Isabella Carter
The term landslide victory in politics refers to an election result in which the winning candidate or party achieves a decisive victory by a large margin, securing a substantial majority of votes or seats beyond the typical competitive outcome. While the term is widely used, there is no universally agreed-upon definition or measurement for what constitutes a landslide, especially in the United States, where the Electoral College system adds complexity to the interpretation of election results.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electoral College Landslide | 375 votes or 70% of the electoral votes |
| Percentage Point Victory | 10-20% difference between candidates |
| Popular Vote Count | Highest number of votes |
| Swing States | Winning in states outside of "swing states" |
| Electoral College Votes | 350+ votes |
| Popular Vote | Winning by a large margin |
| Electoral Votes | 300+ votes |
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What You'll Learn
No legal definition of a landslide exists
While there is no legal definition of a landslide in a US presidential election, the term generally refers to a decisive victory by an overwhelming margin. The lack of a precise, technical, or universally agreed-upon measurement for a landslide leaves the term open to interpretation. Political journalists and news outlets have offered their own guidelines over the years, with some defining a landslide as achieving at least 70% of electoral votes.
In the context of the US Electoral College system, where there are 538 electoral votes, a landslide could be considered as securing at least 375 votes, or around 70%. For example, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1936 victory over Alf Landon, where Roosevelt won 523 electoral votes to Landon's eight, is often regarded as a landslide. Ronald Reagan's 1984 victory, where he won 525 electoral votes, is another example.
Some commentators have suggested that a simpler way to define a landslide is by percentage points. This could be a victory by at least 15 percentage points in a popular vote count, which would equate to a 58%-42% win. However, there are variations of this definition, with some sources suggesting a 10-point or 20-point margin would constitute a landslide.
In recent years, the heavily polarised nature of US politics has made true landslide victories less common. Neither of Barack Obama's victories in 2008 or 2012, nor Donald Trump's in 2016, were considered landslides, despite Trump's 2016 win being labelled as such by some. Joe Biden's victory in 2020, with a margin of 306-232 electoral votes, also did not meet the definition of a landslide.
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Landslide victories are decisive and overwhelming
In the United States, the president is not elected by popular vote but by the Electoral College system, which consists of 538 electoral votes. Although there is no legal or constitutional definition of a landslide in a US presidential election, political journalists and historians have offered their own guidelines.
One way to measure a landslide victory is by percentage points. Many outlets have used the term "landslide" for victories in which a candidate beats their opponents by at least 15 percentage points in a popular vote count. This would mean a candidate receiving 58% of the vote, leaving their opponent with 42%. However, there are variations of this definition. For example, the political news website Politico has defined a landslide election as one in which the winning candidate beats their opponent by at least 10 percentage points.
Another way to determine a landslide victory is by the number of electoral votes. Some have suggested that a landslide occurs when a candidate wins at least 350 or 375 electoral votes, or 70% of the electoral votes. This threshold has been met by several presidents, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1936, when he won 523 electoral votes to Alf Landon's eight, and 61% of the popular vote. Similarly, in 1964, Lyndon Johnson won 486 electoral votes to Goldwater's 52, an electoral margin of victory of 80.6 percentage points.
In addition to percentage points and electoral votes, the context of the election may also be considered when determining a landslide victory. In a highly polarized political climate, winning states outside of the "swing states" could be considered a landslide. For example, in 2024, the Republican victory in the US presidential election was considered a landslide by some due to the context of the election, despite Trump winning by a narrow margin of 1.4% of the popular vote.
Overall, while there is no precise definition of a landslide victory in US presidential elections, it generally refers to a decisive and overwhelming victory by the winning candidate, with a significant margin over their opponent, whether that be in terms of percentage points, electoral votes, or the specific context of the election.
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Electoral College landslides and percentage points
The United States elects its presidents using the Electoral College system, with 538 electoral votes available. There is no legal or constitutional definition of a landslide in a US presidential election, but journalists and political scientists have offered their own guidelines.
One common suggestion is that a landslide occurs when a candidate wins at least 375 (or 70%) of electoral votes. This threshold has been met in several elections, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1936 victory, where he won 523 votes to Alf Landon's eight. Ronald Reagan's 1984 victory is also considered a landslide, with Reagan winning 525 votes to Walter Mondale's 13.
Another way to determine a landslide is by looking at percentage points. One definition suggests a landslide occurs when a candidate wins by at least 15 percentage points. This would mean a landslide victory with 58% of the vote, leaving the opponent with 42%. However, there are variations of this definition, with some sources suggesting a 10 or 20 percentage point margin would constitute a landslide.
Lyndon Johnson's 1964 victory over Barry Goldwater is an example of an Electoral College landslide by percentage points. Johnson won 486 electoral votes to Goldwater's 52, an electoral margin of 80.6 percentage points. Thomas Jefferson's 1804 victory is another example, with a margin of 84 percentage points.
