The American Vote

1932
1967

Era

New Deal Coalition

FDR, civil rights, and the long Democratic majority.

The New Deal Coalition, 1932–1964

Across 1932–1964, the New Deal Coalition era takes in 9 presidential elections. One thread runs through the period: FDR, civil rights, and the long Democratic majority.

The Democratic party won 7 of the 9 contests, more than any other party in the era. It opens with the 1932 election (Franklin D. Roosevelt) and closes with 1964 (Lyndon B. Johnson). A pivotal cycle was 1932 — The New Deal coalition begins.

9 cycles in this era

New Deal Coalition
1932
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Democratic · 472 EV · 57.4% pop
FDR's landslide ushered in the New Deal era and Democratic dominance for a generation
New Deal Coalition
1936
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Democratic · 523 EV · 60.8% pop
Greatest 20th-century EC landslide; only Maine and Vermont voted Republican; Literary Digest poll famously wrong
New Deal Coalition
1940
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Democratic · 449 EV · 54.7% pop
First and only third term in US history; FDR broke Washington's two-term precedent
New Deal Coalition
1944
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Democratic · 432 EV · 53.4% pop
Only fourth-term presidency; FDR died 83 days later; Truman chosen as VP sealed the atomic bomb decision
New Deal Coalition
1948
Harry S. Truman
Democratic · 303 EV · 49.5% pop
'Dewey Defeats Truman' — greatest upset in US political history; 4-party race
New Deal Coalition
1952
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Republican · 442 EV · 55.2% pop
First major use of TV political ads; Nixon's 'Checkers speech' saved his VP candidacy
New Deal Coalition
1956
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Republican · 457 EV · 57.4% pop
First president since Taylor to win while his party lost both houses of Congress
New Deal Coalition
1960
John F. Kennedy
Democratic · 303 EV · 49.7% pop
First Catholic president; first televised debate transformed campaigning; won by just 112,827 popular votes
New Deal Coalition
1964
Lyndon B. Johnson
Democratic · 486 EV · 61.0% pop
Largest popular vote landslide in history (61.05%); 'Daisy' ad pioneered negative political advertising