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2000: Bush defeats Gore
An extremely close election is decided a month after election day in favor of Republican candidate George W. Bush with the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling to end the recount of votes in the state of Florida. The resulting victory in Florida gave Bush the necessary electoral votes for victory over Democratic candidate, Vice President Al Gore.
Electoral Vote: Bush-271, Gore-270
Popular Vote: Bush-50,456,002 Gore-50,999,897
Percentage of Population Voting: 54.2% -
2004: Bush defeats Kerry
Incumbent Republican President George W. Bush won both the popular and electoral vote on his way to re-election in a victory over Democratic candidate Senator John Kerry. The 62+ million votes Bush received set a record and also represent the only time since 1988 the Republican candidate won the popular vote.
Electoral Vote: Bush-286 Kerry-251
Popular Vote: Bush-62,040,610 Kerry-59,028,444
Percentage of Population Voting: 60.1% -
2008: Obama defeats McCain
In a historic election, Democratic candidate Barak Obama defeated Republican candidate, Arizona Senator John McCain, to become the first African-American to hold the country's highest office. Obama won both the popular vote and the electoral vote on his way victory, becoming just the third sitting US Senator elected President.
Electoral Vote: Obama-365 McCain-173
Popular Vote: Obama-69,498,516 McCain-59,948,323
Percentage of Population Voting: 61.6% -
2012: Obama defeats Romney
The Democratic candidate, President Barak Obama, defeated Republican Senator Mitt Romney, to win election to a second term as President. Obama won both the electoral and popular votes to remain in the White House.
Electoral Vote: Obama-332 Romney-206
Popular Vote: Obama-65,915,795 Romney-60,933,504
Percentage of Population Voting: 58.6% -
2016: Trump defeats Clinton
Republican candidate Donald Trump defeated former Secretary of State and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton to become the 45th President of the United States. The business man, turned reality TV star lost the popular vote to the former First Lady but took the electoral vote to secure his victory.
Electoral Vote: Trump-304 Clinton-227
Popular Vote: Trump-62,984,828 Clinton-65,853,514
Percentage of Population Voting: 55.7% -
2020: Biden defeats Trump
Former Vice President Joe Biden defeated Incumbent President and Republican candidate Donald Trump to return the US Presidency to the Democratic party. Biden won both the popular and electoral votes in the first election since 1992 in which the incumbent president failed to win a second term. Trump contested the outcome of the election, citing unproven claims of mass voter fraud.