So far, historically, that is correct. The 'popular' vote winner with the highest percentage popular vote who lost the actual Electoral College vote was Tilden(D) in 1876 who had 50.97% of the 'popular' vote while receiving 49.9% of the electoral vote. The victor, Hayes(R) had 47.95% of the 'popular' vote and 50.1% of the electoral vote.
Here is a table with the rest of the Presidential election vote percentages, sorted by the 'popular' vote margin of the electoral college winner.
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"Popular" Vote |
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Winning Percentage |
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Losing Percentage |
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Other(s) Total Percentage |
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Victory Margin |
Year |
Party |
Winner |
Electoral Vote |
"Popular" Vote |
|
Electoral Vote |
"Popular" Vote |
Loser |
Party |
|
Electoral Vote |
"Popular" Vote |
Others |
No Popular Vote |
1796 |
Federalist |
Adams(2) |
51.40% |
n/a |
|
49.30% |
n/a |
Jefferson(3) |
Dem-Reps |
|
99.30% |
n/a |
Pinckney,Burr,S.Adams,Ellsworth,G.Clinton,etc |
No Popular Vote |
1800 |
Dem-Reps |
Jefferson |
52.90% |
n/a |
|
52.90% |
n/a |
Burr |
Dem-Reps |
|
94.20% |
n/a |
Adams(2),Pinckney,Jay |
No Popular Vote |
1812 |
Dem-Reps |
Madison |
58.70% |
n/a |
|
40.80% |
n/a |
D.Clinton |
Federalist |
|
0.50% |
n/a |
Non-voting elector |
No Popular Vote |
1808 |
Dem-Reps |
Madison |
69.30% |
n/a |
|
26.70% |
n/a |
Pinckney |
Federalist |
|
4.00% |
n/a |
G.Clinton,etc. |
No Popular Vote |
1816 |
Dem-Reps |
Monroe |
82.80% |
n/a |
|
15.40% |
n/a |
King |
Federalist |
|
1.80% |
n/a |
Non-voting elector |
No Popular Vote |
1789 |
No Party |
Washington |
85.20% |
n/a |
|
42.00% |
n/a |
Adams(2) |
No Party |
|
72.80% |
n/a |
Jay,Harrison,Rutledge, etc |
No Popular Vote |
1804 |
Dem-Reps |
Jefferson |
92.00% |
n/a |
|
8.00% |
n/a |
Pinckney |
Federalist |
|
0.00% |
n/a |
Election under 12th Amendment |
No Popular Vote |
1792 |
No Party |
Washington |
97.80% |
n/a |
|
57.00% |
n/a |
Adams(2) |
No Party |
|
45.20% |
n/a |
G.Clinton,Jefferson,Burr,etc |
No Popular Vote |
1820 |
Dem-Reps |
Monroe |
98.30% |
n/a |
|
0.00% |
n/a |
NONE |
NONE |
|
1.70% |
n/a |
One "faithless" elector for JQ.Adams who was not running, three non-voting electors |
26.17% |
1920 |
Republican |
Harding |
76.08% |
60.32% |
|
23.92% |
34.15% |
Cox |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
5.53% |
Debs,Christiansen,Watkins,Ferguson,W.Cox,No One,Macauley,Write-ins |
25.22% |
1924 |
Republican |
Coolidge |
71.94% |
54.04% |
|
25.61% |
28.82% |
Davis |
Democrat |
|
2.45% |
17.14% |
LaFollette,Faris,Foster,Johns,Nations,Write-ins,Wallace |
24.25% |
1936 |
Democrat |
Roosevelt(32) |
98.49% |
60.80% |
|
1.51% |
36.55% |
Landon |
Republican |
|
0.00% |
2.65% |
