Why did Woodrow Wilson defeat Teddy Roosevelt?

Wilson didn't just defeat TR. There was a third candidate in the race, President William Howard Taft. The 1912 presidential election remains one of the most fascinating in American history because there was a real debate over reform. read more

It did not matter, though; Wilson won an easy victory. While he did not win a majority of the popular vote, his Electoral vote was impressive: 435 to 88 for Roosevelt and only 8 for Taft. This was the worst defeat for an incumbent in American history. More importantly, it confirmed the American people favored more progressive reform. read more

Roosevelt was a war hero and big game hunter who was once shot during a speech and kept going anyway, according to the Heritage Foundation. While Roosevelt was famous for his bravado, Wilson's style was reserved and scholarly. read more

The United States presidential election of 1912 was the 32nd quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 5, 1912. Democratic Governor Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey unseated incumbent Republican President William Howard Taft and defeated Former President Theodore Roosevelt, who ran as the Progressive Party ("Bull Moose") nominee. read more