The closest US Presidential Election races since 1892With the election result still hanging in the balance on Thursday, the 2020 US presidential race is shaping up to be one of the closest in American history. As it stands, it could come down to one state and a few electoral votes to determine who is going to be the next president of the United States.As the following chart shows, George W. Bush’s win over Al Gore in 2000 still stands as the closest contest to date, with Bush winning 271 electoral votes against Gore’s 266. Back then, the result was unknown for weeks after election day because of a dispute over a ballot recount in Florida, a major swing state that ultimately decided the election.Source: Statista 
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As the following chart shows, George W. Bush’s win over Al Gore in 2000 still stands as the closest contest to date, with Bush winning 271 electoral votes to Gore’s 266. Credit: GettyImages
2000 | George W. Bush: Needed to win: 270 | Electoral votes won: 271. Credit: GettyImages
1916 | Woodrow Wilson: Needed to win: 266 | Electoral votes won: 277. Credit: GettyImages
2004 | George W. Bush: Needed to win: 270 | Electoral votes won: 286. Credit: GettyImages
1976 | Jimmy Carter: Needed to win: 270 | Electoral votes won: 297. Credit: GettyImages
1968 | Richard M. Nixon: Needed to win: 270 | Electoral votes won: 301. Credit: GettyImages
2016 | Donald J. Trump: Needed to win: 270 | Electoral votes won: 304. Credit: AFP
1960 | John F. Kennedy: Needed to win: 269 | Electoral votes won: 303. Credit: GettyImages
1948 | Harry S. Truman: Needed to win: 266 | Electoral votes won: 303. Credit: GettyImages
1892 | William McKinley: Needed to win: 224 | Electoral votes won: 271. Credit: GettyImages