Lemke,Thomas,Browder,Colvin,Aiken,Pelley,Write-ins |
23.15% |
1972 |
Republican |
Nixon |
96.65% |
60.67% |
|
3.16% |
37.52% |
McGovern |
Democrat |
|
0.19% |
1.81% |
Hospers,Schmitz,Jenness,Spock,Fisher,Write-ins,Hall,Reed,Munn,Mahalchik,Green |
22.58% |
1964 |
Democrat |
Johnson(36) |
90.33% |
61.05% |
|
9.67% |
38.47% |
Goldwater |
Republican |
|
0.00% |
0.48% |
Unpledged,Hass,DeBerry,Munn,Write-ins,Kasper,Lightburn,Hensley |
21.72% |
1860 |
Republican |
Lincoln |
59.40% |
39.82% |
|
23.80% |
18.10% |
Breckenridge |
S.Democrat (D) |
|
16.80% |
42.08% |
Bell,Douglas,Other |
18.83% |
1904 |
Republican |
Roosevelt(26) |
70.59% |
56.42% |
|
29.41% |
37.59% |
Parker |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
5.99% |
Debs,Swallow,Watson,Corregan,Holcomb,Write-ins |
18.21% |
1984 |
Republican |
Reagan |
97.58% |
58.77% |
|
2.42% |
40.56% |
Mondale |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
0.67% |
Bergland,Larouche,Johnson,Richards,Serrette,Hall,Mason,Holmes,Write-in, Dennis,Winn,Dodge,No candidate,Anderson,Baker,Lowery |
17.76% |
1932 |
Democrat |
Roosevelt(32) |
88.89% |
57.41% |
|
11.11% |
39.65% |
Hoover(31) |
Republican |
|
0.00% |
2.94% |
Thomas,Foster,Upshaw,Harvey,Reynolds,Coxey,Write-ins,Zahnd,J.Cox,No one |
17.41% |
1928 |
Republican |
Hoover |
83.62% |
58.21% |
|
16.38% |
40.80% |
Smith |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
0.99% |
Thomas,Foster,Reynolds,Varney,Webb,Write-ins |
16.81% |
1832 |
Democrat |
Jackson |
76.00% |
54.23% |
|
17.00% |
37.42% |
Clay |
Nat-Reps |
|
7.00% |
8.35% |
Floyd,Wirt,Non-Voting,Other |
15.40% |
1956 |
Republican |
Eisenhower |
86.06% |
57.37% |
|
13.75% |
41.97% |
Stevenson |
Democrat |
|
0.19% |
0.66% |
Unpledged,Andrews,Hass,Holtwick,Write-ins,Dobbs,Byrd,Hoopes,Krajewski,G.Smith,Other |
14.44% |
1912 |
Democrat |
Wilson |
81.92% |
41.84% |
|
16.57% |
27.40% |
Roosevelt(26) |
Progressive (R) |
|
1.51% |
30.76% |
Taft(27),Debs,Chafin,Reimer,Write-ins |
14.20% |
1836 |
Democrat |
Van Buren |
57.80% |
50.83% |
|
24.80% |
36.63% |
Harrison(9) |
Whig |
|
17.40% |
12.54% |
White,Webster,Mangum,Other |
12.34% |
1828 |
Democrat |
Jackson |
68.20% |
55.97% |
|
31.80% |
43.63% |
Adams(6) |
Nat-Reps |
|
0.00% |
0.40% |
Write-ins |
12.17% |
1856 |
Democrat |
Buchanan |
58.80% |
45.28% |
|
38.50% |
33.11% |
Freemont |
Republican |
|
2.70% |
21.61% |
Fillmore(13),Other |
11.80% |
1872 |
Republican |
Grant |
78.10% |
55.63% |
|
18.00% |
43.83% |
Greeley |
Democrat |
|
3.90% |
0.54% |
O’Conor, Greeley died before EC met, his votes split |
10.85% |
1952 |
Republican |
Eisenhower |
83.24% |
55.18% |
|
16.76% |
44.33% |
Stevenson |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
0.49% |
Hallinan,Hamblen,Hass,Hoopes,MacArthur,Dobbs,Write-ins,Krajewski |
10.06% |
1864 |
Republican |
Lincoln |
90.60% |
55.02% |
|
9.00% |
44.96% |
McClellan |
Democrat |
|
0.40% |
