How many third-party candidates have won electoral votes?

In the 59 presidential elections since 1788, third party or independent candidates have won at least 5.0% of the vote or garnered electoral votes 12 times (21%); this does not count George Washington, who was elected as an independent in 1788–1789 and 1792, but who largely supported Federalist policies and was …

Can a third-party win the presidency?

The absolute majority requirement makes it extremely difficult for a third-party candidate to win the presidency because the individual states’ electoral votes are allocated under a winner-take-all arrangement (with two exceptions).

Who were the third party candidates in the 2012 presidential debate?

A non-CPD sanctioned debate, moderated by Larry King and organized by the Free and Equal Elections Foundation in protest of the CPD’s monopoly of presidential debates, took place on October 23, 2012 between 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. EDT. Four third party candidates — Rocky Anderson, Virgil Goode, Gary Johnson, and Jill Stein — took part.

How many third-party candidates have won the US election?

No third-party candidate has ever won a U.S. election, although there have been several occasions where they have carried states or split the vote with major party candidates.

What happened in the 2012 US election?

The 2012 United States elections took place on November 6, 2012. Democratic President Barack Obama won election to a second term, though the Republican Party retained control of the House of Representatives .

Who did Obama run against in the 2012 election?

Democratic incumbent President Barack Obama was re-elected, defeating Republican former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. This was the first presidential election since the 2010 Census, which changed the Electoral College vote apportionment. With the advantage of incumbency, Obama faced no major challengers in the Democratic Party primaries.