Electoral history of Pat Buchanan

Conservative commentator, presidential advisor, and three-time presidential candidate Pat Buchanan

This is the electoral history of Pat Buchanan. Buchanan served as an advisor to three United States presidents: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan. He then became a conservative columnist and co-hosted Crossfire, a political program on CNN.

In 1992, never before having sought elected office, Buchanan challenged incumbent president George H. W. Bush for the Republican Party presidential nomination. Buchanan lost each contest, but received nearly 40 percent of the vote in the New Hampshire primary and ultimately received about 23 percent of the primary vote. He again sought the GOP presidential nomination in 1996, winning three contests and garnering almost 21 percent of the vote; Kansas Senator Bob Dole ultimately won the party's nomination.

Buchanan left the Republican Party in 1999 and joined the Reform Party, founded by two-time independent presidential candidate Ross Perot. He received more than 25 percent of the popular vote in the primary, then secured the nomination at the convention, selecting conservative activist Ezola Foster for his running mate. The Buchanan—Foster ticket received the fourth—most popular votes in the 2000 United States presidential election, though failing to secure any votes in the Electoral College.

Presidential primaries (1992)

Buchanan, campaigning in Tallahassee, Florida, for the 1992 Republican Party presidential nomination

Main article: 1992 Republican Party presidential primaries

• George H. W. Bush (inc.) - 9,199,463 (72.84%)
• Pat Buchanan - 2,899,488 (22.96%)
• Unpledged delegates - 287,383 (2.28%)
• David Duke - 119,115 (0.94%)
• Ross Perot - 56,136 (0.44%)
• Pat Paulsen - 10,984 (0.09%)
• Maurice Horton - 9,637 (0.08%)
• Harold Stassen - 8,099 (0.06%)

Presidential primaries (1996)

A sticker promoting Buchanan's 1996 primary campaign for president

Gold denotes a state won by Pat Buchanan. Green denotes a state won by Steve Forbes. Purple denotes a state won by Bob Dole. Grey denotes a territory that did not hold a primary.

Main article: 1996 Republican Party presidential primaries

Popular vote

• Bob Dole - 9,024,742 (58.82%)
• Pat Buchanan - 3,184,943 (20.76%)
• Steve Forbes - 1,751,187 (11.41%)
• Lamar Alexander - 495,590 (3.23%)
• Alan Keyes - 471,716 (3.08%)
• Richard Lugar - 127,111 (0.83%)
• Unpledged delegates - 123,278 (0.80%)
• Phil Gramm - 71,456 (0.47%)
• Bob Dornan - 42,140 (0.28%)
• Morry Taylor - 21,180 (0.14%)

Won in Alaska, Louisiana, Missouri, and New Hampshire

Delegate count

• Bob Dole - 1928
• Pat Buchanan - 47
• Steve Forbes - 2
• Alan Keyes - 1
• Robert Bork - 1

Presidential primaries (2000)

Popular vote

Main article: 2000 Reform Party presidential primaries

• Donald Trump - 2,878 (33.39%)
• Pat Buchanan - 2,213 (25.68%)
• Uncommitted - 1,164 (13.51%)
• No preference - 617 (7.16%)
• Charles E. Collins - 535 (6.21%)
• John B. Anderson - 468 (5.43%)
• Robert M. Bowman - 292 (3.39%)
• John Hagelin - 220 (2.55%)
• George Weber - 217 (2.52%)

Delegates

• Pat Buchanan - 453 (98.69%)
• Abstaining - 6 (1.31%)

2000 United States presidential election

Main article: 2000 United States presidential election

• George W. Bush/Dick Cheney (R) - 50,460,110 (47.9) and 271 electoral votes (30 states carried)
• Al Gore/Joe Lieberman (D) - 51,003,926 (48.4%) and 266 electoral votes (20 states and D.C. carried)
• Abstaining - 1 electoral vote (faithless elector from D.C.)
• Ralph Nader/Winona LaDuke (Green) - 2,883,105 (2.7%)
• Pat Buchanan/Ezola B. Foster (Reform) - 449,225 (0.4%)
• Harry Browne/Art Olivier (Libertarian) - 384,516 (0.4%)
• Howard Phillips/Curtis Frazier (Constitution) - 98,022 (0.1%)
• John Hagelin/Nat Goldhaber (Natural Law) - 83,702 (0.1%)