1912 United States presidential election in Vermont

Last updated

1912 United States presidential election in Vermont
Flag of Vermont (1837-1923).svg
  1908 November 5, 1912 1916  
  Unsuccessful 1912.jpg Unsuccessful 1912 2.jpg Woodrow Wilson-H&E.jpg
Nominee William Howard Taft Theodore Roosevelt Woodrow Wilson
Party Republican Progressive Democratic
Home state Ohio New York New Jersey
Running mate Nicholas Murray Butler Hiram Johnson Thomas R. Marshall
Electoral vote400
Popular vote23,33222,13215,354
Percentage37.13%35.22%24.43%

Vermont Presidential Election Results 1912.svg
Vermont Presidential Election Results 1912 by Municipality.svg

President before election

William Howard Taft
Republican

Elected President

Woodrow Wilson
Democratic

The 1912 United States presidential election in Vermont took place on November 5, 1912, as part of the 1912 United States presidential election which was held throughout all contemporary 48 states. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

Contents

Vermont was won by the Republican nominees, incumbent President William Howard Taft from Ohio, and his running mate Vice President James S. Sherman from New York. Taft and Sherman defeated the Progressive Party candidates, former President Theodore Roosevelt from New York and his running mate California Governor Hiram Johnson, and the Democratic nominees, New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson and Indiana Governor Thomas R. Marshall.

Taft won the state with a plurality of 37.13%, to Roosevelt's 35.22%, with Wilson in third place at 24.43%. Taft's victory margin over Roosevelt was 1.91%. Historically, Vermont was a bastion of Northeastern Republicanism, and by 1912 it had gone Republican in every presidential election since the founding of the Republican Party. From 1856 to 1908, Vermont had had the longest streak of voting Republican of any state, having never voted Democratic before, and this tradition continued in 1912.

Vermont was one of only two states (along with Utah) to vote for incumbent Republican President William Howard Taft, who was pushed into third place nationally by the strong third-party candidacy of Theodore Roosevelt, a former Republican president who formed his own Bull Moose Party after a failed challenge to Taft for the Republican nod. Taft and Roosevelt split the Republican vote nationally in 1912, with Roosevelt coming in second place behind Wilson nationwide and carrying six states. However, Vermont Republicans proved to be mostly loyal to President Taft as the official Republican nominee, allowing Taft to edge out Roosevelt narrowly to carry the state, leaving Wilson a distant third. Were Taft and Roosevelt voters united behind a single Republican candidate, they would have combined to over 72% of the vote in Vermont.

Socialist candidate Eugene V. Debs, who got 6% of the election vote nationally in 1912, performed much poorer in Vermont with just 1.48% of the vote and finishing in fifth place in Vermont, which was even lower than the 1.74% of the vote won by Prohibition candidate Eugene W. Chafin who finished in fourth in Vermont. However, in the city of Barre, Debs got 24% of the vote, and also got over 12% of the vote within the surrounding town of Barre. Both Barre City and Barre Town are within Washington County, which was Debs' best county in the state by some distance with 5.50%, but which was still below his 6% vote in the election across the nation as a whole. Barre City is the home of the Socialist Labor Party Hall, which was a location for debates among socialists, anarchists and trade union leaders over the future direction of the labor movement in the United States in the early 20th century.

Vermont was the third most Republican state in the nation in 1912, only beaten by Utah and neighboring New Hampshire. [1] However, Taft's margin over Wilson was much greater in Vermont than in Utah or any other state.

Results

1912 United States presidential election in Vermont [2]
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
Republican William Howard Taft (incumbent)23,33237.13%4
Progressive Theodore Roosevelt 22,13235.22%0
Democratic Woodrow Wilson 15,35424.43%0
Prohibition Eugene W. Chafin 1,0951.74%0
Socialist Eugene V. Debs 9281.48%0
Totals62,841100.00%4

Results by county

William Howard Taft [3]
Republican
Woodrow Wilson [3]
Democratic
Theodore Roosevelt [4]
Progressive "Bull Moose"
Eugene Chafin [5]
Prohibition
Eugene Debs [5]
Socialist
Margin [lower-alpha 1] Total votes cast
County# %# %# %# %# %# %#
Addison 1,83545.34%62115.34%1,48736.74%852.10%190.47%3488.60%4,047
Bennington 1,46436.10%1,05726.07%1,38034.03%491.21%1052.59%842.07%4,055
Caledonia 1,58332.86%1,06522.11%2,04942.54%881.83%320.66%-466-9.67%4,817
Chittenden 2,36836.80%2,26635.21%1,66325.84%961.49%420.65%102 [lower-alpha 2] 1.59%6,435
Essex 46339.01%34829.32%35329.74%131.10%100.84%1109.27%1,187
Franklin 1,43333.16%1,31730.48%1,45733.72%892.06%250.58%-24-0.56%4,321
Grand Isle 19331.03%21033.76%20432.80%91.45%60.96%6 [lower-alpha 3] 0.96%622
Lamoille 85236.04%43118.23%99642.13%552.33%301.27%-144-6.09%2,364
Orange 1,28934.19%95625.36%1,42637.82%671.78%320.85%-137-3.63%3,770
Orleans 1,47536.37%62815.49%1,89146.63%441.09%170.42%-416-10.26%4,055
Rutland 2,99936.03%2,07924.98%2,92735.16%2402.88%790.95%720.86%8,324
Washington 2,79741.26%1,74325.71%1,73025.52%1362.01%3735.50%1,054 [lower-alpha 2] 15.55%6,779
Windham 2,14338.25%1,32723.69%2,02036.06%450.80%671.20%1232.20%5,602
Windsor 2,40937.48%1,30220.26%2,54639.61%791.23%911.42%-137-2.13%6,427
Totals23,30337.10%15,35024.44%22,12935.23%1,0951.74%9281.48%1,174!1.87%62,805

