The 15 Biggest Presidential Election Landslide Wins Ever

A presidential election landslide is a result where the winner of the election is victorious by an enormous margin. The term “landslide” became prominent in the 1800s. It was used to describe an election win where the candidate had “buried” their opponent. To consider a presidential election a “landslide”, there must be an overwhelming vote by the electoral system in place. This article lists the 15 biggest presidential election landslides in U.S. political history.

While there is technically no majority consensus as to what margin would constitute a landslide victory, there have been significant presidential election wins where the victor won by such a massive gap, they can best be described as such. If you are curious to know which presidential candidates dominated the electoral vote by a huge margin, read on to learn which elections were the 15 biggest presidential election landslides in U.S. political history.

The List of the 15 Biggest Presidential Election Landslide Wins Ever


15. Woodrow Wilson

Electoral Vote: 81.9%


Year Elected: 1912
Presidential Election: 32nd
Electoral Votes: 435 (81.9%)
Electoral Votes Available: 531
Political Party: The Democratic Party


The Details of the Woodrow Wilson Landslide Victory

In the 1912 presidential election, Woodrow Wilson of the Democratic party received 435 (81.9%) of the 531 available electoral votes, making this election the 15th greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Theodore Roosevelt of the Progressive party received 88 (16.6%) electoral college votes. William Howard Taft of the Republican party only received 8 (1.5%), making this the worst showing ever by an incumbent president.

Wilson would also win the popular vote in the three-way race, getting 6,296,284 votes (41.8%) in the 32nd presidential election. This is the most recent presidential election in which the runner-up candidate was neither Republican or Democrat and where the former president ran after leaving office.

14. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Electoral Vote: 83.2%


Year Elected: 1952
Presidential Election: 42nd
Electoral Votes: 442 (83.2%)
Electoral Votes Available: 531
Political Party: The Republican Party


The Details of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Landslide Victory

In the 1952 presidential election, Dwight D. Eisenhower of the Republican party received 442 (83.2%) of the 531 available electoral votes, making this election the 14th greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Adlai Stevenson II of the Democratic party received only 89 (16.8%) electoral college votes.

Dwight D. Eisenhower would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 34,075,529 votes (55.2%) in the 42nd presidential election. He would be the first Republican to return to the White House in 20 years.

13. Herbert Hoover

Electoral Vote: 83.6%


Year Elected: 1928
Presidential Election: 36th
Electoral Votes: 444 (83.6%)
Electoral Votes Available: 531
Political Party: The Republican Party


The Details of the Herbert Hoover Landslide Victory

In the 1928 presidential election, Herbert Hoover of the Republican party received 444 (83.6%) of the 531 available electoral votes, making this election the 13th greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Al Smith of the Democratic party received only 87 (16.4%) electoral college votes.

Herbert Hoover would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 21,427,123 votes (58.2%) in the 36th presidential election. Hoover was the last Republican to win a presidential election until 1952.

12. James Monroe

Electoral Vote: 83.9%


Year Elected: 1816
Presidential Election: 8th
Electoral Votes: 183 (83.9%)
Electoral Votes Available: 217
Political Party: The Democratic-Republican Party


The Details of the James Monroe Landslide Victory

In the 1816 presidential election, James Monroe of the Democratic-Republican party received 183 (83.6%) of the 217 available electoral votes, making this election the 12th greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Rufus King of the Federalist party received only 34 (15.6%) electoral college votes.

James Monroe would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 76,592 votes (68.2%) in the 8th presidential election. The election was the last in which the Federalist Party fielded a presidential candidate.

11. Franklin D. Roosevelt

Electoral Vote: 84.6%


Year Elected: 1940
Presidential Election: 39th
Electoral Votes: 449 (84.6%)
Electoral Votes Available: 531
Political Party: The Democratic Party


The Details of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Landslide Victory

In the 1940 presidential election, Franklin D. Roosevelt of the Democratic party received 449 (84.6%) of the 531 available electoral votes, making this election the 11th greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Rufus Wendell Willkie of the Republican party received only 82 (15.4%) electoral college votes.

