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1988 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania
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| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| election_name | 1988 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania |
| country | Pennsylvania |
| type | presidential |
| ongoing | no |
| previous_election | 1984 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania |
| previous_year | 1984 |
| next_election | 1992 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania |
| next_year | 1992 |
| election_date | November 8, 1988 |
| image_size | x200px |
| image1 | File:VP George Bush crop.jpg |
| nominee1 | **George H. W. Bush** |
| party1 | Republican Party (United States) |
| home_state1 | Texas |
| running_mate1 | **Dan Quayle** |
| electoral_vote1 | **25** |
| popular_vote1 | **2,300,087** |
| percentage1 | **50.70%** |
| image2 | File:Dukakis campaign portrait 3x4.jpg |
| nominee2 | Michael Dukakis |
| party2 | Democratic Party (United States) |
| home_state2 | Massachusetts |
| running_mate2 | Lloyd Bentsen |
| electoral_vote2 | 0 |
| popular_vote2 | 2,194,944 |
| percentage2 | 48.39% |
| map_image | {{Switcher |
| map_caption | |
| title | President |
| before_election | Ronald Reagan |
| before_party | Republican |
| after_election | George H. W. Bush |
| after_party | Republican |
| turnout | 77.2% |
Main article: 1988 United States presidential election
| [[File:Pennsylvania Presidential Election Results 1988.svg|300px]] | County results | [[File:Pennsylvania Presidential Results 1988 by Municipality.svg|300px]] | Municipality results Bush Dukakis Tie No Vote/Data The 1988 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania took place on November 8, 1988, and was part of the 1988 United States presidential election. Voters chose 25 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
Pennsylvania voted for the Republican nominee, Vice President George H. W. Bush, over the Democratic nominee, Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis. Bush won Pennsylvania by a narrow margin of 2.31%, which made it about 5.5% more Democratic than the nation. This was the last election where Pennsylvania would be carried by a Republican presidential candidate until 2016 and the last in which a Republican would win a majority of the statewide vote until 2024. As of 2024, Bush's 2.31% margin has not been exceeded by any Republican thus far. This is also the last time Pennsylvania, along with Michigan, would vote differently to fellow Rust Belt swing state Wisconsin, as all three had Democratic winning streaks from 1992 to 2012, with all three states flipping simultaneously in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
Primaries
Republican primary
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| George H. W. Bush | 687,323 | 78.95% |
| Bob Dole | 103,763 | 11.92% |
| Pat Robertson | 79,463 | 9.13% |
| **Totals** | **870,549** | **Turnout: 38.18%** |
Democratic primary
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Dukakis | 1,002,480 | 66.49% |
| Jesse Jackson | 411,260 | 27.28% |
| Al Gore | 44,542 | 2.95% |
| Others | 49,408 | 3.28% |
| **Totals** | **1,507,690** | **Turnout: 52.93%** |
Results
| 1988 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania | Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Electoral votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Republican** | **George H. W. Bush** | **2,300,087** | **50.70%** | **25** | |
| Democratic | Michael Dukakis | 2,194,944 | 48.39% | 0 | |
| Consumer | Eugene McCarthy | 19,158 | 0.42% | 0 | |
| Libertarian | Ron Paul | 12,051 | 0.27% | 0 | |
| New Alliance | Lenora Fulani | 4,379 | 0.10% | 0 | |
| America First | David Duke | 3,444 | 0.08% | 0 | |
| Workers' League | Edward Winn | 2,188 | 0.05% | 0 | |
| **Totals** | **4,536,251** | **100.00%** | **25** |
Results by county
| County | George H.W. Bush | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michael Dukakis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic | Various candidates | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other parties | Margin | Total votes cast | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | Totals | 2,300,087 | 50.70% | 2,194,944 | 48.39% | 41,220 | 0.91% | 105,143 | 2.31% | 4,536,251 | |||||||||||||
