The 1992 United States elections elected state governors, the national president, and members of the 103rd United States Congress. The election took place after the redistricting that resulted from the 1990 Census. Democrats won control of the presidency and both chambers of Congress for the first time since the Republican victory in the 1980 elections.
Contents
In the presidential election, Democratic Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas defeated Republican incumbent President George H. W. Bush and Texas businessman Ross Perot. Clinton easily won the electoral college with 370 electoral votes, but took just 43 percent of the popular vote, the fourth-lowest share of any victorious presidential candidate. Perot's independent candidacy won the largest share of the popular vote of any third party or independent candidate since Theodore Roosevelt's 1912 candidacy. Clinton defeated former California Governor Jerry Brown and former Massachusetts Senator Paul Tsongas to take the Democratic nomination. Bush defeated a primary challenge from commentator, and former Reagan White House Director of Communications Pat Buchanan to earn re-nomination as the Republican candidate.
Democrats lost a handful of House seats but easily held onto their majority in the chamber.
A small number of seats changed hands in the Senate, but Democrats retained a comfortable majority.
In the gubernatorial (governor) elections, the Democratic Party won a net gain of two states.
Issues
What was initially viewed as an easy win for the incumbent, George H. W. Bush, turned out quite differently. His famous Read my lips: no new taxes quip was used effectively by his primary challenger Pat Buchannon and later by Governor Bill Clinton. One of the first indicators of Bush's re-election challenge was a poll showing him losing to Texas billionaire Ross Perot in May.
Federal Elections
The 1992 election took place during the 102nd United States Congress.
Senate Elections
The 34 Seats in the Senate Class III were up for election.