turnout
61.8%
Runner-up
Charles Evans Hughes (Rep)
Wilson narrowly won re-election over Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes on the slogan 'He kept us out of war,' as Europe was embroiled in World War I. Hughes was ahead on election night — the New York Times even declared him the winner — but Wilson took California by fewer than 4,000 votes to win the presidency. Wilson would ask Congress to declare war on Germany just five weeks after his second inauguration, making the campaign slogan bitterly ironic.
2000
Modern Polarization
George W. Bush
Republican
Electoral votes
271 of 538
EV margin
5
Popular vote
47.9%
Turnout
54.2%
Runner-up
Al Gore (Dem)
One of the closest and most disputed elections in US history. After 36 days of recounts in Florida, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Bush v. Gore to halt the recount, awarding Florida and the presidency to Bush. Gore won the national popular vote by over 543,000 but lost the Electoral College 271-266. Ralph Nader's Green Party candidacy won 97,421 votes in Florida — far more than Bush's final margin of 537 — making Nader a controversial spoiler. One Gore elector from DC abstained in protest.