Presidential election
1908 presidential election
William Howard Taft defeated William Jennings Bryan, winning 321 of 483 electoral votes and 51.6% of the popular vote.
Results
65.4%
Turnout rate
14.5M
Total votes cast
17.5M
Eligible voters
| State | Electoral votes | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York(NY) | 39 | RepublicanTaft | +9.8% |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | 34 | RepublicanTaft | +18% |
| Ohio(OH) | 23 | RepublicanTaft | +8.4% |
| Nebraska(NE) | 8 | DemocraticBryan | +1.2% |
| Colorado(CO) | 5 | DemocraticBryan | +6.5% |
Candidates
Party
RepublicanRunning mate
James S. Sherman
Home state
Ohio
Age at election
51
Previous position
Secretary of War
Popular vote
7.7M
(51.6%)
Electoral votes
321
Party
DemocraticRunning mate
John W. Kern
Home state
Nebraska
Age at election
48
Previous position
Former U.S. Representative, Three-time nominee
Popular vote
6.4M
(43%)
Electoral votes
162
Party
SocialistRunning mate
Ben Hanford
Home state
Indiana
Age at election
52
Previous position
Labor organizer
Popular vote
420.9K
(2.8%)
Electoral votes
0
Urban Workers
Taft
52%
Rural Areas
Bryan
48%
Solid South
Bryan
75%
Key events
TR Endorses Taft
Roosevelt handpicked successor to continue policies
Panic of 1907
Financial crisis required JP Morgan intervention
Issues & context
TR handpicked Taft as successor. Bryan's third and final run. Taft promised to continue TR policies but proved more conservative. Progressive movement at peak.
Recovery from Panic of 1907. Trust concerns continuing. Labor unrest growing. Conservation movement advancing.
TR not running per 1904 pledge. Taft benefited from TR's popularity. Bryan still formidable campaigner but lost three times. Republicans remained dominant.
Taft-TR split brewing. Progressive Era continued but Taft alienated reformers. 1912 Republican schism began here. Bryan never ran again.
Did you know?
- 1.Bryan's third and final presidential loss
- 2.Taft weighed over 300 pounds
- 3.TR picked Taft over his own desires to run
- 4.Taft later became Chief Justice
- 5.Last time Republicans won three consecutive elections until 1920s