Man, the 2000 presidential election was something else. I remember staying up all night watching the coverage, thinking we'd know the winner by morning. Boy, was I wrong. That election dragged on for weeks with all that Florida recount mess. But let's back up. If you're wondering who ran for president in 2000, it's not just about listing names. There's a whole drama behind it that changed American politics forever.
That race was historic - the first time since 1888 that the winner lost the popular vote. People forget how wild the campaign trail was. I talked to folks who swore they'd move to Canada if Bush won (spoiler: most didn't). Others thought Gore came off like a know-it-all professor. Then you had third-party candidates shaking things up in ways nobody expected.
The Main Contenders: Bush vs Gore
Okay, let's get to what you came for - who actually ran for president in 2000? The headline act featured two political heavyweights:
George W. Bush (Republican)
Governor of Texas and son of former President George H.W. Bush. Ran as a "compassionate conservative" promising tax cuts and education reform. His folksy style played well against Gore's stiffness. I always found it interesting how he campaigned as a Washington outsider despite his family ties.
Al Gore (Democrat)
Clinton's Vice President for eight years. Focused on environmental issues (remember "Earth in the Balance"?) and protecting Social Security. Smart guy but struggled to connect personally. Saw him speak once - brilliant policy mind but about as exciting as watching paint dry.
| Candidate | Experience | Slogan | Key Issues | Notable Debate Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George W. Bush | Texas Governor (1995-2000) | "Reformer With Results" | Tax cuts, education reform | Sighing during Gore's answers |
| Al Gore | Vice President (1993-2001) | "Prosperity and Progress" | Environment, Social Security | Walking toward Bush during answers |
The debates were pure theater. That first one where Gore kept sighing? My brother threw popcorn at the TV. Then when Gore walked over to Bush's space - man, that was awkward. You could see Bush give him this "dude, personal space" look.
The Spoilers: Third-Party Candidates Who Changed History
Here's where it gets juicy. Those third-party guys? They weren't just protest votes. They actually decided the whole dang election. When people ask who ran for president in 2000, these names matter:
| Candidate | Party | Impact | Key Supporters | Effect on Florida Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph Nader | Green Party | Took liberal votes from Gore | Young progressives, environmentalists | 97,488 votes (Gore lost by 537) |
| Pat Buchanan | Reform Party | Split conservative vote | Perot supporters, isolationists | 17,484 votes |
Nader drives me nuts to this day. Met a guy who voted for him in Florida and later regretted it. "Didn't think my vote mattered," he said. Well, it did. Bush won Florida by 537 votes. Nader got over 97,000 there. You do the math.
Funny/Sad Fact: The infamous "butterfly ballot" in Palm Beach County confused elderly voters so badly that some accidentally voted for Buchanan when they meant Gore. One lady sued because she thought she'd voted for Gore but saw Buchanan's name highlighted. Total circus.
How The Whole Florida Disaster Went Down
Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room - Florida. On election night, all the networks initially called Florida for Gore, then retracted it. Around 2:30 AM, Fox News called it for Bush and everyone followed. I was still awake, surviving on cold pizza and caffeine.
The next morning? Pure chaos. The margin was so thin it triggered an automatic recount. Then came the lawsuits. Gore wanted hand recounts in four Democratic counties. Bush sued to stop them. The court battles went all the way to the Supreme Court - twice.
Timeline of the Recount Crisis
Nov 7: Networks call Florida for Gore, then Bush
Nov 8: Bush leads by 1,784 votes - automatic recount begins
Nov 12: Machine recount puts Bush ahead by 327
Nov 21: Florida Supreme Court orders manual recounts
Dec 8: Florida Supreme Court orders statewide manual recount
Dec 12: US Supreme Court halts recount (5-4 decision)
I visited Palm Beach County a year later. People were still bitter. The election office had this haunted look. The staff told me they'd counted ballots until their eyes crossed, looking for "hanging chads" - those little paper bits that didn't fully detach. Some counties used magnifying glasses. Others held ballots up to lights. Total amateur hour.
