How many times in American history did the person who lost the popular vote get elected president?

August 30, 2023 Jonathan Milner

Critical Analysis

How many times in American history did the person who lost the popular vote get elected president?
What president won the popular vote by the largest margin?
Does the person who lost the popular vote but won the presidency usually win reelection?
What story does the visual above tell?
Democracy means rule by the people. By the people, we mean the majority (most) or plurality (more) of the people. If one out of nine presidents are elected without wining the majority or plurality of the popular vote what does that tell us about American democracy?
Explain how the electoral college makes it possible for the popular vote loser to be the winner of the presidency.
Explain whether U.S. congressional elections are more or less democratic than U.S. presidential elections.
Imagine you played a pick-up basketball game and at the end of the game the team with the most points ended up losing. (Would you keep playing?) Explain how unpopular sovereignty (the loser winning) impacts voter turnout.
The Framers of our nation did not once use the word democracy in the Constitution. They also built the electoral system that produces unpopular sovereigns (presidents who lost). What do you imagine the framers would think about the fact that the election loser could win the presidency?
Explain whether you believe the United States should create a system to ensure that the winner of the popular vote wins the presidency.

Read about The National Popular Vote Plan, a voting method that would insure that the winner of the popular vote was always elected president.