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.