1992 Presidential Election (Halley Series)

The 1992 United States presidential election was the 51st quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 5, 1992. Democratic nominee, President Geraldine Ferraro, independent candidate, Former President Bryson Halley, and Republican nominee, Colorado Governor Jacob Marshall all tied in a three-way race.

President Geraldine Ferraro announced that she would run for re-election in mid-1991. Former President Bryson Halley, Colorado Gov. Jacob Marshall, and Wyoming Gov. Jerry Hart where all major contenders for the Republican nomination.

After the Republican New Hampshire Primary in early April, former President Halley suspended his campaign, because of the great loss in the NH primary, and the low polling numbers. After he announced his withdraw from the race, Colorado Governor Jacob Marshall became the Republican nominee, because Wyoming Governor Jerry Hart withdrew his campaign earlier in the year.

In early May, former President Halley announced that he would run as an independent, because he felt that, "Neither of the major party candidates would progress America". After Halley announced his independent run, many Republicans, and even a few Democrats, announced their support of him over their parties candidate.

Halley originally only wanted to create an election stalemate like what happened in the 1976 Presidential Election. Though, after the NBC-National Poll, where 7,000,000 voters across the country where asked who they would vote for in the 1992 election, 37% said Halley, above Gov. Marshall, and tied with President Ferraro, Halley decided that he would campaign fully and said at a July rally in Detroit, "I'm running to win outright".

President Ferraro, who made history by being the first female President, had relatively low approval ratings. The economic situation that started under Halley's first term in 1987, had gotten worse, and a war in the Philippines, which had low public support, didn't help anything.

The Republican nominee Colorado Governor Jacob Marshall, who defeated Halley in the Republican primaries, was perceived as too moderate and un-inspiring by the public, and polled low in Industrial Midwest and New England, which was very important places for any Republican at that time.

When the election happened, Halley did very well in the main cities of the U.S. In the big three cities, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, Halley got 77%, 79% and 89% respectively. Halley had the best independent campaign since Washington in 1789 and 1792.

The major states that would normally be swing states between the Democrats and Republicans like California, Illinois and New York, all went to Halley.

President Ferraro did do very well in the south though, because of the spoiler effect splitting the Republican vote.

Gov. Marshall did the worst any Republican had done electoral vote wise since the 1964 Presidential Election, and the worst for a Republican ever popular vote wise, only getting 16% of the national vote.

Since no candidate garnered the 270 electoral votes needed to win, the race went to the House of Representatives.

Originally, it looked like President Ferraro would easily win in Congress and would be re-elected. Though, after Halley and Marshall made a joint statement, and Marshall pulling his candidacy in favor of being appointed Secretary of State under a second Halley term, it looked a lot tighter.

Republicans in the House announced that they would vote and support Halley, and with Republicans controlling the house, the tables then turned.

On January 6th, 1993, the House voted Halley by a state-by-state vote of 29-21.

President Ferraro conceded the race that night, and invited Halley to the White House the next day.

Halley became the second independent President, and second President to serve two non-consecutive terms.

Halley's running mate, Rep. Cynthia McKinney became the first female, and first African-American to serve as Vice-President.