List of third-party and independent performances in United States presidential elections

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This page contains four lists of third-party and independent performances in United States presidential elections:

  1. National results for third-party or independent presidential candidates that won above 5% of the popular vote (1788–present)
  2. National results for third-party or independent presidential candidates that won between 1% and 5% of the popular vote (1788–present)
  3. State results where a third-party or independent presidential candidate won above 5% of the popular vote (1832–present)
  4. State results where a major-party candidate received above 1% of the state popular vote from a third party cross-endorsement (1896–present)

It is rare for candidates, other than those of the six parties which have succeeded as major parties (Federalist Party, Democratic-Republican Party, National Republican Party, Democratic Party, Whig Party, Republican Party), to take large shares of the vote in elections.

As of 2023, the last third party presidential candidate to win an electoral vote was George Wallace of the American Independent Party, who won five states in 1968.[1]

National results[edit]

Above 5% (1788–present)[edit]

This list includes the third-party candidates that captured at least one state and/or more than 5% of the popular vote.

Year Party Nominee Running-Mate # Votes % Votes % Votes
On Ballot
Electoral Votes Place Notes
1832 Nullifier John Floyd Henry Lee 0[2]
0 / 100
N/A[2]
11 / 286
3rd
Anti-Masonic William Wirt Amos Ellmaker 99,817
7.78 / 100
15.93 / 100
7 / 286
4th
1848 Free Soil Martin Van Buren Charles F. Adams 291,475
10.13 / 100
13.79 / 100
0 / 290
3rd
1856 American Millard Fillmore Andrew J. Donelson 872,703
21.54 / 100
21.54 / 100
8 / 296
1860 Lecompton Democratic John C. Breckinridge Joseph Lane 851,844
18.20 / 100
22.04 / 100
72 / 303
2nd
Constitutional Union John Bell Edward Everett 590,946
12.62 / 100
15.43 / 100
39 / 303
3rd
1872 Liberal Republican[3] Horace Greeley Benjamin Gratz Brown 2,834,761
43.78 / 100
43.78 / 100
0 / 352
[4]
2nd
1892 Populist James B. Weaver James G. Field 1,026,595
8.51 / 100
8.62 / 100
22 / 444
3rd
1912 Progressive Theodore Roosevelt Hiram Johnson 4,120,609
27.39 / 100
27.86 / 100
88 / 531
2nd
Socialist Eugene V. Debs Emil Seidel 900,742
5.99 / 100
5.99 / 100
0 / 531
4th
1924 Progressive Robert M. La Follette Burton K. Wheeler 4,833,821
16.62 / 100
16.69 / 100
13 / 531
3rd
1948 States' Rights Democratic (Dixiecrat) Strom Thurmond Fielding L. Wright 1,175,946
2.41 / 100
17.70 / 100
39 / 531
1968 American Independent George Wallace Curtis LeMay 9,901,118
13.53 / 100
13.56 / 100
46 / 538
1980 Independent John B. Anderson Patrick Lucey 5,719,850
6.61 / 100
6.61 / 100
0 / 538
1992 Ross Perot James Stockdale 19,743,821
18.91 / 100
18.91 / 100
0 / 538
1996 Reform Pat Choate 8,085,402
8.40 / 100
8.40 / 100
0 / 538

Gallery[edit]

Above 1% (1788–present)[edit]

This list includes the third-party candidates that captured less than 5% but more than 1% of the popular vote and no electoral votes.

Year Party Nominee Running mate No. votes % Votes % Votes
on ballot
Place Note
1808 Independent
Democratic-Republican
James Monroe - 4,848
2.50 / 100
11.22 / 100
3rd -
1812 Straight-Federalist Rufus King William R. Davie 5,574
2.00 / 100
26.90 / 100
-
1820 Independent
Democratic-Republican
DeWitt Clinton - 1,893
1.75 / 100
5.88 / 100
-
1844 Liberty James G. Birney Thomas Morris 62,300
2.31 / 100
3.28 / 100
[5]: 861 
1852 Free Soil John P. Hale George W. Julian 155,799
4.93 / 100
6.15 / 100
-
1880 Greenback James B. Weaver Barzillai J. Chambers 308,578
3.35 / 100
3.45 / 100
[6]: 1558 
1884 Benjamin Butler Absolom M. West 175,370
1.74 / 100
2.16 / 100
[6]: 1611 
Prohibition John St. John William Daniel 150,369
1.50 / 100
1.57 / 100
4th [6]: 1611 
1888 Clinton Fisk John A. Brooks 249,506
2.19 / 100
2.21 / 100
3rd [6]: 1700 
Union Labor Alson Streeter Charles E. Cunningham 146,935
1.29 / 100
1.54 / 100
4th [6]: 1700 
1892 Prohibition John Bidwell James Cranfill 255,841
2.12 / 100
2.17 / 100
[6]: 1784 
1900 John G. Woolley Henry B. Metcalf 209,157
1.50 / 100
1.52 / 100
3rd [7]: 1962 
1904 Socialist Eugene V. Debs Benjamin Hanford 402,895
2.98 / 100
2.98 / 100
[7]: 2046 
Prohibition Silas C. Swallow George W. Carroll 258,950
1.91 / 100
1.96 / 100
4th [7]: 2046 
1908 Socialist Eugene V. Debs Benjamin Hanford 420,890
2.83 / 100
2.84 / 100
3rd [7]: 2131 
Prohibition Eugene W. Chafin Aaron S. Watkins 252,511
1.70 / 100
1.80 / 100
4th [7]: 2131 
1912 207,828
1.38 / 100
1.46 / 100
5th [7]: 2242 
1916 Socialist Allan L. Benson George R. Kirkpatrick 585,113
3.17 / 100
3.19 / 100
3rd [7]: 2345 
Prohibition Frank Hanly Ira Landrith 220,506
1.19 / 100
1.24 / 100
4th [7]: 2345 
1920 Socialist Eugene V. Debs Seymour Stedman 919,799
3.44 / 100
3.53 / 100
3rd [7]: 2456 
1932 Socialist Norman Thomas James H. Maurer 884,781
2.22 / 100
2.28 / 100
[7]: 2806 
1936 Union William Lemke Thomas C. O'Brien 882,479
1.93 / 100
2.88 / 100
[7]: 2914 
1948 Progressive Henry A. Wallace Glen H. Taylor 1,157,172
2.37 / 100
2.65 / 100
4th [7]: 3211 
1972 American Independent John G. Schmitz Thomas J. Anderson 1,100,868
1.42 / 100
1.79 / 100
3rd -
1980 Libertarian Ed Clark David H. Koch 921,128
1.06 / 100
1.06 / 100
4th -
2000 Green Ralph Nader Winona LaDuke 2,882,955
2.74 / 100
2.86 / 100
3rd -
2016 Libertarian Gary Johnson William Weld 4,484,244
3.28 / 100
3.28 / 100
-
Green Jill Stein Ajamu Baraka 1,454,244
1.06 / 100
1.16 / 100
4th -
2020 Libertarian Jo Jorgensen Spike Cohen 1,865,620
1.18 / 100
1.18 / 100
3rd [8]

