Election of 1948
LINKS
| Abbreviations | Definitions | Sources |
BASICS
| Category | Result |
|---|---|
| Incumbent | Harry Truman (D) |
| Prior streak | D (4) |
| Prior five elections | D (4), R (1) |
| Population | 146,631,302 |
| States | 48 |
| Electoral votes | 531 |
| Popular votes | 48,691,494 |
| Voter turnout | 51.1% |
FIELD OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES
| Candidate | Party | PI | Age | State | Position | Nom | Win | CS | ROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Truman | D | 7.6 | 64.48 | Missouri | President | X | X | 79.72 | 105 |
| Thomas Dewey | R | 6.6 | 46.61 | New York | Former nominee | X | — | 69.67 | 106 |
| Strom Thurmond | SRD | 2.2 | 45.91 | South Carolina | Governor | — | — | 34.75 | 158 |
| Richard Russell | D | 4.4 | 51.00 | Georgia | Senator | — | — | 22.93 | 52 |
| Robert Taft | R | 5.6 | 59.15 | Ohio | Senator | — | — | 22.57 | 40 |
| Harold Stassen | R | 4.5 | 41.55 | Minnesota | Former governor | — | — | 22.01 | 49 |
| Earl Warren | R | 5.7 | 57.62 | California | Governor | — | — | 19.04 | 33 |
| Henry Wallace | D/P | 3.1 | 60.07 | Iowa | Former vice president | — | — | 17.65 | 57 |
| Arthur Vandenberg | R | 5.1 | 64.61 | Michigan | Senator | — | — | 13.55 | 27 |
| Dwight Green | R | 6.5 | 51.81 | Illinois | Governor | — | — | 13.05 | 20 |
GENERAL ELECTION
| Candidate | Party | SC | PV | PV% | EV | EV% | PV*EQ | EV*EQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Truman | D | 28 | 24,105,810 | 49.51% | 303 | 57.06% | 49,507,230 | 307 |
| Thomas Dewey | R | 16 | 21,970,064 | 45.12% | 189 | 35.59% | 45,120,949 | 191 |
| Strom Thurmond | SRD | 4 | 1,169,156 | 2.40% | 39 | 7.35% | 2,401,150 | 40 |
| Henry Wallace | P | 0 | 1,157,172 | 2.38% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,376,538 | 0 |
REGIONAL SPLITS
| Candidate | Party | PV% | East | South | Midwest | West | EV | East | South | Midwest | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Truman | D | 49.51% | 47.68% | 52.23% | 50.33% | 49.38% | 303 | 28 | 109 | 101 | 65 |
| Thomas Dewey | R | 45.12% | 47.65% | 29.62% | 48.02% | 46.33% | 189 | 129 | 0 | 54 | 6 |
| Strom Thurmond | SRD | 2.40% | 0.01% | 17.50% | 0.00% | 0.02% | 39 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 |
| Henry Wallace | P | 2.38% | 3.94% | 0.48% | 1.02% | 3.67% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PV BY STATES
| State | Total PV | Truman | Dewey | Thurmond | Wallace | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 214,980 | — | 40,930 | 171,443 | 1,522 | 1,085 |
| Arizona | 177,065 | 95,251 | 77,597 | — | 3,310 | 907 |
| Arkansas | 242,475 | 149,659 | 50,959 | 40,068 | 751 | 1,038 |
| California | 4,021,538 | 1,913,134 | 1,895,269 | 1,228 | 190,381 | 21,526 |
| Colorado | 515,237 | 267,288 | 239,714 | — | 6,115 | 2,120 |
| Connecticut | 883,518 | 423,297 | 437,754 | — | 13,713 | 8,754 |
| Delaware | 139,073 | 67,813 | 69,588 | — | 1,050 | 622 |
| Florida | 577,643 | 281,988 | 194,280 | 89,755 | 11,620 | — |
| Georgia | 418,844 | 254,646 | 76,691 | 85,135 | 1,636 | 736 |
| Idaho | 214,816 | 107,370 | 101,514 | — | 4,972 | 960 |
| Illinois | 3,984,046 | 1,994,715 | 1,961,103 | — | — | 28,228 |
| Indiana | 1,656,212 | 807,831 | 821,079 | — | 9,649 | 17,653 |
| Iowa | 1,038,264 | 522,380 | 494,018 | — | 12,125 | 9,741 |
| Kansas | 788,819 | 351,902 | 423,039 | — | 4,603 | 9,275 |
| Kentucky | 822,658 | 466,756 | 341,210 | 10,411 | 1,567 | 2,714 |
| Louisiana | 416,336 | 136,344 | 72,657 | 204,290 | 3,035 | 10 |
| Maine | 264,787 | 111,916 | 150,234 | — | 1,884 | 753 |
| Maryland | 596,748 | 286,521 | 294,814 | 2,489 | 9,983 | 2,941 |
