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The **2000 United States presidential election** happened on November 7, 2000. George W. Bush, the Republican candidate who was the Governor of Texas and the eldest son of the 41st president, George H. W. Bush, won the election. He defeated the Democratic candidate, Al Gore, who was the Vice President.

Incumbent Democratic President Bill Clinton was not eligible to serve a third term, and Vice President Gore was able to secure the Democratic nomination. Bush was seen as the early favorite for the Republican nomination, and despite a contentious primary battle with Senator John McCain and other candidates, secured the nomination by Super Tuesday. Many third-party candidates also ran, most prominently Ralph Nader. Bush chose former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney as his running mate, and Gore chose Senator Joe Lieberman as his. Both candidates focused primarily on domestic issues, such as the budget, tax relief, and reforms for federal social insurance programs, though the foreign policy was not ignored. Clinton and Gore did not often campaign together, a deliberate decision resulting from the Lewinsky scandal two years prior.

Bush narrowly won the November 7 election, with 271 electoral votes to Gore's 266. There was a disagreement over who won Florida's 25 electoral votes because the way Florida voted was different from other states. A recount happened in the state and the uncommon event that the winner got fewer popular votes than the loser. The Court's decision in Bush v. Gore announced on December 12, 2000, this ended the recounts, effectively awarding Florida's votes to Bush and granting him the victory.

Background
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Article Two of the United States Constitution says that for a person to be elected and serve as President of the United States, they must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the United States for a period of no less than 14 years.

Candidates for the presidency typically seek the nomination of one of the various political parties of the United States, in which case each party devises a method (such as a primary election) to choose the candidate the party deems best suited to run for the position. The party's delegates then officially nominate a candidate to run on the party's behalf.

President Bill Clinton was unable to seek re-election for a third term because of the Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that a president may only serve up to two terms. His term as president ended at noon eastern standard time on January 20, 2001.

Candidates
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### Democratic Party

#### Nominees

|  |
| --- |
| Democratic Party (United States)Democratic Party (United States)**Democratic Party Ticket, 2000** |
| Al Gore | Joe Lieberman |
| ***for President*** | ***for Vice President*** |
|  |  |
| 45thVice President of the United States(1993–*2001*) | U.S. Senator from Connecticut(1989–*2013*) |
| **Campaign** |
|  |
|

#### Withdrawn candidate

* Bill Bradley, a former U.S. Senator from New Jersey withdrew on March 9, 2000 and endorsed Al Gore.

* Former Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey (Withdrew on March 9, 2000)Former Senator **Bill Bradley** of New Jersey (Withdrew on March 9, 2000)

### Republican Party

#### Nominees

|  |
| --- |
| Republican Party (United States)Republican Party (United States)**Republican Party Ticket, 2000** |
| George W. Bush | Dick Cheney |
| ***for President*** | ***for Vice President*** |
|  |  |
| 46thGovernor of Texas(1995–2000) | 17thU.S. Secretary of Defense(1989–1993) |
| **Campaign** |
|  |
|

#### Withdrawn candidates

* Senator John McCain of Arizona (Withdrew on March 9, 2000)Senator **John McCain** of Arizona (Withdrew on March 9, 2000)
* Former U.S. ECOSOC Ambassador Alan Keyes of Maryland (Withdrew on July 25, 2000)Former U.S. ECOSOC Ambassador **Alan Keyes** of Maryland (Withdrew on July 25, 2000)
* Businessman Steve Forbes of New Jersey (Withdrew on February 10, 2000)Businessman **Steve Forbes** of New Jersey (Withdrew on February 10, 2000)
* Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah (Withdrew on January 26, 2000)Senator **Orrin Hatch** of Utah (Withdrew on January 26, 2000)
* Former Secretary of Labor Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina (Withdrew on October 20, 1999)Former Secretary of Labor **Elizabeth Dole** of North Carolina (Withdrew on October 20, 1999)
* Publisher and author Pat Buchanan of Virginia (Withdrew on October 25, 1999)Publisher and author **Pat Buchanan** of Virginia (Withdrew on October 25, 1999)
* Former Vice President Dan Quayle of Indiana (Withdrew on September 27, 1999)Former Vice President **Dan Quayle** of Indiana (Withdrew on September 27, 1999)
* Former Governor Lamar Alexander of Tennessee (Withdrew on August 22, 1999)Former Governor **Lamar Alexander** of Tennessee (Withdrew on August 22, 1999)
* Senator Robert C. Smith of New Hampshire (Withdrew in October 1999)Senator **Robert C. Smith** of New Hampshire (Withdrew in October 1999)
* Representative John Kasich of Ohio (Withdrew in July 1999)Representative **John Kasich** of Ohio (Withdrew in July 1999)
* Businessman Herman Cain of Nebraska (Withdrew early in campaign)Businessman **Herman Cain** of Nebraska (Withdrew early in campaign)