United States presidential election, 1984 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
United States presidential election, 1984

← 1980 November 6, 1984 1988 →

Nominee Ronald Reagan Walter Mondale Party Republican Democrat Home state California Minnesota Running mate George H. W. Bush Geraldine Ferraro Electoral vote 525 13 States carried 49 1 + DC Popular vote 54,455,472 37,577,352 Percentage 58.8% 40.6%

Presidential election results map. Red denotes states won by Reagan/Bush, Blue denotes the state won by Mondale/Ferraro.

President before election Ronald Reagan Republican Elected President Ronald Reagan Republican

The 1984 United States presidential election was a big contest. It was between Ronald Reagan, who was the president and a Republican, and Walter Mondale, a Democrat who used to be the vice president for Jimmy Carter.

During the election debates, Mondale disagreed with Reagan's idea for a missile defense system. This system was called the Strategic Defense Initiative. Mondale also thought the government was borrowing too much money.

Before the election, the economy had been difficult in 1982. But it got much better very quickly. By the time of the election, the economy was doing great. President Reagan called this time "Morning In America."

Ronald Reagan won the election by a huge amount, called a landslide. He won 49 out of the 50 states. This election gave him the most electoral votes any presidential candidate has ever received in American history. It also marked the lowest electoral votes for a Democratic candidate and the highest for a Republican up to that time.

Main Candidates in 1984

Republican Party Candidates

The main candidate for the Republican Party was the current president.

• Ronald Reagan, the President of the United States, from California.

Republican Candidates Gallery

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  President Ronald Reagan

Democratic Party Candidates

The main candidate for the Democratic Party was a former vice president.

• Walter Mondale, former U.S. vice president and former U.S. senator, from Minnesota.

Democratic Candidates Gallery

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  Former Vice President Walter Mondale of Minnesota

Images for kids

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  George H. W. Bush, Reagan's running mate in the 1984 election

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  President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush at the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas

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  Electoral college, 1984

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  Results by Congressional District

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  Margin of Victory by state

See also

In Spanish: Elecciones presidenciales de Estados Unidos de 1984 para niños