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Presidential election

1892 presidential election

Grover Cleveland defeated Benjamin Harrison, winning 277 of 444 electoral votes and 46% of the popular vote.

November 8, 1892

Grover Cleveland

Democratic

Grover Cleveland won the 1892 presidential election with 277 of 444 electoral votes, and 46% of the popular vote. Running mate: Adlai Stevenson I.

277
of 444 electoral votes
46%
popular vote
74.7%
turnout

Results

Vote breakdown
Grover ClevelandDemocratic
46%(5.6M votes)
277 EV
Benjamin HarrisonRepublican
43%(5.2M votes)
145 EV
James B. WeaverPopulist
8.5%(1.0M votes)
22 EV
Voter turnout

74.7%

Turnout rate

11.8M

Total votes cast

12.1M

Eligible voters

State results
StateElectoral votesWinnerMargin
New York(NY)36
DemocraticCleveland
+3%
Pennsylvania(PA)32
RepublicanHarrison
+2.4%
Ohio(OH)23
RepublicanHarrison
+1.1%
Indiana(IN)15
DemocraticCleveland
+0.4%
Colorado(CO)4
PopulistWeaver
+15%
Swing states
New York
Flipped
Electoral votes:36
Margin:3%
Previous:Harrison
Indiana
Flipped
Electoral votes:15
Margin:0.4%
Previous:Harrison
Wisconsin
Flipped
Electoral votes:12
Margin:3.8%
Previous:Harrison

Candidates

Grover Cleveland
Winner

Party

Democratic

Running mate

Adlai Stevenson I

Home state

New York

Age at election

55

Previous position

22nd President of the United States

Popular vote

5.6M

(46%)

Electoral votes

277

Benjamin Harrison

Party

Republican

Running mate

Whitelaw Reid

Home state

Indiana

Age at election

59

Previous position

23rd President of the United States (Incumbent)

Popular vote

5.2M

(43%)

Electoral votes

145

James B. Weaver

Party

Populist

Running mate

James G. Field

Home state

Iowa

Age at election

59

Previous position

U.S. Representative from Iowa

Popular vote

1.0M

(8.5%)

Electoral votes

22

Voting demographics

Northern States

Cleveland

46%

Southern States

Cleveland

62%

Western States

Weaver

40%

Key events

Campaign timeline
major
July 1892

Homestead Strike

Violent steel strike hurt Harrison

moderate
October 1892

Mrs. Harrison Dies

Harrison's wife died two weeks before election

Issues & context

Key campaign issues
Tariff Policy
Free Silver
Homestead Strike
Agrarian Discontent
Currency Reform
Historical context

Only rematch in American history where challenger won. Populist Party emerged as third force. Cleveland only president to serve non-consecutive terms. Tariff remained central issue.

Economic conditions

Growing discontent among farmers and workers. Homestead Strike symbolized labor tensions. Silver issue gaining strength. Panic of 1893 would follow soon.

Incumbent factors

Harrison unpopular. McKinley Tariff hurt Republicans. Wife's death subdued campaign. Cleveland's previous record attractive to voters wanting stability.

Legacy and impact

Cleveland's second term marred by Panic of 1893. Populist movement peaked. Silver issue would dominate 1896. Only non-consecutive terms until Trump.

Did you know?

  • 1.Only president to serve non-consecutive terms (until Trump)
  • 2.Only rematch where loser won the rematch
  • 3.First Populist candidate to win electoral votes
  • 4.Harrison's wife died during campaign
  • 5.Cleveland left office in 1889, returned in 1893

This site explains the structure and history of U.S. federal elections and is not an official government resource. All data shown is for educational purposes only.