Who won North Carolina in the 1988 presidential election?

Bush (Republican) carried North Carolina in 1988, winning its 13 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did North Carolina have in 1988?

North Carolina cast 13 electoral votes in the 1988 presidential election.

Did North Carolina vote for the national winner in 1988?

Yes. North Carolina backed George H. W. Bush, who won the presidency that year.

Cold War RealignmentNC · 13 EV

1988

North Carolina: Bush carries 13 EV.

North Carolina cast its 13 electoral votes for Bush (Republican). National winner: George H. W. Bush (Republican) — North Carolina voted with the national winner this cycle.

What happened in North Carolina, 1988

In 1988, North Carolina awarded its 13 electoral votes to Bush of the Republican party. That placed North Carolina with the eventual winner: George H. W. Bush went on to take the presidency, and North Carolina was part of his column.

North Carolina stayed in the Republican column for the 3rd straight cycle, extending a run that began in 1980. North Carolina did not move alone — neighboring Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina broke the same way in 1988. Over its 58 recorded presidential cycles, North Carolina has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 32 times in all. The vote fell within the Cold War Realignment — Nixon, Reagan, and the Republican South.

Nationally, George H. W. Bush finished with 426 of the 538 electoral votes to Michael Dukakis's 111. George H. W. Bush led the national popular vote with 53.37% of the ballots cast.

The 1988 national map

North Carolina full history →