| Adams | 15,650 | 64.92% | 8,299 | 34.43% | 156 | 0.65% | 7,351 | 30.49% | 24,105 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegheny | 231,137 | 39.43% | 348,814 | 59.51% | 6,200 | 1.06% | -117,677 | -20.08% | 586,151 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Armstrong | 11,509 | 44.81% | 13,892 | 54.09% | 282 | 1.10% | -2,383 | -9.28% | 25,683 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beaver | 25,764 | 33.69% | 50,327 | 65.81% | 378 | 0.49% | -24,563 | -32.12% | 76,469 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bedford | 11,123 | 65.55% | 5,754 | 33.91% | 92 | 0.54% | 5,369 | 31.64% | 16,969 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Berks | 70,153 | 62.39% | 41,040 | 36.50% | 1,251 | 1.11% | 29,113 | 25.89% | 112,444 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blair | 25,623 | 61.50% | 15,588 | 37.42% | 451 | 1.08% | 10,035 | 24.08% | 41,662 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bradford | 13,568 | 66.72% | 6,635 | 32.63% | 134 | 0.66% | 6,933 | 34.09% | 20,337 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bucks | 127,563 | 59.99% | 82,472 | 38.78% | 2,605 | 1.23% | 45,091 | 21.21% | 212,640 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Butler | 27,777 | 54.82% | 22,341 | 44.09% | 549 | 1.08% | 5,436 | 10.73% | 50,667 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cambria | 25,626 | 39.70% | 38,517 | 59.67% | 409 | 0.63% | -12,891 | -19.97% | 64,552 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cameron | 1,731 | 65.20% | 901 | 33.94% | 23 | 0.87% | 830 | 31.26% | 2,655 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carbon | 10,232 | 52.35% | 9,104 | 46.57% | 211 | 1.08% | 1,128 | 5.78% | 19,547 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Centre | 23,875 | 56.14% | 18,357 | 43.17% | 295 | 0.69% | 5,518 | 12.97% | 42,527 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chester | 93,522 | 67.00% | 44,853 | 32.13% | 1,210 | 0.87% | 48,669 | 34.87% | 139,585 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clarion | 8,026 | 58.37% | 5,616 | 40.84% | 109 | 0.79% | 2,410 | 17.53% | 13,751 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clearfield | 14,296 | 53.52% | 12,235 | 45.80% | 182 | 0.68% | 2,061 | 7.72% | 26,713 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clinton | 5,735 | 49.38% | 5,759 | 49.59% | 119 | 1.02% | -24 | -0.21% | 11,613 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Columbia | 12,114 | 60.51% | 7,767 | 38.79% | 140 | 0.70% | 4,347 | 21.72% | 20,021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crawford | 17,249 | 56.32% | 13,021 | 42.51% | 358 | 1.17% | 4,228 | 13.81% | 30,628 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cumberland | 47,292 | 65.29% | 24,613 | 33.98% | 528 | 0.73% | 22,679 | 31.31% | 72,433 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dauphin | 48,917 | 57.77% | 35,079 | 41.43% | 681 | 0.80% | 13,838 | 16.34% | 84,677 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Delaware | 147,656 | 59.95% | 96,144 | 39.03% | 2,505 | 1.02% | 51,512 | 20.92% | 246,305 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elk | 6,737 | 52.86% | 5,879 | 46.13% | 128 | 1.00% | 858 | 6.73% | 12,744 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Erie | 48,306 | 46.76% | 53,913 | 52.19% | 1,081 | 1.05% | -5,607 | -5.43% | 103,300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fayette | 16,915 | 33.60% | 33,098 | 65.74% | 336 | 0.67% | -16,183 | -32.14% | 50,349 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forest | 1,159 | 56.13% | 895 | 43.34% | 11 | 0.53% | 264 | 12.79% | 2,065 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Franklin | 27,086 | 68.32% | 12,368 | 31.20% | 190 | 0.48% | 14,718 | 37.12% | 39,644 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fulton | 3,086 | 66.42% | 1,532 | 32.97% | 28 | 0.60% | 1,554 | 33.45% | 4,646 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greene | 4,879 | 34.62% | 9,126 | 64.75% | 90 | 0.64% | -4,247 | -30.13% | 14,095 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Huntingdon | 8,800 | 64.56% | 4,752 | 34.86% | 79 | 0.58% | 4,048 | 29.70% | 13,631 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 14,983 | 47.21% | 16,514 | 52.03% | 242 | 0.76% | -1,531 | -4.82% | 31,739 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jefferson | 9,743 | 60.48% | 6,235 | 38.71% | 131 | 0.81% | 3,508 | 21.77% | 16,109 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Juniata | 4,881 | 62.87% | 2,834 | 36.50% | 49 | 0.63% | 2,047 | 26.37% | 7,764 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lackawanna | 42,083 | 47.42% | 45,591 | 51.38% | 1,067 | 1.20% | -3,508 | -3.96% | 88,741 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lancaster | 96,979 | 70.77% | 38,982 | 28.45% | 1,068 | 0.78% | 57,997 | 42.32% | 137,029 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawrence | 15,829 | 41.76% | 21,884 | 57.74% | 191 | 0.50% | -6,055 | -15.98% | 37,904 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lebanon | 24,415 | 66.69% | 11,912 | 32.54% | 281 | 0.77% | 12,503 | 34.15% | 36,608 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lehigh | 56,363 | 56.30% | 42,801 | 42.76% | 943 | 0.94% | 13,562 | 13.54% | 100,107 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luzerne | 59,059 | 50.01% | 58,553 | 49.58% | 480 | 0.41% | 506 | 0.43% | 118,092 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lycoming | 24,792 | 64.00% | 13,528 | 34.92% | 415 | 1.07% | 11,264 | 29.08% | 38,735 