Gallery[edit]

By state[edit]

Third-party and independent candidates (1832–present)[edit]

This list includes the statewide performance of third-party candidates not included in the lists above who accrued 5% or more of a state's popular vote.

Many third-party candidates have run under different affiliations in different states. They do this for many reasons, including laws restricting ballot access, cross-endorsements by other established parties, etc.[citation needed] In the list below, the party column shows which of a given candidate's affiliation(s) appeared on the ballot in which corresponding state(s).

1832–1860[edit]

(1832–1860)
Year State Party Nominee Running mate # Votes % Votes Place Notes
1832 Connecticut Anti-Masonic William Wirt Amos Ellmaker 3,409
10.38 / 100
3rd
Massachusetts 14,692
21.73 / 100
2nd
Pennsylvania 66,689
42.04 / 100
Vermont 13,106
40.79 / 100
1st
1844 Maine Liberty James G. Birney Thomas Morris 4,836
5.69 / 100
3rd
Massachusetts 10,830
8.20 / 100
Michigan 3,639
6.53 / 100
New Hampshire 4,161
8.46 / 100
Vermont 3,970
8.13 / 100
1848 Connecticut Free Soil Martin Van Buren Charles Francis Adams Sr. 5,005
8.02 / 100
Illinois 15,702
12.60 / 100
Indiana 8,100
5.30 / 100
Maine 12,157
13.87 / 100
Massachusetts 38,333
28.45 / 100
2nd
Michigan 10,393
15.97 / 100
3rd
New Hampshire 7,560
15.09 / 100
New York 120,497
26.43 / 100
2nd
Ohio 35,347
10.76 / 100
3rd
Rhode Island 730
6.54 / 100
Vermont 13,837
28.87 / 100
2nd
Wisconsin 10,418
26.60 / 100
3rd
1852 Illinois John P. Hale George Washington Julian 9,863
6.36 / 100
3rd
Maine 8,030
9.77 / 100
Massachusetts 28,023
22.05 / 100
Michigan 7,237
8.73 / 100
New Hampshire 6,546
12.95 / 100
Ohio 31,732
8.98 / 100
Vermont 8,621
19.64 / 100
Wisconsin 8,814
13.63 / 100
Georgia Union Daniel Webster Charles J. Jenkins 5,324
8.50 / 100
1856 Alabama American Millard Fillmore Andrew Jackson Donelson 28,552
37.92 / 100
2nd
Arkansas 10,732
32.88 / 100
California 36,195
32.83 / 100
Delaware 6,275
42.99 / 100
Florida 4,833
43.19 / 100
Georgia 42,439
42.86 / 100
Illinois 37,531
15.68 / 100
3rd
Indiana 22,386
9.51 / 100
Iowa 9,669
10.47 / 100
Kentucky 67,416
47.46 / 100
2nd
Louisiana 20,709
48.30 / 100
Maryland 47,452
54.63 / 100
1st
Massachusetts 19,626
11.54 / 100
3rd
Mississippi Whig 24,191
40.56 / 100
2nd
Missouri American 48,522
45.57 / 100
New Jersey 24,115
24.26 / 100
3rd
New York 124,206
20.89 / 100
North Carolina Whig 36,720
43.22 / 100
2nd
Ohio American 28,126
7.28 / 100
3rd
Pennsylvania 82,189
17.86 / 100
Rhode Island 1,675
8.45 / 100
Tennessee 63,878
47.82 / 100
2nd
Texas 15,639
33.41 / 100
Virginia 60,150
40.04 / 100
1860 Alabama Constitutional Democratic John C. Breckinridge Joseph Lane 48,669
54.00 / 100
1st
Arkansas 28,732
53.06 / 100
California 33,969
28.35 / 100
3rd
Connecticut 16,558
20.51 / 100
Delaware 7,339
45.54 / 100
1st
Florida 8,277
62.23 / 100
Georgia 52,176
48.89 / 100
Kentucky 53,143
36.35 / 100
2nd
Louisiana 22,681
44.90 / 100
1st
Maine 6,368
6.31 / 100
3rd
Maryland 42,482
45.93 / 100
1st
Mississippi 40,768
59.00 / 100
Missouri 31,362
18.94 / 100
3rd
North Carolina 48,486
50.51 / 100
1st
Oregon 5,074
34.37 / 100
2nd
Pennsylvania 178,871
37.54 / 100
Tennessee 65,097
44.55 / 100
Texas 47,548
75.49 / 100
1st
Virginia 74,325
44.54 / 100
2nd
Alabama Constitutional Union John Bell Edward Everett 27,835
30.89 / 100
2nd
Arkansas 20,063
37.05 / 100
California 9,111
7.60 / 100
4th
Delaware 3,888
24.13 / 100
2nd
Florida 4,801
36.10 / 100
Georgia 42,960
40.26 / 100
Kentucky 66,058
45.18 / 100
1st
Louisiana 20,204
40.00 / 100
2nd
Maryland 41,760
45.14 / 100
Massachusetts 22,331
13.15 / 100
3rd
Mississippi 25,045
36.25 / 100
2nd
Missouri 58,372
35.26 / 100
North Carolina 45,129
46.66 / 100
Tennessee 69,728
47.72 / 100
1st
Texas 15,438
24.51 / 100
2nd
Virginia 74,481
44.63 / 100
1st

