John F. Kennedy carried Texas and its 24 electoral votes in 1960 by about 46,000 votes.1 His running mate was Lyndon B. Johnson, a Texas senator, and the Texas legislature had passed a measure allowing Johnson to run for national office and for reelection to the Senate at the same time.2 According to the Handbook of Texas, Johnson's ability to put Texas and other Southern states in the Democratic column helped Kennedy win.3
Had Nixon carried both Texas and Illinois, he would have won the Electoral College by two votes.4 In Texas there were claims about Johnson's influence over the state's election, and the Miller Center notes that suspicious results emerged there.5 Republicans went to court, but a federal judge threw out their suits, saying he had no jurisdiction.6
Nixon conceded on November 9, 1960, telling a journalist friend that the country could not afford the agony of a constitutional crisis.7 In later years he claimed in an autobiography that widespread fraud had occurred in Texas and Illinois.8 Kennedy won the Electoral College with 303 votes to Nixon's 219.9
Byrd received electoral votes for President from Alabama (6), Mississippi (8) and Oklahoma (1).
Thurmond received electoral votes for Vice President from Alabama (6) and Mississippi (8).
Goldwater received 1 electoral vote for Vice President from Oklahoma.
John F. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated on November 22, 1963. He was succeeded by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who took the oath of office in Dallas, Texas that day.
National Archives, Electoral College results for 1960, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.
Sources for each sentence
Each numbered entry quotes the words that support that sentence, as they appear on the linked page.
- Back to sentence 1
In Texas, where Kennedy won the 24 electoral votes by a margin of 46,000 ballots
slate.com/news-and-politics/2000/10/was-nixon-robbed.html Texas (where Kennedy won by 46,000 votes)
constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-drama-behind-president-kennedys-1960-election-win - Back to sentence 2
The Texas legislature also passed a measure to allow Johnson to run simultaneously for the presidency and reelection to the Senate in 1960.
tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/johnson-lyndon-baines his bid for the White House in 1960 failed, and he settled for being John F. Kennedy's vice president.
tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/johnson-lyndon-baines - Back to sentence 3
Johnson campaigned hard across the South; his ability to put Texas and other Southern states in the Democratic column helped Kennedy gain his narrow victory.
tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/johnson-lyndon-baines - Back to sentence 4
If Nixon had won those two states, he would have defeated Kennedy by two votes in the Electoral College.
constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-drama-behind-president-kennedys-1960-election-win - Back to sentence 5
Down in Texas, there were similar claims about the influence of Kennedy's running mate, Lyndon B. Johnson, over that state's election.
constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-drama-behind-president-kennedys-1960-election-win Suspicious results also emerged in Texas and elsewhere.
millercenter.org/president/kennedy/campaigns-and-elections - Back to sentence 6
But its suits were thrown out by a federal judge who claimed he had no jurisdiction.
slate.com/news-and-politics/2000/10/was-nixon-robbed.html - Back to sentence 7
On Wednesday afternoon, November 9, 1960, Nixon officially conceded the election to Kennedy.
constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-drama-behind-president-kennedys-1960-election-win He told his friend, journalist Earl Mazo, that "our country cannot afford the agony of a constitutional crisis."
constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-drama-behind-president-kennedys-1960-election-win - Back to sentence 8
In later years, Nixon also claimed in an autobiography that widespread fraud happened in Illinois and Texas during the 1960 election.
constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-drama-behind-president-kennedys-1960-election-win - Back to sentence 9
Electoral Vote Winner: 303 Main Opponent: 219 Total/Majority: 537/269
archives.gov/electoral-college/1960
Sources checked on October 3, 2026
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