1988 United States presidential election in Maine

1988 United States presidential election in Maine

← 1984 November 8, 1988 1992 →
 
Nominee George H. W. Bush Michael Dukakis
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Texas Massachusetts
Running mate Dan Quayle Lloyd Bentsen
Electoral vote 4 0
Popular vote 307,131 243,569
Percentage 55.34% 43.88%


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.

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 2020 presidential election, this is the last time that a Republican presidential nominee would carry the state of Maine as a whole, as well as 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 and 2020. 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]
Party Candidate Votes Percentage Electoral votes
Republican George H. W. Bush 307,131 55.34% 4
Democratic Michael Dukakis 243,569 43.88% 0
Libertarian Ron Paul 2,700 0.49% 0
New Alliance Lenora Fulani 1,405 0.25% 0
No party Write-ins 230 0.04% 0
Totals 555,035 100.00% 4
Voter Turnout (Voting age/Registered) 62%/65%

Results by county

County George H.W. Bush[3]
Republican
Michael Dukakis[3]
Democratic
Ron Paul[3]
Libertarian
Various candidates[3]
Other parties
Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # % # %
Androscoggin 23,061 51.72% 21,165 47.47% 203 0.46% 156 0.35% 1,896 4.25% 44,585
Aroostook 17,213 53.38% 14,850 46.05% 101 0.31% 82 0.25% 2,363 7.33% 32,246
Cumberland 63,028 52.93% 55,220 46.37% 566 0.48% 261 0.22% 7,808 6.56% 119,075
Franklin 7,180 54.16% 5,960 44.96% 70 0.53% 46 0.35% 1,220 9.20% 13,256
Hancock 12,957 56.07% 9,929 42.97% 146 0.63% 75 0.32% 3,028 13.10% 23,107
Kennebec 27,734 53.60% 23,578 45.57% 220 0.43% 213 0.41% 4,156 8.03% 51,745
Knox 10,156 57.54% 7,343 41.60% 100 0.57% 51 0.29% 2,813 15.94% 17,650
Lincoln 9,837 61.79% 5,939 37.31% 99 0.62% 45 0.28% 3,898 24.48% 15,920
Oxford 13,568 55.91% 10,523 43.37% 108 0.45% 67 0.28% 3,045 12.54% 24,266
Penobscot 34,912 54.76% 28,429 44.59% 241 0.38% 172 0.27% 6,483 10.17% 63,754
Piscataquis 4,788 58.27% 3,323 40.44% 70 0.85% 36 0.44% 1,465 17.83% 8,217
Sagadahoc 8,825 58.22% 6,212 40.98% 70 0.46% 51 0.34% 2,613 17.24% 15,158
Somerset 11,430 56.58% 8,603 42.59% 98 0.49% 70 0.35% 2,827 13.99% 20,201
Waldo 8,236 55.73% 6,402 43.32% 80 0.54% 60 0.41% 1,834 12.41% 14,778
Washington 7,872 56.93% 5,831 42.17% 69 0.50% 56 0.40% 2,041 14.76% 13,828
York 46,334 59.98% 30,262 39.17% 459 0.59% 194 0.25% 16,072 20.81% 77,249
Totals 307,131 55.34% 243,569 43.88% 2,700 0.49% 1,635 0.29% 63,562 11.46% 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. ^ a b c d Our Campaigns; ME US President Race, November 08, 1988
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1988_United_States_presidential_election_in_Maine&oldid=1214887012"