1864–1900[edit]

(1864–1900)
Year State Party Nominee Running mate # Votes % Votes Place Notes
1876 Kansas Greenback Peter Cooper Samuel Fenton Cary 7,770
6.26 / 100
3rd
1880 Iowa James B. Weaver Barzillai J. Chambers 32,327
10.02 / 100
Kansas 19,851
9.86 / 100
Michigan 34,895
9.88 / 100
Missouri 35,042
8.82 / 100
Texas 27,405
11.34 / 100
West Virginia 9,008
8.00 / 100
1884 Kansas Benjamin Butler Absolom M. West 16,364
6.15 / 100
Massachusetts 24,382
8.04 / 100
1888 Minnesota Prohibition Clinton B. Fisk John A. Brooks 15,311
5.82 / 100
Arkansas Union Labor Alson Streeter Charles E. Cunningham 10,630
6.77 / 100
Kansas 37,788
11.41 / 100
Texas 29,459
8.24 / 100
1892 Alabama People's James B. Weaver James G. Field 84,984
36.55 / 100
2nd
Arkansas 11,831
7.99 / 100
3rd
California 25,311
9.39 / 100
Colorado 53,584
57.07 / 100
1st
Florida 4,843
13.65 / 100
2nd
Georgia 41,939
18.80 / 100
3rd
Idaho 10,520
54.21 / 100
1st
Kansas 163,111
50.20 / 100
Kentucky 23,500
6.89 / 100
3rd
Minnesota Fusion 29,313
10.97 / 100
Mississippi People's 10,118
19.27 / 100
2nd
Missouri 41,204
7.61 / 100
3rd
Montana 7,338
16.50 / 100
Nebraska 83,134
41.53 / 100
2nd
Nevada 7,264
66.78 / 100
1st
North Carolina 44,336
15.82 / 100
3rd
North Dakota 17,700
49.01 / 100
1st
Oregon 26,965
34.35 / 100
2nd
South Dakota Independent 26,544
37.64 / 100
Tennessee People's 23,918
9.00 / 100
3rd
Texas 99,688
23.61 / 100
2nd
Washington 19,165
21.79 / 100
3rd
Wyoming Democratic 7,722
46.14 / 100
2nd
Minnesota Prohibition John Bidwell James B. Cranfill 14,182
5.31 / 100
4th
1900 Florida John G. Woolley Henry B. Metcalf 2,244
5.66 / 100
3rd

1904–1940[edit]

