2068 United States presidential election



The 2068 United States presidential election was the 75th quadrennial United States presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 6, 2068. The Republican Party ticket of Álvaro Hunter and Julian Garnett defeated the Democratic ticket of Connor Hilton and Kelly Merriott, as well as the Green ticket of Cara Nunez and Darius Connors. The election was the biggest landslide in the popular vote since 1924, in a similar scenario in which Republican President Calvin Coolidge won re-election against a Democrat and a major third party candidate, and the biggest landslide in the electoral vote since Ronald Reagan's re-election in 1984.

The 2068 presidential election is widely considered to be a realigning election in American politics by contemporary historians; despite their lack of visibility on 2068's electoral map, the Green Party's rise to a major party in American politics began with this election. Their rise was also accompanied by the downfall of the Democratic Party, which eventually shuttered in 2097, as well as many shifts in political ideology across the major parties.

Background
Incumbent Republican president Bob Sanchez had maintained a high approval rating for most of his presidency, with his approval rating standing at 54% in November 2068 according to the polling firm Puckett Surveys. His presidency was marked by a more serious response to climate change than any previous president, and several social welfare programs. The Democratic party was increasingly shifting to the right on economic issues, while maintaining a moderate to center left stance on social issues. They nominated Connor Hilton, a real-estate investor and great-great-grandson of hotel magnate Conrad Hilton, after a contentious primary. The Green Party, which surged in support in this election, nominated Cara Nunez, the President of the organization Americans for Climate Action.

Hilton won the 2068 Democratic primaries in a close contest primarily fought against more progressive Kristen Jay. Hilton's platform was very unpopular with the American people, and he made several remarks which were widely seen as out-of-touch during the campaign. Cara Nunez capitalized on this, surging in the polls as a socially progressive and economically left candidate. Álvaro Hunter, the Republican candidate was moderate on social issues, and on the left in terms of economic issues.

In an election scenario similar to 1924, the Republican Hunter defeated the Democrat by a very wide margin while only winning about 53% of the popular vote, due to a major split in opposition. This election marked the beginning of the Green Party's rise to a major party in American politics; they lost Oregon by under a five-point margin, and finished ahead of Hilton in 17 states.

Close states
Margin of victory less than 5% (86 electoral votes):
 * 1) Massachusetts, 1.48%
 * 2) California, 2.24%
 * 3) Oregon, 2.87% (RCV)
 * 4) Arizona, 4.01%
 * 5) New Columbia, 4.39% (RCV)

Margin of victory between 5% and 10% (40 electoral votes):
 * 1) Hawaii, 6.88% (RCV)
 * 2) Vermont, 8.84% (RCV)
 * 3) Virginia, 9.15%
 * 4) Maryland, 9.25%
 * 5) Washington, 9.79% (RCV)