0.02% |
Others |
9.96% |
1940 |
Democrat |
Roosevelt(32) |
84.56% |
54.74% |
|
15.44% |
44.78% |
Willkie |
Republican |
|
0.00% |
0.48% |
Thomas,Babson,Browder,Aiken,Write-ins,Knutson |
9.74% |
1980 |
Republican |
Reagan |
90.89% |
50.75% |
|
9.11% |
41.01% |
Carter(39) |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
8.24% |
Anderson,Clark,Commoner,Hall,Rarick,DeBerry,McCormack,M.Smith,Write-ins,Griswold,No candidate,Bubar,McReynolds, Greaves Jr.,Pulley,R.Congress,Lynen,Gahres,Shelton,Wendelken,McLain |
8.53% |
1908 |
Republican |
Taft |
66.46% |
51.57% |
|
33.54% |
43.04% |
Bryan |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
5.39% |
Debs,Chafin,Hisgen,WatsonGillhaus,Faction,Turney,Write-ins |
8.51% |
1996 |
Democrat |
Clinton |
70.45% |
49.23% |
|
29.55% |
40.72% |
Dole |
Republican |
|
0.00% |
10.05% |
Perot,Nader,Browne,Phillips,Hagelin,Moorehead,Feinland,Write-ins,Collins,Harris,No candidate,Peron,Hollis,White,Templin,Dodge,Crane,Forbes,Birrenback,Masters,Michael, |
7.72% |
1988 |
Republican |
Bush(41) |
79.18% |
53.37% |
|
20.63% |
45.65% |
Dukakis |
Democrat |
|
0.19% |
0.98% |
Paul,Fulani,Duke,McCarthy,Griffen,LaRouche,Marra,Write-ins,Winn,Warren,Lewin,Dodge,Holmes,No candidate,Kenoyer,Dennis,Herer,Youngkeit,Martin,Other |
7.50% |
1944 |
Democrat |
Roosevelt(32) |
81.36% |
53.39% |
|
18.64% |
45.89% |
Dewey |
Republican |
|
0.00% |
0.72% |
No candidate(TX),Thomas,Watson,Teichert,No candidate(S.Dem),Write-ins,G.Smith |
6.97% |
1852 |
Democrat |
Pierce |
85.80% |
50.84% |
|
14.20% |
43.87% |
Scott |
Whig |
|
0.00% |
5.29% |
Hale,Other |
6.12% |
1900 |
Republican |
McKinley |
65.32% |
51.64% |
|
34.68% |
45.52% |
Bryan |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
2.84% |
Woolley,Debs,Barker,Maloney,Ellis,Write-ins,Leonard,Anti-Imperialist |
6.07% |
1840 |
Whig |
Harrison(9) |
79.60% |
52.88% |
|
20.40% |
46.81% |
Van Buren(8) |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
0.31% |
Birney,Other |
5.56% |
1992 |
Democrat |
Clinton |
68.77% |
43.01% |
|
31.23% |
37.45% |
Bush(41) |
Republican |
|
0.00% |
19.54% |
Perot,Marrou,Gritz,Fulani,Phillips,Hagelin,Daniels,LaRouche,Warren,Write-ins,Bradford,Herer,Brisben,Halyard,No candidate,Yiamouyiannis,Ehlers,Dodge,Boren,Hem,Masters,Smith,LaRiva |
5.32% |
1868 |
Republican |
Grant |
72.80% |
52.66% |
|
27.20% |
47.34% |
Seymour |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
0.00% |
Other - 46 votes nation-wide |
4.79% |
1848 |
Whig |
Taylor |
56.20% |
47.28% |
|
43.80% |
42.49% |
Cass |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
10.23% |
Van Buren(8),Other |
4.48% |
1948 |
Democrat |
Truman |
57.06% |
49.55% |
|
35.59% |
45.07% |
Dewey |
Republican |
|
7.35% |
5.38% |
Thurmond,Wallace,Thomas,Watson,Teichert,Dobbs,Write-ins |
4.33% |
1896 |
Republican |
McKinley |
60.63% |
51.03% |
|
39.37% |
46.70% |
Bryan |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