(1904–1940)
Year State Party Nominee Running mate # Votes % Votes Place Notes
1904 California Socialist Eugene V. Debs Ben Hanford 29,535
8.90 / 100
3rd
Florida 2,337
5.95 / 100
Idaho 4,949
6.82 / 100
Illinois 69,225
6.43 / 100
Montana 5,676
8.81 / 100
Nevada 925
7.64 / 100
Oregon 7,619
8.45 / 100
Utah 5,767
5.67 / 100
Washington 10,023
6.91 / 100
Wisconsin Social Democratic 28,240
6.37 / 100
Georgia People's Thomas E. Watson Thomas Tibbles 22,635
17.28 / 100
Nebraska 20,518
9.09 / 100
1908 California Socialist Eugene V. Debs Ben Hanford 28,659
7.41 / 100
Florida 3,747
7.59 / 100
Idaho 6,400
6.58 / 100
Montana 5,855
8.51 / 100
Nevada 2,103
8.57 / 100
Oklahoma 21,734
8.52 / 100
Oregon 7,339
6.62 / 100
Washington 14,177
7.71 / 100
Wisconsin Social Democratic 28,147
6.19 / 100
Georgia People's Thomas E. Watson Samuel Williams 16,687
12.59 / 100
1912 Alabama Progressive Theodore Roosevelt Hiram Johnson 22,680
19.24 / 100
2nd
Arizona 6,949
29.29 / 100
Arkansas 21,644
17.30 / 100
3rd
California Republican 283,610
41.83 / 100
1st
Colorado Progressive 72,306
27.09 / 100
2nd
Connecticut 34,129
17.92 / 100
3rd
Delaware 8,886
18.25 / 100
Florida 4,555
8.96 / 100
Georgia 21,985
18.10 / 100
2nd
Idaho 25,527
24.14 / 100
3rd
Illinois 386,478
33.72 / 100
2nd
Indiana 162,007
24.75 / 100
Iowa 161,819
32.87 / 100
Kentucky 101,766
22.48 / 100
3rd
Kansas Independent 120,210
32.88 / 100
2nd
Louisiana Progressive 9,283
11.71 / 100
Maine 48,495
37.41 / 100
Maryland 57,789
24.91 / 100
Massachusetts 142,228
29.14 / 100
3rd
Michigan 214,584
38.95 / 100
1st
Minnesota 125,856
37.66 / 100
Mississippi 3,459
5.50 / 100
2nd
Missouri 124,375
17.80 / 100
3rd
Montana 22,456
28.13 / 100
2nd
Nebraska 72,681
29.13 / 100
Nevada 5,620
27.94 / 100
New Hampshire 17,794
20.23 / 100
3rd
New Jersey 145,410
33.60 / 100
2nd
New Mexico 8,347
16.90 / 100
3rd
New York 390,093
24.56 / 100
North Carolina 69,130
28.34 / 100
2nd
North Dakota 25,726
29.71 / 100
Ohio 229,807
22.16 / 100
3rd
Oregon 37,600
27.44 / 100
2nd
Pennsylvania 444,894
36.53 / 100
1st
Rhode Island 16,878
21.67 / 100
3rd
South Dakota Republican 58,811
50.56 / 100
1st
Tennessee Progressive 54,041
21.45 / 100
3rd
Texas 26,745
8.86 / 100
Utah 24,174
21.51 / 100
Vermont 22,132
35.22 / 100
2nd
Virginia 21,777
15.90 / 100
3rd
Washington 113,698
35.22 / 100
1st
West Virginia 79,112
29.43 / 100
2nd
Wisconsin 62,448
15.61 / 100
3rd
Wyoming 9,232
21.83 / 100
Arizona Socialist Eugene V. Debs Emil Seidel 3,163
13.33 / 100
Arkansas 8,153
6.52 / 100
4th
California 79,201
11.68 / 100
3rd
Colorado 16,418
6.15 / 100
4th
Connecticut 10,056
5.28 / 100
Florida 4,806
9.45 / 100
2nd
Idaho 11,960
11.31 / 100
4th
Illinois 81,278
7.09 / 100
Indiana 36,931
5.64 / 100
Kansas 26,779
7.33 / 100
Louisiana 5,261
6.64 / 100
3rd
Minnesota Public Ownership 27,505
8.23 / 100
4th
Montana Socialist 10,885
13.64 / 100
Nevada 3,313
16.47 / 100
3rd
New Mexico 2,859
5.79 / 100
4th
North Dakota 6,966
8.05 / 100
Ohio 90,144
8.69 / 100
Oklahoma 41,674
16.42 / 100
3rd
Oregon 13,343
9.74 / 100
4th
Pennsylvania 83,614
6.87 / 100
Texas 24,896
8.25 / 100
Utah 9,023
8.03 / 100
Washington 40,134
