2000 Democratic Party presidential primaries

Selection of the Democratic Party nominee June 2025 April 2018 2000 Democratic Party presidential primaries United States primary no 1996 Democratic Party presidential primaries 1996 2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries 2004 January 24 to June 6, 2000 4,338 delegates to the Democratic National Convention 2,170 (majority) needed to win Al Gore, Vice President of the United States, official portrait 1994 (3x4 close cropped).jpg 160x160px Al Gore 3333FF Tennessee 56 3,007 10,626,568 75.8% BillBradley (2).jpg Bill Bradley FA8320 New Jersey 0 522 2,798,281 20.0% 350px #3333FF Al Gore 1 Democratic nominee Bill Clinton Al Gore From January 24 to June 6, 2000, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 2000 United States presidential election. Incumbent Vice President Al Gore was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 2000 Democratic National Convention held from August 14 to 17, 2000, in Los Angeles, California, but he went on to lose the Electoral College in the general election against Governor George W. Bush held on November 7 of that year, despite winning the popular vote by 0.5%. Primary race overview The apparent front runner, incumbent Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee, only faced one major candidate in the primaries, former U.S. senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey. Both men campaigned to succeed term-limited incumbent Bill Clinton. During the course of the five-month primary season, Gore won every primary contest over his opponent, and easily won the party's nomination for the 2000 election. Serious early speculation surrounded Bill Bradley, a former U.S. senator and NBA player, who had long been considered a potential Democratic contender for the presidency. In December 1998, Bradley formed a presidential exploratory committee and began organizing a campaign.https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/05/us/bradley-takes-first-step-toward-presidential-race.html The New York Times Bradley Takes First Step Toward Presidential Race Jennifer Preston December 5, 1998 May 1, 2010 Gore, however, had been considered the favorite for the Democratic nomination as early as 1997, with the commencement of President Clinton's second term.https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/19/us/gore-is-crossing-starting-line-for-year-2000.html The New York Times Gore Is Crossing Starting Line for Year 2000 R. W. Jr. APPLE January 19, 1997 May 1, 2010 Though numerous candidates for the Democratic nomination tested the waters, including Senator John Kerry, Governor Howard Dean,http://www.politics1.com/dems04.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20080515223015/http://politics1.com/dems04.htm dead Politics1 - Guide to the Inactive 2004 Democratic Presidential Prospects May 15, 2008 Representative Richard Gephardt, and Reverend Jesse Jackson,Jesse Jackson Won't Run for President https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/jackson032599.htm 2021-11-10 www.washingtonpost.com only Gore and Bradley ultimately entered the contest. Bradley campaigned as the liberal alternative to Gore, taking positions to the left of him on issues like universal health care, gun control, and campaign finance reform. On the issue of taxes, Bradley trumpeted his sponsorship of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, which had significantly cut tax rates while abolishing dozens of loopholes.https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/22/nyregion/moynihan-to-endorse-bradley-favoring-friend-over-the-vice-president.html?sq=bill+bradley+welfare+reform+act&scp=4 The New York Times Moynihan to Endorse Bradley, Favoring Friend Over the Vice President