Two of the last six elections were won by the candidate with fewer votes

Winning margins, percentage points

Popular vote

Electoral vote

0

10

20

30

40

-0.5

Republicans Bush and Trump lost the popular vote but won the presidency in 2000 and 2016

Bush 2000

Gore

2.5

Bush 2004

Kerry

7.3

Obama 2008

McCain

3.9

Obama 2012

Romney

-2.1

Democrats win greater margins in the electoral college, but have never won without the popular vote

Trump 2016

Clinton

4.5

Biden 2020

Trump

Winning margins, percentage points

Popular vote

Electoral vote

0

10

20

30

40

-0.5

Republicans Bush and Trump lost the popular vote but won the presidency in 2000 and 2016

Bush 2000

Gore

2.5

Bush 2004

Kerry

7.3

Obama 2008

McCain

3.9

Obama 2012

Romney

-2.1

Democrats win greater margins in the electoral college, but have never won without the popular vote

Trump 2016

Clinton

4.5

Biden 2020

Trump

Winning margins, percentage points

Popular vote

Electoral vote

40

Republicans Bush and Trump lost the popular vote but won the presidency in 2000 and 2016

Democrats win greater margins in the electoral college, but have never won without the popular vote

30

20

10

7.3

4.5

3.9

2.5

-0.5

-2.1

0

Bush

2000

Gore

Bush

2004

Kerry

Obama

2008

McCain

Obama

2012

Romney

Trump

2016

Clinton

Biden

2020

Trump

Winning margins, percentage points

Popular vote

Electoral vote

40

Republicans Bush and Trump lost the popular vote but won the presidency in 2000 and 2016

Democrats win greater margins in the electoral college, but have never won without the popular vote

30

20

10

7.3

4.5

3.9

2.5

-0.5

-2.1

0

Bush 2000

Gore

Bush 2004

Kerry

Obama 2008

McCain

Obama 2012

Romney

Trump 2016

Clinton

Biden 2020

Trump