12.43 / 100
West Virginia 15,248
5.67 / 100
Wisconsin Social Democratic 33,476
8.37 / 100
Wyoming Socialist 2,760
6.53 / 100
1916 Arizona Socialist Allan L. Benson George Ross Kirkpatrick 3,174
5.47 / 100
3rd
Florida 5,353
6.63 / 100
Idaho 8,066
5.99 / 100
Minnesota 20,117
5.19 / 100
Montana 9,564
5.38 / 100
Nevada 3,065
9.20 / 100
North Dakota 5,716
4.95 / 100
Oklahoma 45,190
15.45 / 100
Texas 18,963
5.09 / 100
Washington 22,800
5.98 / 100
Wisconsin 27,631
6.18 / 100
Florida Prohibition Frank Hanly Ira Landrith 4,786
5.93 / 100
4th
Georgia Progressive Unpledged John M. Parker 20,692
12.88 / 100
2nd
Louisiana 6,349
6.83 / 100
3rd
1920 California Socialist Eugene V. Debs Seymour Stedman 64,076
6.79 / 100
Minnesota 56,106
7.62 / 100
Nevada 1,864
6.85 / 100
New York 203,201
7.01 / 100
Oklahoma 25,726
5.09 / 100
Wisconsin 80,635
11.50 / 100
Montana Farmer–Labor Parley P. Christensen Max S. Hayes 12,204
6.82 / 100
South Dakota Nonpartisan League 34,707
19.04 / 100
Washington Farmer–Labor 77,246
19.37 / 100
Texas American James E. Ferguson William Hough 47,968
9.86 / 100
3rd
Black & Tan Republican Unpledged electors 27,247
5.60 / 100
4th
1924 Arizona Progressive Robert M. La Follette Burton K. Wheeler 17,210
23.27 / 100
3rd
Arkansas 13,173
9.51 / 100
California Socialist 424,649
33.13 / 100
2nd
Colorado La Follette-Wheeler Independent 57,368
16.76 / 100
3rd
Farmer–Labor 12,577
3.67 / 100
Total 69,945
20.44 / 100
Connecticut Progressive 42,416
10.60 / 100
Delaware 4,979
5.48 / 100
Florida 8,625
7.90 / 100
Georgia 12,691
7.62 / 100
Idaho 54,160
36.52 / 100
2nd
Illinois 432,027
17.49 / 100
3rd
Indiana 71,700
5.64 / 100
Iowa 274,448
28.10 / 100
2nd
Kansas Independent 98,461
14.86 / 100
3rd
Maine Progressive 11,382
5.92 / 100
Maryland 47,157
13.15 / 100
Massachusetts 141,225
12.50 / 100
Michigan 122,014
10.51 / 100
Minnesota Independent 339,192
41.26 / 100
2nd
Missouri Socialist 84,160
6.43 / 100
3rd
Montana Progressive 66,123
37.91 / 100
2nd
Nebraska 106,701
22.99 / 100
3rd
Nevada Independent 9,769
36.29 / 100
2nd
New Hampshire Progressive 8,993
5.46 / 100
3rd
New Jersey 108,901
10.03 / 100
New Mexico 9,543
8.46 / 100
New York Socialist 268,510
8.23 / 100
Progressive 206,395
6.32 / 100
Total 474,905
14.55 / 100
North Dakota Nonpartisan League 89,922
45.17 / 100
2nd
Ohio Progressive 357,948
17.75 / 100
3rd
Oklahoma Farmer–Labor 46,375
8.78 / 100
Oregon Independent 68,403
24.47 / 100
2nd
Pennsylvania Farmer–Labor 214,126
9.98 / 100
3rd
Socialist 93,441
4.36 / 100
Total 307,567
14.34 / 100
South Dakota Independent 75,355
36.96 / 100
2nd
Texas Progressive 42,881
6.52 / 100
3rd
Utah 32,662
20.81 / 100
Vermont 5,964
5.79 / 100
Washington 150,727
35.76 / 100
2nd
West Virginia Farmer–Labor 36,723
6.29 / 100
3rd
Wisconsin Independent 453,678
53.96 / 100
1st [9]
Wyoming Progressive 25,174
31.51 / 100
2nd
Florida Prohibition Herman P. Faris Marie C. Brehm 5,498
5.04 / 100
4th
1936 Massachusetts Union William Lemke Thomas C. O'Brien 118,639
6.45 / 100
3rd
Minnesota 74,296
6.58 / 100
North Dakota 36,708
13.41 / 100
Oregon Independent 21,831
5.27 / 100
Rhode Island Union 19,569
6.29 / 100