James Dao September 22, 1999 May 1, 2010 He voiced his belief that the best possible tax code would be one with low rates and no loopholes, but he refused to rule out the idea of raising taxes to pay for his health care program. On public education, Bradley pushed for increased federal funding for schools under Title I, as well as the expansion of the Head Start program.https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/29/us/the-2000-campaign-the-education-issue-the-candidates-homework-on-schools.html?pagewanted=2 The New York Times THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: THE EDUCATION ISSUE; The Candidates' Homework on Schools Jacques Steinberg February 29, 2000 May 1, 2010 He further promised to bring 60,000 new teachers into the education system annually by offering college scholarships to anyone who agreed to become a teacher after graduating.http://www.4president.org/brochures/billbradley2000brochure.htm Bill Bradley for President 2000 Campaign Brochure www.4president.org May 19, 2008 February 25, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210225031527/http://www.4president.org/brochures/billbradley2000brochure.htm dead Bradley also made child poverty a significant issue in his campaign. Having voted against the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, better known as the "Welfare Reform Act," which, he said, would result in even higher poverty levels, he promised to repeal it as president. He also promised to address the minimum wage, expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, allow single parents on welfare to keep their child support payments, make the Dependent Care Tax Credit refundable, build support homes for pregnant teenagers, enroll 400,000 more children in Head Start, and increase the availability of food stamps. Although both Gore and Bradley showed comparable success in terms of fund-raising, Bradley lagged behind Gore in many polls from the start and never gained a competitive position. Despite the late endorsement of the Des Moines Register,http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/23/bradley.endorsement/index.html CNN May 1, 2010 Des Moines Register endorses Bradley dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090328041508/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/23/bradley.endorsement/index.html March 28, 2009 Bradley went on to be defeated in the Iowa Caucus; Gore garnered 62.9% of the votes, while Bradley received only 36.6%.http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/24/iowa.wrap/ CNN CNN.com International dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080317154127/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/24/iowa.wrap/ March 17, 2008 Gore won the primary competition in New Hampshire as well, though by a significantly smaller margin, receiving 49.7% to Bradley's 46.6%. On Super Tuesday, Bradley attracted some support in various primaries, especially in northeastern states, but he failed to gain the majority of delegates in any of these competitions. He withdrew from the race on March 9.https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/09/us/2000-campaign-quest-his-early-promise-vanished-bradley-plans-quit-today.html?pagewanted=1 The New York Times THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: THE QUEST; His Early Promise Vanished, Bradley Plans to Quit Today James Dao Nicholas D. Kristof March 9, 2000 May 1, 2010 Since the advent of the modern presidential primary system began in 1972, Gore remains the only non-incumbent (Republican or Democrat) to sweep all the nominating contests held in a given year. Candidates Nominee CandidateMost recent officeHome stateCampaignPopular voteContests won Running matealt=|133x133pxAl GoreVice