What People Actually Cared About in 2000
We forget how different the issues were back then. No Twitter, no smartphones. Terrorism wasn't really on the radar yet. Here's what mattered:
| Issue | Bush Position | Gore Position | Voter Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | $1.6 trillion tax cut | Targeted tax cuts | #1 concern |
| Social Security | Partial privatization | Protect trust fund | Top 3 for seniors |
| Environment | States' rights approach | Kyoto Protocol supporter | Young voters only |
| Character | "Restore honor" post-Lewinsky | Experience vs scandal | Massively important |
Character mattered way more than people admit now. After the Monica Lewinsky mess, Gore kept Clinton at arm's length. Smart move? Maybe. But it depressed Democratic turnout. My Democratic precinct captain nearly cried election night. "Clinton could've gotten us 3 more points in Florida," he kept saying.
Personal Opinion: The media obsessed over "likability." Bush seemed like a guy you'd have a beer with. Gore came off like he'd correct your grammar while you drank it. Unfair? Probably. But it mattered.
Why The Answer Matters Today
Knowing who ran for president in 2000 isn't just trivia. That election broke things we still haven't fixed:
- The Electoral College vs Popular Vote debate exploded
- Partisan election administration became a thing
- Voting machine standards got overhauled (too slowly)
- Third parties became permanent spoilers instead of contenders
I interviewed a poll worker from that election last year. She said they used the same machines from the 60s because "if it ain't broke..." Well, it broke. Now we have electronic machines with their own problems. Progress?
Who Ran for President in 2000? Your Questions Answered
Did Hillary Clinton run in 2000?
Nope, she was running for Senate in New York that year. Beat Rick Lazio in a nasty race. People forget she was First Lady during this election.
How many electoral votes did Florida have?
25 electoral votes - enough to swing the election. Bush won 271 to 266. Flip Florida and Gore wins 291-250. Still keeps me up at night sometimes.
Why did Gore concede then retract it?
Classic political nightmare. On election night around 3AM, Gore called Bush to concede. Then an aide rushed in saying Florida was tightening. Gore had to call back: "Um, about that concession..." Awkward.
Who would have won without Nader?
Almost certainly Gore. Exit polls showed Nader voters preferred Gore over Bush 2-to-1. In Florida, New Hampshire, and Nevada - states Gore narrowly lost - Nader's votes exceeded Bush's margin. Painful what-if.
The Aftermath Nobody Talks About
People focus on Bush v. Gore, but what happened next shaped America. That Supreme Court decision? It poisoned the well. Democrats saw it as partisan (the 5-4 split followed ideological lines). Republicans said it preserved rule of law. Both sides dug in.
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) passed in 2002 tried to fix voting systems. Created federal standards and gave money for new machines. But it also required voter ID in many states. Unintended consequences everywhere.
Remember hanging chads? Counties rushed to buy electronic machines. Then we learned those could be hacked or malfunction without paper trails. We traded one problem for another. I've covered elections in 14 states since then - we're still wrestling with these issues.
Legacy Fact: The 2000 election directly led to creation of the Election Assistance Commission. Also inspired countless law review articles - over 120,000 by one count. Lawyers made bank on this mess.
Why This Still Matters in 2023
Every close election since 2000 has played out in Florida's shadow. Remember Bush v. Gore when Trump contested 2020? Exactly. The playbook was written in 2000.
Ballot design matters more than ever. Palm Beach's butterfly ballot seems quaint now compared to mail-in ballot controversies. But the core issue remains: when elections are close, every flaw gets magnified.
Third parties still haven't recovered. After Nader spoiled 2000, both parties smothered third-party access. Signature requirements got tougher. Debate thresholds rose. Now viable third parties are nearly impossible. Good or bad? You decide.
So when someone asks who ran for president in 2000, it's not just names. It's about how that race broke our system in ways we're still trying to fix. The hanging chads are gone, but the hangover remains. And that's why understanding who ran for president in 2000 matters more than ever.
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