Presidential election
1912 presidential election
Woodrow Wilson defeated Theodore Roosevelt, winning 435 of 531 electoral votes and 41.8% of the popular vote.
Results
58.8%
Turnout rate
14.8M
Total votes cast
18.4M
Eligible voters
| State | Electoral votes | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York(NY) | 45 | DemocraticWilson | +14% |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | 38 | ProgressiveRoosevelt | +3% |
| Ohio(OH) | 24 | DemocraticWilson | +6% |
| California(CA) | 13 | ProgressiveRoosevelt | +0.2% |
| Vermont(VT) | 4 | RepublicanTaft | +0.9% |
Candidates
Party
DemocraticRunning mate
Thomas R. Marshall
Home state
New Jersey
Age at election
55
Previous position
Governor of New Jersey
Campaign slogan
"New Freedom"
Popular vote
6.3M
(41.8%)
Electoral votes
435
Party
Progressive (Bull Moose)Running mate
Hiram Johnson
Home state
New York
Age at election
54
Previous position
26th President of the United States
Campaign slogan
"A Covenant with the People"
Popular vote
4.1M
(27.4%)
Electoral votes
88
Party
RepublicanRunning mate
James S. Sherman
Home state
Ohio
Age at election
55
Previous position
27th President of the United States (Incumbent)
Popular vote
3.5M
(23.2%)
Electoral votes
8
Party
SocialistRunning mate
Emil Seidel
Home state
Indiana
Age at election
56
Previous position
Labor organizer
Popular vote
901.6K
(6%)
Electoral votes
0
Progressive Voters
Roosevelt
45%
Conservative Republicans
Taft
65%
Democrats
Wilson
90%
Key events
Roosevelt Shot
Continued speech for 90 minutes after assassination attempt
Republican Convention
Taft forces controlled despite TR's primary wins
Issues & context
Four-way race after TR-Taft split. Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party was most successful third party ever. Wilson won with only 42% of vote. Debs peaked at 6%. Progressive movement divided.
Stable growth but progressive concerns about monopolies, banking, and labor conditions dominated debate. All candidates promised reform.
Taft repudiated by TR. Republican Party split guaranteed Democratic victory. Wilson benefited from divided opposition.
Wilson enacted major progressive reforms. Federal Reserve created. Income tax established. Bull Moose Party collapsed. Set stage for WWI involvement.
Did you know?
- 1.Only election where third party finished second
- 2.TR gave speech with bullet in chest
- 3.Taft only president to later become Chief Justice
- 4.Debs received 900,000 votes - Socialist peak
- 5.Wilson won with lowest popular vote since Lincoln