| Massachusetts | 2,107,146 | 1,151,788 | 909,370 | — | 38,157 | 7,831 |
| Michigan | 2,109,609 | 1,003,448 | 1,038,595 | — | 46,515 | 21,051 |
| Minnesota | 1,212,226 | 692,966 | 483,617 | — | 27,866 | 7,777 |
| Mississippi | 192,190 | 19,384 | 5,043 | 167,538 | 225 | — |
| Missouri | 1,578,628 | 917,315 | 655,039 | 42 | 3,998 | 2,234 |
| Montana | 224,278 | 119,071 | 96,770 | — | 7,313 | 1,124 |
| Nebraska | 488,940 | 224,165 | 264,774 | — | — | 1 |
| Nevada | 62,117 | 31,291 | 29,357 | — | 1,469 | — |
| New Hampshire | 231,440 | 107,995 | 121,299 | 7 | 1,970 | 169 |
| New Jersey | 1,949,555 | 895,455 | 981,124 | — | 42,683 | 30,293 |
| New Mexico | 187,063 | 105,464 | 80,303 | — | 1,037 | 259 |
| New York | 6,177,337 | 2,780,204 | 2,841,163 | — | 509,559 | 46,411 |
| North Carolina | 791,209 | 459,070 | 258,572 | 69,652 | 3,915 | — |
| North Dakota | 220,716 | 95,812 | 115,139 | 374 | 8,391 | 1,000 |
| Ohio | 2,936,071 | 1,452,791 | 1,445,684 | — | 37,596 | — |
| Oklahoma | 721,599 | 452,782 | 268,817 | — | — | — |
| Oregon | 524,080 | 243,147 | 260,904 | — | 14,978 | 5,051 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,735,348 | 1,752,426 | 1,902,197 | — | 55,161 | 25,564 |
| Rhode Island | 327,702 | 188,736 | 135,787 | — | 2,619 | 560 |
| South Carolina | 142,571 | 34,423 | 5,386 | 102,607 | 154 | 1 |
| South Dakota | 250,105 | 117,653 | 129,651 | — | 2,801 | — |
| Tennessee | 550,283 | 270,402 | 202,914 | 73,815 | 1,864 | 1,288 |
| Texas | 1,147,245 | 750,700 | 282,240 | 106,909 | 3,764 | 3,632 |
| Utah | 276,306 | 149,151 | 124,402 | — | 2,679 | 74 |
| Vermont | 123,382 | 45,557 | 75,926 | — | 1,279 | 620 |
| Virginia | 419,256 | 200,786 | 172,070 | 43,393 | 2,047 | 960 |
| Washington | 905,058 | 476,165 | 386,314 | — | 31,692 | 10,887 |
| West Virginia | 748,750 | 429,188 | 316,251 | — | 3,311 | — |
| Wisconsin | 1,276,800 | 647,310 | 590,959 | — | 25,282 | 13,249 |
| Wyoming | 101,425 | 52,354 | 47,947 | — | 931 | 193 |
| Total | 48,691,494 | 24,105,810 | 21,970,064 | 1,169,156 | 1,157,172 | 289,292 |
PV% BY STATES
| State | PV winner | Truman | Dewey | Thurmond | Wallace | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Thurmond | — | 19.04% | 79.75% | 0.71% | 0.51% |
| Arizona | Truman | 53.79% | 43.82% | — | 1.87% | 0.51% |
| Arkansas | Truman | 61.72% | 21.02% | 16.53% | 0.31% | 0.43% |
| California | Truman | 47.57% | 47.13% | 0.03% | 4.73% | 0.54% |
| Colorado | Truman | 51.88% | 46.53% | — | 1.19% | 0.41% |
| Connecticut | Dewey | 47.91% | 49.55% | — | 1.55% | 0.99% |
| Delaware | Dewey | 48.76% | 50.04% | — | 0.76% | 0.45% |
| Florida | Truman | 48.82% | 33.63% | 15.54% | 2.01% | — |
| Georgia | Truman | 60.80% | 18.31% | 20.33% | 0.39% | 0.18% |
| Idaho | Truman | 49.98% | 47.26% | — | 2.32% | 0.45% |
| Illinois | Truman | 50.07% | 49.22% | — | — | 0.71% |
| Indiana | Dewey | 48.78% | 49.58% | — | 0.58% | 1.07% |
| Iowa | Truman | 50.31% | 47.58% | — | 1.17% | 0.94% |
| Kansas | Dewey | 44.61% | 53.63% | — | 0.58% | 1.18% |
| Kentucky | Truman | 56.74% | 41.48% | 1.27% | 0.19% | 0.33% |
| Louisiana | Thurmond | 32.75% | 17.45% | 49.07% | 0.73% | 0.00% |
| Maine | Dewey | 42.27% | 56.74% | — | 0.71% | 0.28% |
| Maryland | Dewey | 48.01% | 49.40% | 0.42% | 1.67% | 0.49% |
| Massachusetts | Truman | 54.66% | 43.16% | — | 1.81% | 0.37% |
| Michigan | Dewey | 47.57% | 49.23% | — | 2.21% | 1.00% |
| Minnesota | Truman | 57.17% | 39.90% | — | 2.30% | 0.64% |
| Mississippi | Thurmond | 10.09% | 2.62% | 87.17% | 0.12% | — |
| Missouri | Truman | 58.11% | 41.49% | 0.00% | 0.25% | 0.14% |
| Montana | Truman | 53.09% | 43.15% | — | 3.26% | 0.50% |