President of the United States(1993–2001)Tennesseealt=|143x143px(Campaign)Secured nomination: March 14, 200010,885,814(75.4%)56Joe Lieberman107x107px Withdrew during primaries or convention CandidateMost recent officeHome stateCampaignPopular voteContests wonBill Bradley94x94pxU.S. Senator from New Jersey(1979–1997)New Jerseyalt=|109x109px(Campaign)Withdrew: March 9, 20003,027,912(21.0%)0Lyndon LaRouche96x96pxFounder of the LaRouche MovementNew Hampshire(Campaign)276,075(1.19%)0 Declined Polling SourceMoore David Gore Leads Bradley Nationally Among Democrats, Except in Northeast https://news.gallup.com/poll/3433/gore-leads-bradley-nationally-among-democrats-except-northeast.aspx Gallup 24 November 20231999-08-04 CBS Polls: Listening to voters https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-poll-listening-to-voters/ 2025-10-31 CBS News Date Al Gore Bill Bradley Jesse Jackson Dick Gephardt John Kerry Bob Kerrey Paul Wellstone Gallup Sep. 6–7, 1997 49% 13% 15% 7% 5% 4% 0% Gallup May 8–10, 1998 51% 8% 12% 7% 2% 3% 1% Gallup Oct. 23–25, 1998 41% 15% 11% 14% 4% 4% 1% Gallup Jan. 8–10, 1999 47% 12% 11% 13% 5% - 1% Gallup Mar. 12–14, 1999 58% 21% 15% - - - - Gallup Apr. 13–14, 1999 54% 34% - - - - - Gallup Apr. 30 – May 2, 1999 66% 23% - - - - - Gallup May 23–24, 1999 59% 30% - - - - - Gallup Jun. 4–5, 1999 63% 28% - - - - - Gallup Jun. 25–27, 1999 64% 28% - - - - -CBS NewsAugust 4, 199951%21% Gallup Aug. 16–18, 1999 58% 31% - - - - - Gallup Sep. 10–14, 1999 63% 30% - - - - - Gallup Oct. 8–10, 1999 51% 39% - - - - - Gallup Oct. 21–24, 1999 57% 32% - - - - - Gallup Nov. 4–7, 1999 58% 33% - - - - - Primaries and caucus calendar +Caucuses and primaries in the 2000 Democratic Party presidential primariesDateFebruary 19, 2001 The Green Papers – Presidential Primaries 2000 – Democratic Pledged and Unpledged Delegate Summary https://www.thegreenpapers.com/PCC/ChAll.html December 21, 2025 The Green PapersTotaldelegatesPrimaries/caucusesJanuary 2457Iowa caucuses February 129New Hampshire primaryFebruary 522Delaware primaryFebruary 2994Washington primaryMarch 7(Super Tuesday)16276American Samoa caucuses433California primary67Connecticut primary93Georgia primary33Hawaii caucuses23Idaho caucuses33Maine primary95Maryland primary118Massachusetts primary92Missouri primary294New York primary22North Dakota caucuses169Ohio primary33Rhode Island primary22Vermont primary94Washington caucusesMarch 953South Carolina caucusesMarch 109061Colorado primary 29Utah primary March 117455Arizona primary158Michigan caucuses90Minnesota caucusesMarch 1229Nevada caucusesMarch 14670186Florida primary72Louisiana primary48Mississippi primary52Oklahoma primary81Tennessee primary231Texas primaryMarch 186Guam caucusesMarch 21190Illinois primaryMarch 2518Wyoming caucusesMarch 2722Delaware caucusesApril 16Virgin Islands caucusesApril 258Puerto Rico caucusesApril 4284191Pennsylvania primary93Wisconsin primaryApril 1595Virginia caucusesApril 2219Alaska caucusesMay 222433Washington, D.C. primary88Indiana primary103North Carolina primary May 97432Nebraska primary 47West Virginia primary May 1658Oregon primary May 2112847Arkansas primary23Idaho primary 58Kentucky primary June 626964Alabama primary24Montana primary124New Jersey primary35New Mexico primary22South Dakota primary Results Statewide + 2000 Democratic primaries and caucuseshttp://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=2000&f=0&off=0&elect=1 2000 Presidential Democratic Primary Election ResultsDatePledged delegatesContest Bill Bradley Al Gore Lyndon LaRouche January 2447 Iowa caucuses 36.60%(18) 62.85%(29) 0.00% February 122 New Hampshire primary 45.59%(9) 49.73%(13) 0.08% February 50 Delaware primary 40.18% 57.24% 2.59% February 290 Washington primary 34.21% 65.25% 0.54% March 7(1,310) (Super Tuesday)6 American Samoa caucuses ?