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The 1988 United States presidential election was the 50th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 8, 1988. Incumbent Democratic Vice President Ed Muskie was defeated Republican Vice Presidential candidate Ben Fernandez from Arizona.

Vice President Ed Muskie faced strong opposition in their bid for re-nomination, coming neck and neck with liberal Senator Birch Bayh after defeating several other candidates for the nomination. Kemp faced a competitive field in his bid, defeating previous Independent candidate George H.W. Bush, former Democrat Jeane Kirkpatrick and several other candidates in the 1984 Republican primaries. Kemp eventually chose millionaire and businessman Ben Fernandez of Nevada as his running mate, the first Hispanic to be on a major party's presidential ticket.

Mondale campaigned for increased social spending, implementation of liberal economic policies, and his social policies. His campaign was aided by Republican dissatisfaction with Kemp, Kemp's 'Cabin Orgy' scandal, and his record of social conservatism. Mondale attacked Kemp as a right-wing extremist, and warned that Kemp would cut Medicare and Social Security.

Mondale won the election, taking 308 electoral votes and 53.2% of the popular vote. Kemp won 46.2% of the vote, with a single faithless vote to Bush in Texas. This is the last election in which a Democrat won without Vermont.