Presidential election
1920 presidential election
Warren G. Harding defeated James M. Cox, winning 404 of 531 electoral votes and 60.3% of the popular vote.
Results
49.2%
Turnout rate
26.2M
Total votes cast
56.0M
Eligible voters
| State | Electoral votes | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York(NY) | 45 | RepublicanHarding | +17.5% |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | 38 | RepublicanHarding | +35% |
| Ohio(OH) | 24 | RepublicanHarding | +21% |
| Texas(TX) | 20 | DemocraticCox | +37% |
| Illinois(IL) | 29 | RepublicanHarding | +37.3% |
Candidates
Party
RepublicanRunning mate
Calvin Coolidge
Home state
Ohio
Age at election
55
Previous position
U.S. Senator from Ohio
Campaign slogan
"Return to Normalcy"
Popular vote
16.1M
(60.3%)
Electoral votes
404
Party
DemocraticRunning mate
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Home state
Ohio
Age at election
50
Previous position
Governor of Ohio
Popular vote
9.1M
(34.1%)
Electoral votes
127
Party
SocialistRunning mate
Seymour Stedman
Home state
Indiana
Age at election
64
Previous position
Labor organizer (campaigned from prison)
Popular vote
913.7K
(3.4%)
Electoral votes
0
Women (first time)
Harding
60%
Industrial Workers
Harding
55%
Solid South
Cox
75%
Key events
Women Vote Nationally
19th Amendment ratified - first national election with women's suffrage
Red Scare
Fear of communist revolution, Palmer Raids
Issues & context
First election with women's suffrage. Massive Republican landslide rejecting Wilson's League of Nations. 'Return to Normalcy' resonated after war. Debs campaigned from prison for sedition.
Postwar recession. High unemployment. Inflation concerns. Labor unrest. 'Normalcy' promised stability.
Wilson incapacitated by stroke, deeply unpopular. League of Nations rejected. War weariness and economic problems doomed Democrats.
Harding died in 1923. Scandals emerged (Teapot Dome). 'Roaring Twenties' began. Isolationism dominated. FDR began national career as VP nominee.
Did you know?
- 1.First election with women voting nationally
- 2.Debs ran for president from prison, got 913,000 votes
- 3.Harding's 60.3% was largest popular vote margin ever at the time
- 4.FDR was Cox's running mate - launching his national career
- 5.Harding died in office 1923 amid scandals