Analysis

With Taft only winning 37.13% of the vote, he became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Vermont's popular vote with only a plurality. This was also the only time such occurred until Ronald Reagan won Vermont in 1980 with only a plurality of 44.37% of the popular vote. In addition, this was also one of only two times in the state's history (the other being George H. W. Bush's 3.52% victory margin in 1988) that Vermont was decided by a margin of less than 5.00%

Taft carried seven counties in Vermont to Roosevelt's six, while Wilson won only tiny Grand Isle County in the far northwest of the state, with a plurality of less than 40% of the vote. This was the first time that any county in Vermont voted Democratic in a presidential election since the birth of the Republican Party in 1854. This was the first time since Lewis Cass carried Washington County in 1848 that a Democrat had carried any of Vermont's counties as well as the first time since Free Soil Party candidate John P. Hale won Lamoille County in 1852 that a third-party candidate carried any of Vermont's counties and the most recent time such has occurred to date. Consequently, this is the first election since the Republican Party's formation in 1854 that the party failed to win every county in the state.

Vermont was Wilson's weakest state in the nation in terms of percentage of the vote, and was one of only two states where Wilson finished as low as third in 1912, the other being Michigan where Wilson finished a much closer third behind Taft. Since 1912, there has been only one occasion (Bill Clinton in Utah in 1992) where a winning presidential candidate came in third in any of the states that had not seceded into the Confederate States of America. This was the first of two occasions since 1852 that Vermont did not vote for the same candidate as Maine (the other being 1968).

See also

Notes

  1. Because Roosevelt finished ahead of Wilson in Vermont as a whole, all margins give are Taft minus Roosevelt unless stated in the total for the county in question.
  2. 1 2 In this county where Wilson did finish ahead of Roosevelt, margin given is Taft vote minus Wilson vote and percentage margin Taft percentage minus Wilson percentage
  3. In this county where Taft ran third behind both Wilson and Roosevelt, margin given is Wilson vote minus Roosevelt vote and percentage margin Wilson percentage minus Roosevelt percentage

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election</span> 32nd quadrennial election

The 1912 United States presidential election was the 32nd quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 5, 1912. Democratic Governor Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey unseated incumbent Republican President William Howard Taft while defeating former President Theodore Roosevelt and Socialist Party nominee Eugene V. Debs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania took place on November 5, 1912 as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. This was the first time that Arizona and New Mexico took part in a presidential election having been admitted to the Union earlier in the year. Voters chose 38 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Montana</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Montana took place on November 5, 1912 as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in New Mexico</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in New Mexico took place on November 5, 1912, and all contemporary forty-eight states participated as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. Voters chose three electors to represent them in the Electoral College, which voted for President and Vice President.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in New York</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in New York took place on November 5, 1912. All contemporary 48 states were part of the 1912 United States presidential election. Voters chose 45 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Massachusetts</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Massachusetts took place on November 5, 1912, as part of the 1912 United States presidential election, which was held throughout all contemporary 48 states. Voters chose 18 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1916 United States presidential election in Vermont</span>

The 1916 United States presidential election in Vermont took place on November 7, 1916, as part of the 1916 United States presidential election which was held throughout all contemporary 48 states. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in New Jersey</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 5, 1912. All contemporary 48 states were part of the 1912 United States presidential election. Voters chose 14 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Wisconsin</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Wisconsin was held on November 5, 1912 as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. State voters chose 13 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Minnesota</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Minnesota took place on November 5, 1912 as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. Minnesota voters chose 12 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1916 United States presidential election in Utah</span>

The 1916 United States presidential election in Utah took place on November 7, 1916. All contemporary forty-eight states were part of the 1916 United States presidential election. State voters chose four electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. This was the first election featuring as a distinct voting unit Duchesne County, which had been split from Wasatch County in 1915.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Connecticut</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Connecticut took place on November 5, 1912, as part of the 1912 United States presidential election which was held throughout all contemporary 48 states. Voters chose seven representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Maine</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Maine took place on November 5, 1912, as part of the 1912 United States presidential election which was held throughout all contemporary 48 states. Voters chose six representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. Maine was won by the Democratic nominees, New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson and Indiana Governor Thomas R. Marshall. Wilson and Marshall defeated incumbent President William Howard Taft, and his running mate Vice President James S. Sherman and Progressive Party candidates, former President Theodore Roosevelt and his running mate California Governor Hiram Johnson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Utah</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Utah was held on November 5, 1912 as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. State voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Oregon</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Oregon took place on November 5, 1912, as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. State voters chose five representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Missouri</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Missouri took place on November 5, 1912, as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. Voters chose 18 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Michigan</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Michigan took place on November 5, 1912, as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. Voters chose 15 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Kansas</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Kansas took place on November 5, 1912, as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. Voters chose ten representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Indiana</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Indiana took place on November 5, 1912, as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. State voters chose 15 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Illinois</span>

The 1912 United States presidential election in Illinois took place on November 5, 1912, as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. State voters chose 29 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

References

  1. "1912 Presidential Election Statistics". Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  2. "1912 Presidential General Election Results - Vermont". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Robinson, Edgar Eugene; The Presidential Vote; 1896-1932 (second edition); pp. 352-354 Published 1947 by Stanford University Press
  4. Géoelections; 1912 Presidential Election Popular Vote Archived 2018-06-13 at the Wayback Machine (.xlsx file for €15)
  5. 1 2 Géoelections; 1912 Presidential Election Popular Vote for Eugene Debs (.xlsx file for €15)