| Nebraska | Dewey | 45.85% | 54.15% | — | — | 0.00% |
| Nevada | Truman | 50.37% | 47.26% | — | 2.37% | — |
| New Hampshire | Dewey | 46.66% | 52.41% | 0.00% | 0.85% | 0.07% |
| New Jersey | Dewey | 45.93% | 50.33% | — | 2.19% | 1.55% |
| New Mexico | Truman | 56.38% | 42.93% | — | 0.55% | 0.14% |
| New York | Dewey | 45.01% | 45.99% | — | 8.25% | 0.75% |
| North Carolina | Truman | 58.02% | 32.68% | 8.80% | 0.50% | — |
| North Dakota | Dewey | 43.41% | 52.17% | 0.17% | 3.80% | 0.45% |
| Ohio | Truman | 49.48% | 49.24% | — | 1.28% | — |
| Oklahoma | Truman | 62.75% | 37.25% | — | — | — |
| Oregon | Dewey | 46.40% | 49.78% | — | 2.86% | 0.96% |
| Pennsylvania | Dewey | 46.92% | 50.92% | — | 1.48% | 0.68% |
| Rhode Island | Truman | 57.59% | 41.44% | — | 0.80% | 0.17% |
| South Carolina | Thurmond | 24.14% | 3.78% | 71.97% | 0.11% | 0.00% |
| South Dakota | Dewey | 47.04% | 51.84% | — | 1.12% | — |
| Tennessee | Truman | 49.14% | 36.87% | 13.41% | 0.34% | 0.23% |
| Texas | Truman | 65.44% | 24.60% | 9.32% | 0.33% | 0.32% |
| Utah | Truman | 53.98% | 45.02% | — | 0.97% | 0.03% |
| Vermont | Dewey | 36.92% | 61.54% | — | 1.04% | 0.50% |
| Virginia | Truman | 47.89% | 41.04% | 10.35% | 0.49% | 0.23% |
| Washington | Truman | 52.61% | 42.68% | — | 3.50% | 1.20% |
| West Virginia | Truman | 57.32% | 42.24% | — | 0.44% | — |
| Wisconsin | Truman | 50.70% | 46.28% | — | 1.98% | 1.04% |
| Wyoming | Truman | 51.62% | 47.27% | — | 0.92% | 0.19% |
| Total | Truman | 49.51% | 45.12% | 2.40% | 2.38% | 0.59% |
EV BY STATES
| State | Total EV | Truman | Dewey | Thurmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Arizona | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Arkansas | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| California | 25 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Colorado | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Connecticut | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Delaware | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Florida | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Georgia | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Idaho | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Illinois | 28 | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| Indiana | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Iowa | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Kansas | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Louisiana | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Maine | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Maryland | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Massachusetts | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 19 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Minnesota | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Mississippi | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Missouri | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Montana | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Nebraska | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Nevada | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| New Hampshire | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| New Jersey | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| New Mexico | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| New York | 47 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| North Carolina | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| North Dakota | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Ohio | 25 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Oregon | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Pennsylvania | 35 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| Rhode Island | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| South Carolina | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| South Dakota | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Tennessee | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| Texas | 23 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Utah | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Vermont | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Virginia | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| West Virginia | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Wyoming | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 531 | 303 | 189 | 39 |
MARGINS AND FLIPS
| State | PV winner | Runnerup | Gap (votes) | Gap (points) | Flip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Thurmond | Dewey | 130,513 | 60.71 | 65,257 |
| Arizona | Truman | Dewey | 17,654 | 9.97 | 8,828 |
| Arkansas | Truman | Dewey | 98,700 | 40.71 | 49,351 |
| California | Truman | Dewey | 17,865 | 0.44 | 8,933 |
| Colorado | Truman | Dewey | 27,574 | 5.35 | 13,788 |
| Connecticut | Dewey | Truman | 14,457 | 1.64 | 7,229 |
| Delaware | Dewey | Truman | 1,775 | 1.28 | 888 |
| Florida | Truman | Dewey | 87,708 | 15.18 | 43,855 |
| Georgia | Truman | Thurmond | 169,511 | 40.47 | 84,756 |
| Idaho | Truman | Dewey | 5,856 | 2.73 | 2,929 |
| Illinois | Truman | Dewey | 33,612 | 0.84 | 16,807 |
| Indiana | Dewey | Truman | 13,248 | 0.80 | 6,625 |
| Iowa | Truman | Dewey | 28,362 | 2.73 | 14,182 |
| Kansas | Dewey | Truman | 71,137 | 9.02 | 35,569 |
| Kentucky | Truman | Dewey | 125,546 | 15.26 | 62,774 |
| Louisiana | Thurmond | Truman | 67,946 | 16.32 | 33,974 |
| Maine | Dewey | Truman | 38,318 | 14.47 | 19,160 |
| Maryland | Dewey | Truman | 8,293 | 1.39 | 4,147 |
| Massachusetts | Truman | Dewey | 242,418 | 11.51 | 121,210 |
| Michigan | Dewey | Truman | 35,147 | 1.67 | 17,574 |
| Minnesota | Truman | Dewey | 209,349 | 17.27 | 104,675 |
| Mississippi | Thurmond | Truman | 148,154 | 77.09 | 74,078 |
| Missouri | Truman | Dewey | 262,276 | 16.61 | 131,139 |
| Montana | Truman | Dewey | 22,301 | 9.94 | 11,151 |
| Nebraska | Dewey | Truman | 40,609 | 8.31 | 20,305 |
| Nevada | Truman | Dewey | 1,934 | 3.11 | 968 |
| New Hampshire | Dewey | Truman | 13,304 | 5.75 | 6,653 |
| New Jersey | Dewey | Truman | 85,669 | 4.40 | 42,835 |
| New Mexico | Truman | Dewey | 25,161 | 13.45 | 12,581 |
| New York | Dewey | Truman | 60,959 | 0.99 | 30,480 |
| North Carolina | Truman | Dewey | 200,498 | 25.34 | 100,250 |
| North Dakota | Dewey | Truman | 19,327 | 8.76 | 9,664 |
| Ohio | Truman | Dewey | 7,107 | 0.24 | 3,554 |
| Oklahoma | Truman | Dewey | 183,965 | 25.49 | 91,983 |
| Oregon | Dewey | Truman | 17,757 | 3.39 | 8,879 |
| Pennsylvania | Dewey | Truman | 149,771 | 4.01 | 74,886 |
| Rhode Island | Truman | Dewey | 52,949 | 16.16 | 26,475 |
| South Carolina | Thurmond | Truman | 68,184 | 47.83 | 34,093 |
| South Dakota | Dewey | Truman | 11,998 | 4.80 | 6,000 |
| Tennessee | Truman | Dewey | 67,488 | 12.27 | 33,745 |
| Texas | Truman | Dewey | 468,460 | 40.83 | 234,231 |
| Utah | Truman | Dewey | 24,749 | 8.96 | 12,375 |
| Vermont | Dewey | Truman | 30,369 | 24.61 | 15,185 |
| Virginia | Truman | Dewey | 28,716 | 6.85 | 14,359 |
| Washington | Truman | Dewey | 89,851 | 9.93 | 44,926 |
| West Virginia | Truman | Dewey | 112,937 | 15.08 | 56,469 |
| Wisconsin | Truman | Dewey | 56,351 | 4.41 | 28,176 |
| Wyoming | Truman | Dewey | 4,407 | 4.35 | 2,204 |
| Total | Truman | Dewey | 2,135,746 | 4.39 | 1,067,874 |