Franklin D. Roosevelt would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 27,313,945 votes (54.7%) in the 39th presidential election. Incumbent Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Republican businessman Wendell Willkie for reelection, making it an unprecedented third term in office.


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10. Franklin Pierce

Electoral Vote: 85.8%


Year Elected: 1852
Presidential Election: 17th
Electoral Votes: 254 (85.8%)
Electoral Votes Available: 296
Political Party: The Democratic Party


The Details of the Franklin Pierce Landslide Victory

In the 1852 presidential election, Franklin Pierce of the Democratic party received 254 (85.8%) of the 296 available electoral votes, making this election the 10th greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Winfield Scott of the Whig party received only 42 (14.2%) electoral college votes.

Franklin Pierce would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 1,607,521 votes (50.8%) in the 17th presidential election. Democrats would not win another popular majority vote for president until 1876 and would not win both the popular majority vote and the presidency with a Democratic nominee until 1932.

9. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Electoral Vote: 86.1%


Year Elected: 1956
Presidential Election: 43rd
Electoral Votes: 457 (86.1%)
Electoral Votes Available: 531
Political Party: The Republican Party


The Details of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Landslide Victory

In the 1956 presidential election, Dwight D. Eisenhower of the Republican party received 457 (86.1%) of the 531 available electoral votes, making this election the 9th greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Adlai Stevenson II of the Democratic party received only 73 (13.7%) electoral college votes.

Dwight D. Eisenhower would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 35,579,180 votes (57.4%) in the 43rd presidential election. This was the last presidential election before the admissions of Alaska and Hawaii in 1959. It was the last presidential election in which both Massachusetts and Minnesota voted Republican. It was also the most recent election to have been a rematch of a previous election.

8. Franklin D. Roosevelt

Electoral Vote: 88.9%


Year Elected: 1932
Presidential Election: 37th
Electoral Votes: 472 (88.9%)
Electoral Votes Available: 531
Political Party: The Democratic Party


The Details of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Landslide Victory

In the 1932 presidential election, Franklin D. Roosevelt of the Democratic party received 472 (88.9%) of the 531 available electoral votes, making this election the 8th greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Herbert Hoover of the Republican party received only 59 (11.1%) electoral college votes.

Franklin D. Roosevelt would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 22,821,277 votes (57.4%) in the 37th presidential election. Roosevelt was the first Democrat in 80 years to win an outright majority in the popular and electoral votes. The election marked the effective end of the Fourth Party System, which had been dominated by Republicans.

7. Lyndon B. Johnson

Electoral Vote: 90.3%


Year Elected: 1964
Presidential Election: 45th
Electoral Votes: 486 (90.3%)
Electoral Votes Available: 538
Political Party: The Democratic Party


The Details of the Lyndon B. Johnson Landslide Victory

In the 1964 presidential election, Lyndon B. Johnson of the Democratic party received 486 (90.3%) of the 538 available electoral votes, making this election the 7th greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Barry Goldwater of the Republican party received only 52 (9.7%) electoral college votes.

Lyndon B. Johnson would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 43,127,041 (61.1%) in the 45th presidential election. Johnson won the largest share of the popular vote of any candidate since the largely uncontested 1820 election.

6. Abraham Lincoln

Electoral Vote: 90.6%


Year Elected: 1864
Presidential Election: 20th
Electoral Votes: 212 (90.6%)
Electoral Votes Available: 234
Political Party: The National Union Party (Republican Party)


The Details of the Abraham Lincoln Landslide Victory

In the 1864 presidential election, Abraham Lincoln of the National Union party received 212 (90.6%) of the 234 available electoral votes, making this election the 6th greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. George B. McClellan of the Democratic party received only 21 (9%) electoral college votes.

