Who Has The Popular Vote 2024? Trump vs. Harris Election Results

2 months ago 19

Donald Trump has tentatively won the 2024 presidential election after Fox News and Decision Desk HQ projected him to win Pennsylvania, ending any path to victory for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump would also be on track to do something that a Republican candidate hasn't done in 20 years – win the popular.

When was the last time a Republican won the popular vote?

Not only would Trump win the Electoral College, but also the popular vote—the first time a Republican has done so since President George W. Bush won re-election in 2004, beating Democratic challenger John Kerry. Bush won around three million more votes than Kerry while also taking 286 Electoral College votes.

In subsequent elections, the Democrats won the popular vote, even when Donald Trump won the Electoral College in 2016 and defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump Election 2024
Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally at Lancaster Airport on November 03, 2024 in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Bush also won his first election by winning the Electoral College while losing the popular vote, making his 2004 popular vote win an outlier. President Bill Clinton won the popular vote in each of his election bids.

President George H.W. Bush won the popular vote in 1988 with a margin of nearly eight million votes over Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis.

Which candidate has the popular vote?

As of 1:30 a.m. ET on Nov. 6, Trump had the lead over Harris by about 4.9 million votes. The outstanding votes in the remaining states make it unlikely—if not outright impossible—for Harris to overtake Trump in the popular vote even if she were to win all of the remaining votes.

Who won the 2020 popular vote?

President Joe Biden won the popular vote by about seven million votes, amassing the most-ever votes by a presidential candidate. Trump also amassed more than any other presidential candidate had, which added to his frustration that he did not win the election.

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About the writer

Peter Aitken

Peter Aitken is a Newsweek Politics Editor based in New York. His focus is domestic U.S. politics, but he has ... Read more

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