2000
The closest modern Electoral College fight
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.
Contested Florida recount; Supreme Court intervention; Nader spoiler effect; Clinton fatigue
Bush lost popular vote but won presidency; Supreme Court decided election; Nader spoiler in Florida
States · 51 reporting
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