2.27% |
Palmer,Levering,Matchett,Bentley,Write-ins |
3.12% |
1916 |
Democrat |
Wilson |
52.17% |
49.24% |
|
47.83% |
46.12% |
Hughes |
Republican |
|
0.00% |
4.64% |
Benson,Hanly,Progressive,Reimer,Write-ins |
3.01% |
1892 |
Democrat |
Cleveland(24) |
62.39% |
46.02% |
|
32.66% |
43.01% |
Harrison(23) |
Republican |
|
4.95% |
10.97% |
Weaver,Bidwell,Wing,Write-ins |
2.46% |
2004 |
Republican |
Bush(43) |
53.20% |
50.73% |
|
46.70% |
48.27% |
Kerry |
Democrat |
|
0.10% |
1.00% |
Nader,Badnarik,Peroutka,Cobb,Write-ins,Peltier,Brown,Calero,None,Harens,Amondson,Van Auken,Parker,Jay,Andress,Dodge |
2.06% |
1976 |
Democrat |
Carter |
55.20% |
50.08% |
|
44.61% |
48.02% |
Ford(38) |
Republican |
|
0.19% |
1.90% |
McCarthy,MacBride,Maddox,Anderson,Camejo,Hall,Wright,LaRouche,Write-ins,Bubar,Levin,Zeidler,No candidate,Miller,F.Taylor,Other |
1.46% |
1844 |
Democrat |
Polk |
61.80% |
49.54% |
|
38.20% |
48.08% |
Clay |
Whig |
|
0.00% |
2.38% |
Birney,Other |
0.70% |
1968 |
Republican |
Nixon |
55.95% |
43.42% |
|
35.50% |
42.72% |
Humphrey |
Democrat |
|
8.55% |
13.86% |
Wallace,Blomen,Gregory,Halstead,Cleaver,McCarthy,Munn,No candidate,Write-ins,Chavez,Mitchell,Hensley |
0.25% |
1884 |
Democrat |
Cleveland(22) |
54.60% |
48.50% |
|
45.40% |
48.25% |
Blaine |
Republican |
|
0.00% |
3.25% |
Butler,St.John,Other |
0.17% |
1960 |
Democrat |
Kennedy |
56.42% |
49.72% |
|
40.78% |
49.55% |
Nixon(37) |
Republican |
|
2.80% |
0.73% |
Unpledged,Hass,Decker,Faubus,Dobbs,Sullivan,J.Lee,Coiner,Write-ins,Daly,C.King,Curtis |
0.02% |
1880 |
Republican |
Garfield |
58.00% |
48.27% |
|
42.00% |
48.25% |
Hancock |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
3.48% |
Weaver,Other |
-0.51% |
2000 |
Republican |
Bush(43) |
50.37% |
47.87% |
|
49.44% |
48.38% |
Gore |
Democrat |
|
0.19% |
3.75% |
Nader,P.Buchanan,Browne,Phillips,Hagelin,Write-ins,Harris,L.Smith,McReynolds,Moorehead,No candidate,Brown,Lane,Venson,Dodge,Youngkeit,Other |
-0.80% |
1888 |
Republican |
Harrison(23) |
58.10% |
47.82% |
|
41.90% |
48.62% |
Cleveland(22,24) |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
3.56% |
Fisk,Streeter,Other |
-3.02% |
1876 |
Republican |
Hayes |
50.10% |
47.95% |
|
49.90% |
50.97% |
Tilden |
Democrat |
|
0.00% |
1.08% |
Cooper,Other |
-10.43% |
1824 |
Dem-Reps |
Adams(6) |
32.20% |
30.92% |
|
37.90% |
41.35% |
Jackson(7) |
Dem-Reps |
|
29.90% |
27.73% |
Election under 12th Amendment. Crawford,Clay,Unpledged,Write-ins |
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ALL |
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Average: |
71.31% |
51.32% |
|
28.21% |
42.03% |
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|
7.75% |
6.65% |
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Median: |
70.45% |
50.94% |
|
29.41% |
43.34% |
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|
0.00% |
3.10% |
|