1988 Presidential Election (Halley Series)

The 1988 United States presidential election was the 50th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 8, 1988. Democratic nominee, Former Vice President Geraldine Ferraro defeated Republican nominee, incumbent Vice President Paula Hawkins.

President Halley decided not to run for re-election because of low approval rating, bad economy, and the recent death of his son.

This was the first Presidential election in American history where both major party candidates were female. In fact, it was the first time any major party candidate was female.

The Republican ticket was the first all female ticket in American history, where both the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates where female. And, the Republican Vice Presidential candidate, Olivia Pope was the first African-American candidate on any major party ticket.

Many people called this election an upset, because all polling in the swing states showed that Hawkins would win.

The largest upset was by California, which at this point hadn’t voted for a Democrat since 1968. After California was projected for Ferraro, she was put over the 270 mark, making her the first female president-elect, and therefore the first female President.

This election also had the highest turn out since the Presidential Election of 1900. Because of that, it was the first time that over 100,000,000 people voted in a U.S. Presidential election.