More recent elections have not been considered landslides, even with significant margins. For example, Joe Biden's 2020 victory with 306 electoral votes to Donald Trump's 232 did not meet the definition of a landslide. Similarly, Trump's 2016 victory, where he won the electoral vote but received nearly 3 million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton, was not considered a landslide.
The definition of a landslide can vary depending on context and political polarization. Some suggest that winning swing states or unexpected states could also indicate a landslide.
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Landslides and swing states
The United States does not elect its presidents based on popular vote. Instead, it uses the Electoral College system, with 538 electoral votes available. However, there is no legal or constitutional definition of what constitutes a landslide victory in a US presidential election.
Political journalists and news outlets have, over the years, offered their own guidelines for determining a landslide victory. A landslide victory is generally considered to be an overwhelming majority in the Electoral College, with some suggesting that a victory of over 350 electoral votes could be considered a landslide. Historically, the term "landslide" has been used when the winning candidate secures at least 375, or 70%, of the electoral votes.
In addition to the number of electoral votes, percentage points can also be considered when defining a landslide victory. Some sources suggest that a victory of at least 15 percentage points in a popular vote count can be considered a landslide, which would mean the winning candidate receiving 58% of the vote. There are variations of this definition, with some sources suggesting a margin of at least 10 or 20 percentage points to qualify as a landslide.
Swing states, also known as battleground states, are states that could swing either Democratic or Republican in an election. These states often have small vote margins and vote for candidates from both major political parties. In recent years, some have suggested that winning swing states could be considered a factor in determining a landslide victory. With the country's current political polarization, winning states outside of the consensus swing states could be interpreted as a landslide. For example, a Republican victory in the seven heavily discussed swing states plus New Hampshire, Virginia, and New Mexico would be considered a landslide.
It is important to note that the definition of a landslide victory is subjective and can vary depending on the context and the specific election. There is no precise or universally agreed-upon measurement, and interpretations may differ.
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Landslides are subject to interpretation
The term "landslide victory" in US presidential elections is subject to interpretation. There is no legal or constitutional definition of what constitutes a landslide in a US presidential election. The term is used informally, and its meaning can vary depending on the context and the specific electoral system.
Some sources suggest that a landslide victory occurs when a candidate wins by a large margin, such as 10 or 15 percentage points, in a popular vote count. For example, in the 1804 US presidential election, Thomas Jefferson won a landslide victory, taking 162 electoral votes to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney's 14, a margin of victory of 84 percentage points. In 1972, Richard Nixon achieved a landslide victory, winning by nearly 18 million popular votes, the largest margin in American electoral history.
Other sources suggest that a landslide victory is relative to the number of electoral votes. For instance, in the 1964 US presidential election, Lyndon Johnson won a landslide victory, securing 486 electoral votes to Barry Goldwater's 52, an electoral margin of victory of 80.6 percentage points. Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1936 victory is also considered a landslide, as he won 523 electoral votes to Alf Landon's eight.
The interpretation of a landslide victory can also depend on the political context and the number of swing states won. For example, in the heavily polarized political climate of the 2024 US presidential election, some argued that Donald Trump's victory by a margin of 1.4% was a landslide because he won several swing states. However, others disagreed, stating that a margin of 1.4% was not large enough to qualify as a landslide.
Overall, while there is no precise definition of a landslide victory in US presidential elections, it generally refers to a decisive victory by an overwhelming margin, with the specific criteria depending on various factors and subject to interpretation.
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Frequently asked questions
A landslide victory is when a candidate achieves an overwhelming margin of victory, securing a large majority of votes or seats. There is no consensus on the exact margin that constitutes a landslide victory, but it generally refers to a victory in which the opposition is "buried".
There is no legal or constitutional definition of a landslide in a US presidential election. However, it is often determined by the number of electoral votes or the percentage of the popular vote. Some political journalists and news outlets have suggested that a landslide victory occurs when a candidate secures at least 375 (around 70%) of the 538 electoral votes. Others suggest that a landslide occurs when a candidate wins by at least 15 percentage points in the popular vote.
Some notable examples of landslide victories in US presidential elections include:
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt's win in 1936, where he secured 523 electoral votes to his opponent's 8 and won 61% of the popular vote.
- Lyndon Johnson's victory in 1964, where he won 486 electoral votes to his opponent's 52, an electoral margin of 80.6%.
- Richard Nixon's win in 1972, which remains the largest popular vote margin in American history, defeating his opponent by nearly 18 million votes.
The 2024 US presidential election has been described as a landslide victory for former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. However, this view is contested, as Trump won by a margin of 1.4% in the popular vote. Joe Biden's victory in 2020, with 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232, is also not considered a landslide.
