Presidential CandidateElectoral Vote Popular Vote Pct Party Running Mate
(Electoral Votes)
Herbert Hoover of California (W) 444 21,391,381 58.2 Republican Charles Curtis of Kansas (444)
Alfred E. Smith of New York 87 15,016,443 40.9 Democrat Joseph T. Robinson of Arkansas (87)
Others including
Norman Thomas
0 337,115 0.9
Total 36,744,939 100.0%
Other elections: 1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940
Source: U.S. Office of the Federal Register


The campaign

The Republican Convention was held in Kansas City, Missouri, where Hoover became the party's candidate on the first ballot. In his acceptance speech he said "We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of this land... We shall soon with the help of God be in sight of the day when poverty will be banished from this land."

The Democratic Convention was held in Houston, Texas. Al Smith became the candidate on the second ballot.

Although Smith did not openly come out against Prohibition, he was perceived by many as soft in the war against alcohol. The Prohibition Party threw its support to Hoover.

The Election

The election was held on November 6, 1928.

Republican candidate Herbert Hoover won election by a wide margin on pledges to continue the economic boom of the Coolidge years. Smith won the electorial votes only of the traditionally Democratic US South and a few New England States, by a narrow margin failing to even carry his home state of New York.

Socialist Party of America candidate Norman Thomas received 265,583 popular votes (0.7%).

See also: President of the United States, U.S. presidential election, 1928, History of the United States (1918-1945)