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| McKean | 9,323 | 63.22% | 5,300 | 35.94% | 124 | 0.84% | 4,023 | 27.28% | 14,747 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 21,301 | 46.43% | 24,278 | 52.92% | 301 | 0.66% | -2,977 | -6.49% | 45,880 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mifflin | 8,170 | 62.49% | 4,790 | 36.63% | 115 | 0.88% | 3,380 | 25.86% | 13,075 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monroe | 17,185 | 62.79% | 9,859 | 36.02% | 327 | 1.19% | 7,326 | 26.77% | 27,371 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Montgomery | 170,294 | 60.20% | 109,834 | 38.83% | 2,742 | 0.97% | 60,460 | 21.37% | 282,870 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Montour | 3,617 | 63.50% | 2,031 | 35.66% | 48 | 0.84% | 1,586 | 27.84% | 5,696 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northampton | 42,748 | 51.52% | 39,264 | 47.32% | 966 | 1.16% | 3,484 | 4.20% | 82,978 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northumberland | 20,207 | 58.07% | 14,255 | 40.96% | 338 | 0.97% | 5,952 | 17.11% | 34,800 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Perry | 8,545 | 68.18% | 3,910 | 31.20% | 78 | 0.62% | 4,635 | 36.98% | 12,533 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Philadelphia | 219,053 | 32.45% | 449,566 | 66.60% | 6,358 | 0.94% | -230,513 | -34.15% | 674,977 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pike | 6,659 | 67.15% | 3,097 | 31.23% | 161 | 1.62% | 3,562 | 35.92% | 9,917 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Potter | 4,432 | 67.23% | 2,119 | 32.15% | 41 | 0.62% | 2,313 | 35.08% | 6,592 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Schuylkill | 32,666 | 56.47% | 24,797 | 42.87% | 379 | 0.66% | 7,869 | 13.60% | 57,842 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Snyder | 9,054 | 76.87% | 2,658 | 22.57% | 67 | 0.57% | 6,396 | 54.30% | 11,779 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Somerset | 16,809 | 54.63% | 13,815 | 44.90% | 144 | 0.47% | 2,994 | 9.73% | 30,768 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sullivan | 1,808 | 61.88% | 1,091 | 37.34% | 23 | 0.79% | 717 | 24.54% | 2,922 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Susquehanna | 9,077 | 64.58% | 4,871 | 34.65% | 108 | 0.77% | 4,206 | 29.93% | 14,056 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tioga | 9,471 | 66.00% | 4,807 | 33.50% | 72 | 0.50% | 4,664 | 32.50% | 14,350 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Union | 7,912 | 71.05% | 3,163 | 28.40% | 61 | 0.55% | 4,749 | 42.65% | 11,136 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Venango | 11,468 | 56.60% | 8,624 | 42.56% | 171 | 0.84% | 2,844 | 14.04% | 20,263 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warren | 8,991 | 56.21% | 6,790 | 42.45% | 214 | 1.34% | 2,201 | 13.76% | 15,995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington | 28,651 | 37.43% | 47,527 | 62.08% | 375 | 0.49% | -18,876 | -24.65% | 76,553 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wayne | 9,926 | 71.61% | 3,775 | 27.23% | 161 | 1.16% | 6,151 | 44.38% | 13,862 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Westmoreland | 61,472 | 44.13% | 76,710 | 55.07% | 1,108 | 0.80% | -15,238 | -10.94% | 139,290 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyoming | 6,607 | 69.94% | 2,797 | 29.61% | 43 | 0.46% | 3,810 | 40.33% | 9,447 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| York | 72,408 | 65.16% | 37,691 | 33.92% | 1,017 | 0.92% | 34,717 | 31.24% | 111,116 |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Clinton
- Erie
- Indiana
- Lackawanna
Analysis
, this is the last election in which Lehigh County or the Greater Philadelphia suburban counties of Montgomery and Delaware have voted Republican at the presidential level. Northampton and Luzerne counties would not vote Republican again until 2016, while Bucks County would not do so again until 2024. This is the last time that Erie County voted for the statewide loser, and the only time it has done so since 1948. Bush became the only Republican to date to win the White House without carrying Indiana County, and the only one to do so without carrying Clinton County since Benjamin Harrison in 1888. This was also the first election since 1932 where Pennsylvania did not vote the same as neighboring New York, another phenomenon that would not occur again until 2016 and 2024.
References
References
- "Voter Registration Statistics". Pennsylvania Department of State.
- David Leip. "1988 Presidential General Election Results – Pennsylvania". Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas.
- Sullivan, Robert David; [http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventional-wisdom/how-red-and-blue-map-evolved-over-past-century ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’]; ''America Magazine'' in ''The National Catholic Review''; June 29, 2016
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