1988 United States presidential election in Maine

Last updated

1988 United States presidential election in Maine
Flag of Maine.svg
  1984 November 8, 1988 1992  
  VP George Bush crop.jpg Dukakis campaign portrait 3x4.jpg
Nominee George H. W. Bush Michael Dukakis
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Texas Massachusetts
Running mate Dan Quayle Lloyd Bentsen
Electoral vote40
Popular vote307,131243,569
Percentage55.34%43.88%

Maine Presidential Election Results 1988.svg
Maine Presidential Election Results CD 1988.svg
Maine Presidential Results 1988 by Municipality.svg

President before election

Ronald Reagan
Republican

Elected President

George H. W. Bush
Republican

The 1988 United States presidential election in Maine took place on November 8, 1988, as part of the 1988 United States presidential election, which was held throughout all 50 states and D.C. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

Contents

Maine voted for the Republican nominee, Vice President George H. W. Bush, over the Democratic nominee, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, by a margin of 11.45%. Bush took 55.34% of the vote to Dukakis’ 43.88%, and swept every county in the state.

Bush's comfortable win was expected, due to the state's Republican lean at the time, and the Bush family ties to the state (Bush owned a house in Kennebunkport, Maine). As of the 2024 presidential election , this is the last time that a Republican presidential nominee would carry the state of Maine as a whole, the 1st congressional district, or the counties of Cumberland, Hancock, Knox, Sagadahoc and York. [1] Like the rest of liberal and secular New England, Maine would subsequently begin to drift towards the Democratic Party as the GOP became increasingly dominated by conservatives, Southerners, and Evangelical Christians, and is now considered a likely blue state.

However, Maine's 2nd congressional district would give its electoral vote to Republican Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford, and Somerset counties would not vote Republican again until 2016.

Despite winning every county in the state this election, Bush would not win a single one during his re-election bid in 1992, and would in fact come in third place in the state behind Democrat Bill Clinton and independent candidate Ross Perot.

Results

1988 United States presidential election in Maine [2]
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
Republican George H. W. Bush 307,13155.34%4
Democratic Michael Dukakis 243,56943.88%0
Libertarian Ron Paul 2,7000.49%0
New Alliance Lenora Fulani 1,4050.25%0
No party Write-ins 2300.04%0
Totals555,035100.00%4
Voter Turnout (Voting age/Registered)62%/65%

By congressional district

Bush won both congressional districts, including one held by a Democrat.

DistrictBushDukakisRepresentative
1st 55.92%43.29% Joseph E. Brennan
2nd 54.64%44.59% Olympia Snowe

Results by county

CountyGeorge H.W. Bush [3]
Republican
Michael Dukakis [3]
Democratic
Ron Paul [3]
Libertarian
Various candidates [3]
Other parties
MarginTotal votes cast
#%#%#%#%#%
Androscoggin 23,06151.72%21,16547.47%2030.46%1560.35%1,8964.25%44,585
Aroostook 17,21353.38%14,85046.05%1010.31%820.25%2,3637.33%32,246
Cumberland 63,02852.93%55,22046.37%5660.48%2610.22%7,8086.56%119,075
Franklin 7,18054.16%5,96044.96%700.53%460.35%1,2209.20%13,256
Hancock 12,95756.07%9,92942.97%1460.63%750.32%3,02813.10%23,107
Kennebec 27,73453.60%23,57845.57%2200.43%2130.41%4,1568.03%51,745
Knox 10,15657.54%7,34341.60%1000.57%510.29%2,81315.94%17,650
Lincoln 9,83761.79%5,93937.31%990.62%450.28%3,89824.48%15,920
Oxford 13,56855.91%10,52343.37%1080.45%670.28%3,04512.54%24,266
Penobscot 34,91254.76%28,42944.59%2410.38%1720.27%6,48310.17%63,754
Piscataquis 4,78858.27%3,32340.44%700.85%360.44%1,46517.83%8,217
Sagadahoc 8,82558.22%6,21240.98%700.46%510.34%2,61317.24%15,158
Somerset 11,43056.58%8,60342.59%980.49%700.35%2,82713.99%20,201
Waldo 8,23655.73%6,40243.32%800.54%600.41%1,83412.41%14,778
Washington 7,87256.93%5,83142.17%690.50%560.40%2,04114.76%13,828
York 46,33459.98%30,26239.17%4590.59%1940.25%16,07220.81%77,249
Totals307,13155.34%243,56943.88%2,7000.49%1,6350.29%63,56211.46%555,035

See also

References

  1. Sullivan, Robert David; "How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century"; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
  2. "1988 Presidential General Election Results – Maine". Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Our Campaigns; ME US President Race, November 08, 1988