United States presidential election, 1992 facts for kids
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Presidential election results map. Red denotes states won by Bush/Quayle, Blue denotes those won by Clinton/Gore.
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The United States presidential election of 1992 was held on November 3, 1992. This important election decided who would be the next President of the United States. Three main candidates ran for the top job: George H. W. Bush, who was the current president and a Republican; Bill Clinton, a Democrat and the Governor of Arkansas; and Ross Perot, an Independent candidate.
In the end, Bill Clinton won the election. He received 370 Electoral Votes, while George H.W. Bush got 168. Ross Perot did not win any electoral votes. To become president, a candidate needs to win at least 270 electoral votes.
The 1992 US Presidential Election
A presidential election is when people in the United States vote to choose their next president and vice president. These elections happen every four years. In 1992, many people were interested in who would lead the country.
Who Were the Main Candidates?
There were three main people who wanted to become president in 1992. Each had different ideas for the country.
Bill Clinton: The Democratic Challenger
Bill Clinton was the Governor of Arkansas. He was the candidate for the Democratic Party. His running mate, who would become Vice President if he won, was Al Gore. Clinton focused on improving the economy and bringing new ideas to Washington.
George H.W. Bush: The Republican President
George H.W. Bush was the current President of the United States. He was a Republican from Texas. His Vice President was Dan Quayle. President Bush had been in office for four years and was hoping to be re-elected for a second term.
Ross Perot: The Independent Voice
Ross Perot was a wealthy businessman from Texas. He ran as an Independent candidate, meaning he didn't belong to the Republican or Democratic parties. His running mate was James Stockdale. Perot talked a lot about reducing the national debt and fixing government problems. He gained a lot of support from people who were tired of the two main parties.
Why Did Clinton Win?
There were several reasons why Bill Clinton won the 1992 election.
Economic Concerns
One of the biggest reasons was the economy. Many Americans felt that the economy was not doing well. People were worried about jobs and their financial future. Bill Clinton promised to focus on improving the economy, which appealed to many voters.
Bush's Broken Promise
President George H.W. Bush had famously promised, "Read my lips: no new taxes" during his 1988 campaign. However, he later agreed to raise some taxes to help reduce the national debt. This made some voters feel that he had broken his promise, which hurt his popularity.
Foreign Policy vs. Domestic Issues
President Bush was very successful in foreign policy, especially during the Cold War and the Gulf War. But by 1992, these major international conflicts were over. Voters were more concerned about problems at home, like the economy, rather than issues in other countries. Clinton was able to focus on these domestic issues.
The Election Results
On November 3, 1992, millions of Americans cast their votes.
- Bill Clinton won with 43.0% of the popular vote and 370 electoral votes. He carried 32 states and Washington, D.C.
- George H.W. Bush received 37.4% of the popular vote and 168 electoral votes. He won 18 states.
- Ross Perot got 18.9% of the popular vote, which was a lot for an independent candidate, but he did not win any electoral votes.
Bill Clinton became the 42nd President of the United States, and Al Gore became the Vice President.
Images for kids
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Dan Quayle, Vice President under George H.W. Bush.
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Al Gore, Bill Clinton's running mate.
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Bill Clinton and Al Gore campaigning in 1992.
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Businessman Ross Perot from Texas
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1992 Presidential Election, results by congressional district
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A detailed map of the 1992 Electoral College results.
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Former State Representative Andre Marrou from Alaska
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Scientist and Researcher John Hagelin from Iowa
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Political Activist Lyndon LaRouche
See also
In Spanish: Elecciones presidenciales de Estados Unidos de 1992 para niños