Abraham Lincoln would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 2,218,388 (55.02%) in the 20th presidential election. For this election, the Republican Party and some Democrats created the National Union Party, especially to attract War Democrats.


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5. Ronald Reagan

Electoral Vote: 90.9%


Year Elected: 1980
Presidential Election: 49th
Electoral Votes: 489 (90.9%)
Electoral Votes Available: 538
Political Party: The Republican Party


The Details of the Ronald Reagan Landslide Victory

In the 1980 presidential election, Ronald Reagan of the Republican party received 489 (90.9%) of the 538 available electoral votes, making this election the 5th greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Jimmy Carter of the Democratic party received only 49 (9.1%) electoral college votes and John B. Anderson of the Independent Party received 0 electoral college votes.

Ronald Reagan would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 43,903,230 (50.7%) in the 49th presidential election. This was the second successive election in which the incumbent president was defeated, after Carter himself defeated Gerald Ford four years earlier in 1976.

4. Thomas Jefferson

Electoral Vote: 92%


Year Elected: 1804
Presidential Election: 5th
Electoral Votes: 162 (92%)
Electoral Votes Available: 176
Political Party: The Democratic-Republican Party (Defunct)


The Details of the Thomas Jefferson Landslide Victory

In the 1804 presidential election, Thomas Jefferson of the Democratic-Republican party received 162 (92%) of the 176 available electoral votes, making this election the 4th greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Charles C. Pinckney of the Federalist party received only 14 (8%) electoral college votes.

Jefferson would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 104,110 (72.8%) in the 5th presidential election. This was the highest margin of victory for the popular vote in any presidential election with multiple major candidates, although it is important to note, several states did not record the popular vote.

3. Richard Nixon

Electoral Vote: 96.7%


Year Elected: 1972
Presidential Election: 47th
Electoral Votes: 520 (96.7%)
Electoral Votes Available: 538
Political Party: The Republican Party


The Details of the Richard Nixon Landslide Victory

In the 1972 presidential election, Richard Nixon of the Republican party received 520 (96.7%) of the 538 available electoral votes, making this election the 3rd greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. George McGovern of the Democratic party received only 17 (3.2%) electoral college votes.

Nixon would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 47,168,710 (60.7%) in the 47th presidential election. This currently stands as the largest margin of the popular vote won by any presidential candidate in history. Nixon’s political career would eventually be marred by the Watergate scandal, forcing him to resign. Gerald Ford would succeed as the president, the only in history to not be elected to office on a presidential ticket.

2. Ronald Reagan

Electoral Vote: 97.6%


Year Elected: 1984
Presidential Election: 50th
Electoral Votes: 525 (97.6%)
Electoral Votes Available: 538
Political Party: The Republican Party


The Details of the Ronald Reagan Landslide Victory

In the 1984 presidential election, Ronald Reagan of the Republican party received 525 (97.6%) of the 538 available electoral votes, making this election the 2nd greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Walter Mondale of the Democratic party received only 13 (2.4%) electoral college votes.

Reagan would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 54,455,472 (58.8%) in the 50th presidential election. Reagan’s electoral vote has never been matched in a single election in United States history and is the most recent US presidential election in which a candidate received over 500 electoral votes.

1. Franklin D. Roosevelt

Electoral Vote: 98.5%


Year Elected: 1936
Presidential Election: 38th
Electoral Votes: 523 (98.5%)
Electoral Votes Available: 531
Political Party: The Democratic Party


The Details of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Landslide Victory

In the 1936 presidential election, Franklin D. Roosevelt of the Democratic party received 523 (98.5%) of the 531 available electoral votes, making this election the greatest landslide victory in presidential election history. Alf Landon of the Republican party received only 8 (1.5%) electoral college votes.

Roosevelt would also win the popular vote in the race, getting 27,747,636 (60.8%) in the 38th presidential election. Roosevelt won the highest share of the popular and electoral vote since the largely uncontested 1820 election.


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