The Election of 2000

Overview

• The 2000 presidential election was between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore.
• Gore won the popular vote, but neither candidate secured the 270 electoral votes needed.
• The election's outcome depended on Florida, where the vote was extremely close, leading to a recount.
• The US Supreme Court decided the election in Bush v. Gore, ruling 5-4 in favor of Bush.

The 2000 Presidential Campaign

• George W. Bush was the governor of Texas and son of former president George H.W. Bush.
• Al Gore was the Vice President under Bill Clinton and a former senator from Tennessee.
• Gore easily secured the Democratic nomination, distancing himself from Clinton's impeachment.
• Bush won the Republican nomination after a tough primary against John McCain.
• Domestic issues dominated both campaigns, focusing on economic growth, health care, and social program reforms like Social Security and Medicare.

Results of the 2000 Election

• Gore won the popular vote by over half a million votes.
• Bush carried the South, rural Midwest, and Rocky Mountain regions; Gore won the Northeast, upper Midwest, and Pacific Coast.
• Electoral votes: Gore 255, Bush 246; the required number was 270.
• Florida's 25 electoral votes became crucial.
• Initial exit polls in Florida suggested Gore's win, but later counts showed Bush leading.
• Disputes over election technology (butterfly ballots, punch card machines, hanging chads) arose.
• A mandatory machine recount was triggered in Florida by its Election Code.
• Gore requested manual recounts in four counties, leading to extended court battles.

Bush v. Gore

• The US Supreme Court ordered the recount to stop, awarding Florida's votes to Bush, making him president-elect.
• The decision was controversial due to the partisan split of the justices.
• Jeb Bush, George W. Bush's brother, was the governor of Florida, raising concerns, but no wrongdoing was found.
• Al Gore conceded, but disagreed with the Supreme Court's ruling.
• The election was the closest in US Electoral College history and the first decided by the Supreme Court.

Aftermath

• Bush faced legitimacy questions as he entered office.
• He attempted to unite the nation after the September 11th attacks, but was a polarizing figure throughout his presidency.

Questions for Consideration

• How does the election of 2000 compare to other presidential elections?
• Was the Supreme Court right to halt the Florida recount?
• What were the long-term consequences of the 2000 election?

References

• Dr. Michelle Getchell authored the article.
• Licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0.
• Further reading: James W. Ceaser, Andrew E. Busch, and Jeffrey Toobin provide additional insights into the election's intricacies.