1944–1980[edit]

(1944–1980)
Year State Party Nominee Running mate # Votes % Votes Place Notes
1944 South Carolina Southern Democratic Unpledged electors 7,799
7.54 / 100
2nd
Texas Texas Regulars 135,439
11.77 / 100
3rd
1948 Alabama Democratic Strom Thurmond Fielding L. Wright 171,443
79.75 / 100
1st [10]
Arkansas States' Rights Democratic 40,068
16.52 / 100
3rd
Florida 89,755
15.54 / 100
Georgia 85,055
20.31 / 100
2nd
Louisiana 204,290
49.07 / 100
1st [10]
Mississippi Democratic 167,538
87.17 / 100
[10]
North Carolina States' Rights Democratic 69,652
8.80 / 100
3rd
South Carolina 102,607
71.97 / 100
1st [10]
Tennessee 73,815
13.41 / 100
3rd
Texas 113,776
9.11 / 100
Virginia 43,393
10.35 / 100
New York American Labor Henry A. Wallace Glen H. Taylor 509,559
8.25 / 100
1956 Louisiana States' Rights Democratic Unpledged electors 44,520
7.21 / 100
[11]
Mississippi 42,966
17.31 / 100
South Carolina 88,511
29.45 / 100
2nd
Virginia T. Coleman Andrews Thomas H. Werdel 42,964
6.16 / 100
3rd
1960 Alabama Unpledged electors[12] 324,050
36.47 / 100
1st [11][13]
Louisiana Independent 169,572
20.99 / 100
3rd
Mississippi 116,248
38.99 / 100
1st [13]
Arkansas National States' Rights Orval Faubus John G. Crommelin 28,952
6.76 / 100
3rd
1964 Alabama Democratic Unpledged electors 210,732
30.55 / 100
2nd [11]
1968 Alabama George Wallace Curtis LeMay
(Official VP Nominee)
691,425
65.86 / 100
1st [14]
Alaska Independent 10,024
12.07 / 100
3rd
Arizona American Independent 46,573
9.56 / 100
Arkansas 235,627
38.65 / 100
1st [14]
California 487,270
6.72 / 100
3rd
Colorado Marvin Griffin
(Provisional VP Nominee)
60,813
7.50 / 100
Connecticut Curtis LeMay
(Official VP Nominee)
76,650
6.10 / 100
Delaware 28,459
13.28 / 100
Florida 676,794
28.53 / 100
Georgia Marvin Griffin
(Provisional VP Nominee)
535,550
42.83 / 100
1st [14]
Idaho Curtis LeMay
(Official VP Nominee)
36,541
12.55 / 100
3rd
Illinois Independent 390,958
8.46 / 100
Indiana American Independent Marvin Griffin
(Provisional VP Nominee)
243,108
11.45 / 100
Iowa 66,422
5.69 / 100
Kansas Conservative 88,291
10.19 / 100
Kentucky American Independent 193,098
18.29 / 100
Louisiana Curtis LeMay
(Official VP Nominee)
530,300
48.32 / 100
1st [14]
Maryland Marvin Griffin
(Provisional VP Nominee)
178,734
14.47 / 100
3rd
Michigan 331,968
10.04 / 100
Mississippi Independent Curtis LeMay
(Official VP Nominee)
415,349
63.46 / 100
1st [14]
Missouri American Independent Marvin Griffin
(Provisional VP Nominee)
206,126
11.39 / 100
3rd
Montana 20,015
7.29 / 100
Nebraska 44,094
8.36 / 100
Nevada 20,432
13.25 / 100
New Jersey 262,187
9.12 / 100
New Mexico 25,737
7.86 / 100
New York Courage 358,864
5.29 / 100
North Carolina American Independent Curtis LeMay
(Official VP Nominee)
496,188
31.26 / 100
2nd
North Dakota Independent 14,244
5.75 / 100
3rd
Ohio American Independent Marvin Griffin
(Provisional VP Nominee)
467,495
11.81 / 100
Oklahoma Curtis LeMay
(Official VP Nominee)
191,731
20.33 / 100
Oregon Independent 49,683
6.06 / 100
Pennsylvania American Independent Marvin Griffin
(Provisional VP Nominee)
378,582
7.97 / 100
South Carolina Independent Curtis LeMay
(Official VP Nominee)
215,430
32.30 / 100
2nd
Tennessee American Independent 424,792
34.02 / 100
Texas 584,269
18.97 / 100
3rd
Utah 26,906
6.37 / 100
Virginia 321,833
23.64 / 100
Washington Marvin Griffin
(Provisional VP Nominee)
96,990
7.74 / 100
West Virginia 72,560
9.62 / 100
Wisconsin Independent 127,835
7.56 / 100
Wyoming 11,105
8.73 / 100
1972 Alaska American Independent John G. Schmitz Thomas J. Anderson 6,903
7.25 / 100
Idaho 28,869
9.30 / 100
Utah 28,549
5.97 / 100
1976 Alaska Libertarian Roger MacBride David Bergland 6,785
5.50 / 100
1980 Alaska Ed Clark David Koch 18,479
11.87 / 100
[15]
Independent John B. Anderson Patrick Lucey
(Official VP Nominee)
11,155
7.04 / 100
4th [16]
Arizona 76,952
8.81 / 100
3rd
California 739,833
8.62 / 100
Colorado Anderson Coalition
(Later National Unity)
130,633
11.03 / 100
Connecticut 171,807
12.22 / 100
Delaware 171,807
6.91 / 100
District of Columbia Independent 16,131
9.28 / 100
Florida 189,692
5.14 / 100
Hawaii 32,021
10.56 / 100
Idaho 27,058
6.19 / 100
Illinois 346,754
7.30 / 100
Iowa 115,633
8.78 / 100
Kansas 68,231
6.96 / 100
Maine 53,327
10.20 / 100
Maryland 119,537
7.76 / 100
Massachusetts Anderson Coalition
(Later National Unity)
382,539
15.15 / 100
Michigan 275,223
7.04 / 100
Minnesota 174,990
8.53 / 100
Montana Independent 29,281
8.05 / 100
Nebraska 44,993
7.02 / 100
Nevada 17,651
7.12 / 100
New Hampshire 49,693
12.94 / 100
New Jersey Anderson Coalition
(Later National Unity)
234,632
7.88 / 100
New Mexico Independent 29,459
6.46 / 100
New York Liberal 467,801
7.54 / 100
North Dakota Independent 23,640
7.84 / 100
Ohio 254,472
5.94 / 100
Oregon 112,389
9.51 / 100
Pennsylvania Anderson Coalition
(Later National Unity)
292,921
6.42 / 100
Rhode Island 59,819
14.38 / 100
South Dakota Independent Flint
(Provisional VP Nominee)
21,431
6.54 / 100
Utah Patrick Lucey
(Official VP Nominee)
30,284
5.01 / 100
Vermont 31,760
14.90 / 100
Virginia 95,418
5.11 / 100
Washington 185,073
10.62 / 100
Wisconsin 160,657
7.07 / 100
Wyoming 12,072
6.83 / 100

