**US Elections: Popular Vote Results (1980-2020)**

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Post on Nov 07, 2024

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Who Won the People's Vote? US Elections 1980-2020

The US Presidential election is all about the Electoral College, right? Well, kind of. But let's be honest, we're all a little curious about who actually got the most votes from the people. Who won the popular vote in the last 40 years?

Buckle up, because the results might surprise you.

The Popular Vote vs. The Electoral College

It's a system that's been debated for years, so let's quickly recap. The US elects its president through the Electoral College. Each state gets a certain number of electors based on population, and the candidate who wins the most votes in a state typically gets ALL of that state's electoral votes.

It's a winner-take-all system, which means the person who wins the popular vote nationwide doesn't always win the presidency. Think of it like this: Imagine a school election where the class with the most students gets all the votes, even if other classes had more individual votes. That's the Electoral College in a nutshell.

The Results: Who Won the Popular Vote?

So, who actually got more votes in the last 40 years? Let's break it down:

1980: Ronald Reagan beat Jimmy Carter in both the popular vote and the Electoral College.

1984: Ronald Reagan won both the popular vote and the Electoral College, defeating Walter Mondale in a landslide.

1988: George H.W. Bush edged out Michael Dukakis in both the popular vote and the Electoral College.

1992: Bill Clinton won the popular vote and the Electoral College, beating George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot.

1996: Bill Clinton won the popular vote and the Electoral College, again defeating Bob Dole.

2000: Al Gore won the popular vote, but George W. Bush won the Electoral College, leading to one of the most controversial elections in US history.

2004: George W. Bush won both the popular vote and the Electoral College against John Kerry.

2008: Barack Obama won both the popular vote and the Electoral College against John McCain.

2012: Barack Obama won both the popular vote and the Electoral College against Mitt Romney.

2016: Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but Donald Trump won the Electoral College, making it the second time in 20 years the popular vote winner didn't win the presidency.

2020: Joe Biden won both the popular vote and the Electoral College, defeating Donald Trump.

What Does It All Mean?

So, what's the takeaway here? Well, it's clear that the popular vote can be a very different picture than the Electoral College. It's a complex system that's been the source of debate for decades.

Whether you're a fan of the Electoral College or not, it's important to understand the way it works and how it shapes our elections. The popular vote offers a glimpse into the will of the people, while the Electoral College ultimately determines who becomes President.

One thing's for sure: the story of US elections is always full of twists and turns.