%(1) ?%(3) 3.03%367 California primary 18.19%(62) 81.21%(305) 0.60%54 Connecticut primary 41.37%(24) 55.60%(30) 3.03%77 Georgia primary 16.18%(12) 83.82%(65) -20 Hawaii caucuses ?%(2) ?%(20) ?%18 Idaho caucuses ?%(4) ?%(14) ?%23 Maine primary 41.26%(10) 54.02%(13) 0.32% 68 Maryland primary 28.45%(19) 67.32%(49) 0.89% 93 Massachusetts primary 37.17%(35) 59.77%(58) 0.37%75 Missouri primary 33.56%(24) 64.62%(51) 0.34% 243 New York primary 326,417 33.46%(85) 639,417 65.62%(158) 0.92%14 North Dakota caucuses ?%(2) ?%(12) ?%146 Ohio primary 24.70%(37) 73.61%(109) 1.69% 22 Rhode Island primary 40.35%(9) 56.92%(13) 0.42%15 Vermont primary 43.89%(6) 54.33%(9) 0.72%75 Washington caucuses 28.20%(22) 68.39%(53) 0.54% March 943 South Carolina caucuses 1.78% 91.79%(43) 0.0% March 10(75)51 Colorado primary 23.29%(7) 71.43%(44) 0.93%24 Utah primary 20.14%(3) 79.86%(21) - March 11(250)47 Arizona primary 18.88%(7) 77.89%(40) 1.66%129 Michigan caucuses 16.27%(9) 82.74%(120) 0.99% 74 Minnesota caucuses ~12%(2) ~74%(72) 11.0% March 1220 Nevada caucuses 2.22% 88.91%(20) 0.0% March 14(566)161 Florida primary 18.17%(17) 81.83%(144) - 61 Louisiana primary 19.92%(7) 72.96%(54) 3.89% 37 Mississippi primary 8.60% 89.62%(37) 1.78% 45 Oklahoma primary 25.44%(7) 68.71%(38) 5.85% 68 Tennessee primary 5.26% 92.13%(68) 0.48% 194 Texas primary 16.34%(12) 80.24%(182) 3.42% March 183 Guam caucuses ?% ?%(3) 1.41% March 21161 Illinois primary 14.24%(12) 84.35%(149) 1.41% March 2513 Wyoming caucuses 4.98% 85.44%(13) 7.28% March 2715 Delaware caucuses ?% ?%(15) ?% April 151 Virgin Islands caucuses ?% ?%(3) ?% April 251 Puerto Rico caucuses ?% ?%(51) ?% April 4(238)161 Pennsylvania primary 20.73%(21) 74.20%(139) 4.53% 77 Wisconsin primary 8.77% 88.55%(77) 1.01% April 1579 Virginia caucuses ?% ?%(79) ?% April 2213 Alaska caucuses ?% 68.39%(13) ?% May 2 (175)17 Washington, D.C. primary - 95.90%(17) 4.10% 72 Indiana primary 21.95%(10) 74.91%(62) 3.15%86 North Carolina primary 18.31%(13) 70%(73) 2.11% May 9 (56)26 Nebraska primary 26.27%(5) 69.38%(21) 3.01% 30 West Virginia primary 18.44%(3) 72.01%(27) 1.90% May 1647 Oregon primary - 84.86%(47) 10.86% May 23 (86)37 Arkansas primary - 78.47%(37) 21.53% (7)0 Idaho primary 17.4% 75.73% 8.24% 49 Kentucky primary 14.68%(3) 71.26%(46) 2.24% June 6 (217)54 Alabama primary - 76.74%(54) 5.58%17 Montana primary - 77.87%(15) -105 New Jersey primary - 94.89%(105) 5.11%26 New Mexico primary 20.57%(3) 74.63%(23) 2.32%15 South Dakota primary - ?%(15) ?% Nationwide + 2000 Democratic National Primary Results Al Gore Bill Bradley Lyndon LaRouche Uncommitted Others Popular Vote 10,626,568 (75.80%) 2,798,281 (19.96%) 323,014 (2.30%) 238,870 (1.70%) 33,418 (0.24%) Delegates 3,007 (85.16%) 522 (14.78%) 7 (0.06%) 2 - Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman was nominated for vice president by voice vote. Lieberman became the first Jewish American ever to be chosen for this position by a major party. Other potential running-mates included: Tom Harkin, U.S. senator from Iowa Evan Bayh, U.S. senator from Indiana Barbara Boxer, U.S. senator from California John Edwards, U.S. senator from North Carolina Dianne Feinstein, U.S. senator from California Barbara Mikulski, U.S. senator from Maryland Dick Gephardt, U.S. House Minority Leader from Missouri Bob Graham, U.S. senator from Florida Jim Hunt, Governor of North Carolina John Kerry, U.S. senator from Massachusetts Bob Kerrey, U.S. senator and former Governor from Nebraska Zell Miller, U.S. senator from Georgia George Mitchell, former Senate Majority Leader from Maine Sam Nunn, former U.S. senator from Georgia Jeanne Shaheen, Governor of New Hampshire Maps See also 2000 Republican Party presidential primaries References 30em