1984–present[edit]

(1984–Present)
Year State Party Nominee Running mate # Votes % Votes Place Notes
1992 Alabama Independent Ross Perot James Stockdale 183,109
10.85 / 100
3rd [17]
Alaska 73,481
28.43 / 100
Arizona 353,741
23.79 / 100
Arkansas 99,132
10.43 / 100
California 2,296,006
20.63 / 100
Colorado 366,010
23.32 / 100
Connecticut Americans for Perot
(Later Reform Party)
348,771
21.58 / 100
Delaware Independent 59,213
20.45 / 100
Florida 1,053,067
19.82 / 100
Georgia 353,741
23.79 / 100
Hawaii 53,003
14.22 / 100
Idaho 130,395
27.05 / 100
Illinois 840,515
16.64 / 100
Indiana 455,934
19.77 / 100
Iowa 253,468
18.71 / 100
Kansas 312,358
26.99 / 100
Kentucky 203,944
13.66 / 100
Louisiana Prudence, Action, Results
(Later Reform Party)
211,478
11.81 / 100
Maine Independent 206,820
30.44 / 100
2nd [18]
Maryland 281,414
14.18 / 100
3rd
Massachusetts 632,312
22.80 / 100
Michigan 824,813
19.30 / 100
Minnesota 562,506
23.96 / 100
Mississippi 85,626
8.72 / 100
[19]
Missouri 518,741
21.69 / 100
Montana 107,225
26.12 / 100
Nebraska 174,687
23.63 / 100
Nevada 132,580
26.19 / 100
New Hampshire 121,337
22.59 / 100
New Jersey 521,829
15.61 / 100
New Mexico 91,895
16.12 / 100
New York 1,090,721
15.75 / 100
North Carolina 357,864
13.70 / 100
North Dakota 71,084
23.07 / 100
Ohio 1,036,426
20.98 / 100
Oklahoma 319,878
23.01 / 100
Oregon 354,091
24.21 / 100
Pennsylvania Pennsylvanians
(Later Reform Party)
902,667
18.20 / 100
Rhode Island Perot for President
(Later Reform Party)
105,045
23.16 / 100
South Carolina Independent 138,872
11.55 / 100
South Dakota 73,295
21.80 / 100
Tennessee 199,968
10.09 / 100
Texas 1,354,781
22.01 / 100
Utah 203,400
27.34 / 100
2nd [20]
Vermont 65,991
22.78 / 100
3rd
Virginia 348,639
13.63 / 100
Washington 541,780
23.68 / 100
West Virginia 108,829
15.91 / 100
Wisconsin 544,479
21.51 / 100
Wyoming 51,263
25.65 / 100
1996 Alabama Independent Ross Perot Pat Choate
(Official VP Nominee)
92,149
6.01 / 100
[17]
Alaska Reform 26,333
10.90 / 100
Arizona 112,072
7.98 / 100
Arkansas 69,884
7.90 / 100
California James Campbell
(Provisional VP Nominee)
697,849
6.96 / 100
Colorado Pat Choate
(Official VP Nominee)
99,629
6.59 / 100
Connecticut 139,523
10.02 / 100
Delaware Independent 28,719
10.60 / 100
Florida Reform 483,870
9.12 / 100
Georgia 146,337
6.37 / 100
Hawaii 27,358
7.60 / 100
Idaho 62,518
12.71 / 100
Illinois 346,408
8.03 / 100
Indiana James Campbell
(Provisional VP Nominee)
224,299
10.50 / 100
Iowa 105,159
8.52 / 100
Kansas 92,639
8.62 / 100
Kentucky Pat Choate
(Official VP Nominee)
120,396
8.67 / 100
Louisiana James Campbell
(Provisional VP Nominee)
123,293
6.91 / 100
Maine 85,970
14.19 / 100
[21]
Maryland 115,812
6.50 / 100
Massachusetts Pat Choate
(Official VP Nominee)
227,217
8.89 / 100
Michigan 336,870
8.75 / 100
Minnesota 257,704
11.75 / 100
Mississippi Independent 52,222
5.84 / 100
Missouri Reform James Campbell
(Provisional VP Nominee)
217,188
10.06 / 100
Montana 55,229
13.56 / 100
Nebraska Pat Choate
(Official VP Nominee)
71,278
10.52 / 100
Nevada 43,986
9.47 / 100
New Hampshire 48,390
9.69 / 100
New Jersey Independent 262,134
8.52 / 100
New Mexico Reform 32,257
5.80 / 100
New York Independence 503,458
7.97 / 100
North Carolina Reform 168,059
6.68 / 100
North Dakota Hanson
(Provisional VP Nominee)
32,515
12.20 / 100
Ohio James Campbell
(Provisional VP Nominee)
483,207
10.66 / 100
Oklahoma Pat Choate
(Official VP Nominee)
130,788
10.84 / 100
Oregon James Campbell
(Provisional VP Nominee)
121,221
8.80 / 100
Pennsylvania Pat Choate
(Official VP Nominee)
430,984
9.56 / 100
Rhode Island 43,723
11.20 / 100
South Carolina 64,386
5.60 / 100
South Dakota Independent James Campbell
(Provisional VP Nominee)
31,250
9.65 / 100
Tennessee 105,918
5.59 / 100
[22]
Texas 378,537
6.75 / 100
Utah Reform Pat Choate
(Official VP Nominee)
66,461
9.98 / 100
Vermont 31,024
12.00 / 100
Virginia 159,861
6.62 / 100
Washington 201,003
8.92 / 100
West Virginia 71,639
11.26 / 100
Wisconsin 227,339
10.35 / 100
Wyoming Independent 25,928
12.25 / 100
2000 Alaska Green Ralph Nader Winona LaDuke 28,747
10.07 / 100
[23]
Colorado 91,434
5.25 / 100
Washington, D.C. 10,576
5.24 / 100
Hawaii 21,623
5.88 / 100
Maine 37,127
5.70 / 100
Massachusetts 173,564
6.42 / 100
Minnesota 126,696
5.20 / 100
Montana 24,437
5.95 / 100
Oregon 77,357
5.04 / 100
Rhode Island 25,052
6.12 / 100
Vermont 20,374
6.92 / 100
2016 Alaska Libertarian Gary Johnson William Weld 18,782
5.90 / 100
3rd
Colorado 144,121
5.18 / 100
Maine 37,578
5.10 / 100
Montana 28,036
5.67 / 100
New Mexico 74,541
9.34 / 100
North Dakota 21,434
6.22 / 100
Oklahoma 83,481
5.75 / 100
South Dakota 20,845
5.63 / 100
Washington 160,879
5.01 / 100
Wyoming 13,287
5.19 / 100
Idaho Independent Evan McMullin Nathan Johnson
(Provisional VP Nominee)
46,476
6.73 / 100
Utah 243,685
21.54 / 100
Vermont Write-in Bernie Sanders None 18,183
5.67 / 100
[24]

Cross-endorsement major candidates (1896–present)[edit]

This list includes the statewide performance of each major party candidate who ran on the ballot line of a political party other than their own, either through electoral fusion or for other reasons. This list does not include cases where a third party shares the same ballot line as a major party. The vote totals and percentages listed are those each candidate received under a particular third-party label.

Electoral fusion was once widespread in the United States.[25] As of 2022, electoral fusion as conventionally understood by historians and political scientists is fully legal in only two states: Connecticut and New York. It is partially legal in three others; Pennsylvania and Maryland permit fusion in certain elections (including judicial elections), and California allows fusion in presidential elections only.[26][page needed]

Year State Main Party Endorsed Party Nominee Running mate # Votes % Votes Notes
1896 Alabama Democratic People's William Jennings Bryan Thomas E. Watson 24,089
10.97 / 100
California 21,623
7.24 / 100
Colorado 2,391
1.26 / 100
Florida 1,977
4.25 / 100
Georgia 440
0.27 / 100
Illinois 1,090
0.10 / 100
Kansas 46,194
13.81 / 100
Maine 2,387
2.02 / 100
Massachusetts 24,089
3.78 / 100
Mississippi 7,517
10.80 / 100
Nevada 575
5.57 / 100
New Hampshire 379
0.45 / 100
Ohio 2,615
0.26 / 100
Pennsylvania 11,176
0.94 / 100
Tennessee 4,525
1.41 / 100
Texas 79,572
14.61 / 100
Vermont 461
0.72 / 100
Wyoming 286
1.36 / 100
1916 New York Republican American Charles Evans Hughes Charles W. Fairbanks 10,172
0.60 / 100
1936 New York Democratic American Labor Franklin D. Roosevelt John Nance Garner 274,924
4.91 / 100
1940 New York Democratic American Labor Henry A. Wallace 417,418
6.62 / 100
South Carolina Republican Jeffersonian Democratic Wendell Willkie Charles L. McNary 2,496
2.50 / 100
1944 New York Democratic American Labor Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman 496,405
7.86 / 100
Liberal 329,235
5.21 / 100
1948 Mississippi Democratic National Democratic Harry S. Truman Alben W. Barkley 19,384
10.09 / 100
New York Liberal 222,562
3.60 / 100
Mississippi Republican Independent Republican Thomas E. Dewey Earl Warren 2,448
1.27 / 100
1952 New York Democratic Liberal Adlai Stevenson II John Sparkman 416,711
5.85 / 100
South Carolina Republican Independent Dwight D. Eisenhower Richard Nixon 158,289
46.41 / 100
1956 New York Democratic Liberal Adlai Stevenson II Estes Kefauver 292,557
4.12 / 100
Mississippi Republican Black & Tan Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower Richard Nixon 4,313
1.74 / 100
1960 New York Democratic Liberal John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson 406,176
5.57 / 100
1964 New York Democratic Liberal Lyndon B. Johnson Hubert Humphrey 342,432
4.78 / 100
1968 Alabama Democratic Independent Democrat Hubert Humphrey Edmund Muskie 142,435
13.57 / 100
National Democratic 54,144
5.16 / 100
New York Liberal 311,622
4.59 / 100
1972 Alabama Democratic National Democratic George McGovern Sargent Shriver 183,128
3.76 / 100
New York Liberal 183,128
2.56 / 100
Republican Conservative Richard Nixon Spiro Agnew 368,136
5.14 / 100
1976 New York Democratic Liberal Jimmy Carter Walter Mondale 145,393
2.23 / 100
Republican Conservative Gerald Ford Bob Dole 274,878
4.21 / 100
1980 New York Republican Conservative Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush 256,131
4.13 / 100
1984 New York Democratic Liberal Walter Mondale Geraldine Ferraro 118,324
1.74 / 100
Republican Conservative Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush 288,244
4.23 / 100
1988 New York Democratic Liberal Michael Dukakis Lloyd Bentsen 92,395
1.42 / 100
Republican Conservative George H. W. Bush Dan Quayle 243,457
3.75 / 100
1992 New York Democratic Liberal Bill Clinton Al Gore 97,556
1.41 / 100
Republican Conservative George H. W. Bush Dan Quayle 177,000
2.56 / 100
Right to Life 127,959
1.85 / 100
1996 New York Democratic Liberal Bill Clinton Al Gore 106,547
1.69 / 100
Republican Conservative Bob Dole Jack Kemp 183,392
2.90 / 100
Freedom 11,393
0.18 / 100
2000 New York Democratic Working Families Al Gore Joe Lieberman 88,395
1.30 / 100
Liberal 77,087
1.13 / 100
Republican Conservative George W. Bush Dick Cheney 144,797
2.12 / 100
2004 New York Democratic Working Families John Kerry John Edwards 133,525
1.81 / 100
Republican Conservative George W. Bush Dick Cheney 155,574
2.10 / 100
2008 New York Democratic Working Families Barack Obama Joe Biden 159,613
2.09 / 100
Republican Conservative John McCain Sarah Palin 170,475
2.23 / 100
Independence 163,973
2.15 / 100
2012 New York Democratic Working Families Barack Obama Joe Biden 148,119
2.09 / 100
Republican Conservative Mitt Romney Paul Ryan 262,371
3.71 / 100
2016 New York Democratic Working Families Hillary Clinton Tim Kaine 138,843
1.80 / 100
Women's Equality 35,706
0.46 / 100
Republican Conservative Donald Trump Mike Pence 288,873
3.75 / 100
California American Independent 4,483,810
31.62 / 100
2020 New York Democratic Working Families Joe Biden Kamala Harris 386,010
4.49 / 100
Republican Conservative Donald Trump Mike Pence 295,657
3.44 / 100

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wolf, Zachary B. (July 17, 2023). "The curse of third-party presidential candidates". CNN.
  2. ^ a b All of John Floyd's electoral votes came from South Carolina where the Electors were chosen by the state legislatures rather than by popular vote.
  3. ^ Also nominated as the Democratic candidate.
  4. ^ Greeley would have received 66 electoral votes, but he died prior to the electoral vote count, so his votes were scattered.
  5. ^ "History of American Presidential Elections, Volume I 1789–1844, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "History of American Presidential Elections, Volume II 1848–1896, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.,
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "History of American Presidential Elections, Volume III 1900–1936, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.
  8. ^ "United States Elections Results: President - General". Associated Press. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  9. ^ La Follette easily won his home state of Wisconsin, picking up 13 electoral votes.
  10. ^ a b c d Thurmond came in 1st place in four states, including his home state of South Carolina. He also received at least 5% of the vote in 7 other states, all in the South. Thurmond received all electoral votes in the states he won, as well as a vote from a faithless elector in Tennessee.
  11. ^ a b c See Unpledged elector#Unpledged electors in the 20th century for more detail.
  12. ^ The unpledged electors in the 1960 election voted for Virginia senator Harry F. Byrd for president, and South Carolina senator Strom Thurmond for vice president.
  13. ^ a b Byrd received all electoral votes in Mississippi, as well as 6 of 11 in Alabama and 1 from a faithless elector in Oklahoma.
  14. ^ a b c d e Wallace was on the ballot in all 50 states, however not the District of Columbia. He reached the 5% threshold in 42 of those 50 states and won five, including his home state of Alabama. Wallace received 46 electoral votes, including 1 from a North Carolina faithless elector.
  15. ^ Clark's third-place finish in Alaska was the only state where he received over 3% of the popular vote.
  16. ^ Anderson received at least 5% of the vote in 37 states and the District of Columbia. His best showing was in Massachusetts, receiving over 15% of the popular vote. Anderson received no electoral votes.
  17. ^ a b Perot received at least 5% of the vote in all 50 states, however he did not reach that threshold in the District of Columbia. He failed to win any state, and received no electoral votes.
  18. ^ Perot came in second place in Maine, ahead of Republican George H. W. Bush.
  19. ^ Perot's 8.72% of votes in Mississippi was his lowest percentage received in any state.
  20. ^ Perot came in second place in Utah, ahead of Democrat Bill Clinton.
  21. ^ Perot's best showing was in Maine, where he received over 14% of the popular vote.
  22. ^ Perot's 5.59% of votes in Tennessee was his lowest percentage received in any state.
  23. ^ Nader and LaDuke were on the ballot in 48 jurisdictions, and reached the threshold in 11 of them. His best showing was in Alaska, receiving over 10% of the vote.
  24. ^ Despite not running in the general election, Sanders, who is a senator from Vermont, received nearly 6% of the vote, via write-ins.
  25. ^ Abadi, Mark (November 8, 2016). "This is why some candidates are listed more than once on your ballot". Business Insider.
  26. ^ Cobble, Steve; Siskind, Sarah (1993). FUSION: MULTIPLE PARTY NOMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. San Francisco: Center for a New Democracy at the Tides Foundation.