Worst Political Defeat in History?

[Speed of Sound]

RHODE ISLAND GOVERNOR, 1986
Gov. Edward DiPrete (R)*  64.70%
Bruce Sundlun (D)  32.38%

RHODE ISLAND GOVERNOR, 1990
Bruce Sundlun (D)  74.15%
Gov. Edward DiPrete (R)*  25.85%

DiPrete got 51% in 1988 against Sundlun.

but there wasnt an election that year....

[Bacon King]

RHODE ISLAND GOVERNOR, 1986
Gov. Edward DiPrete (R)*  64.70%
Bruce Sundlun (D)  32.38%

RHODE ISLAND GOVERNOR, 1990
Bruce Sundlun (D)  74.15%
Gov. Edward DiPrete (R)*  25.85%

DiPrete got 51% in 1988 against Sundlun.

but there wasnt an election that year....

Yes there was. Up until 1996, Rhode Island had two year terms for governor.

[Beet]

For the US House, 1894

[Speed of Sound]

RHODE ISLAND GOVERNOR, 1986
Gov. Edward DiPrete (R)*  64.70%
Bruce Sundlun (D)  32.38%

RHODE ISLAND GOVERNOR, 1990
Bruce Sundlun (D)  74.15%
Gov. Edward DiPrete (R)*  25.85%

DiPrete got 51% in 1988 against Sundlun.

but there wasnt an election that year....

Yes there was. Up until 1996, Rhode Island had two year terms for governor.

Mea Culpa. When I looked it up originally, I couldn't find anything about it, but a second search does bring it to light.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

If you're talking about individuals, how about Clete Donald Johnson, Jr.?

Ernie Fletcher's defeat is also one of the most spectacular defeats of an incumbent, although it was very very far from a surprise.

1944 MS Presidential:
Democrat 93.56%
Republican 6.44%
1948 MS Presidential:
State's Rights 87.17%
Democrat 10.09%
Republican 2.62%

Would be impressive...if Mississippi had something even remotely resembling free and democratic elections at the time. Which it didn't.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

RHODE ISLAND GOVERNOR, 1986
Gov. Edward DiPrete (R)*  64.70%
Bruce Sundlun (D)  32.38%

RHODE ISLAND GOVERNOR, 1990
Bruce Sundlun (D)  74.15%
Gov. Edward DiPrete (R)*  25.85%

DiPrete got 51% in 1988 against Sundlun.

I know that, but it isn't quite as drastic a turnaround if you mention '88.

[frihetsivrare]

In my hometown, the incumbent mayor won less than one out of six votes and the challenger received more than five of six votes.  As odd as it sounds that margin was expected, especially after the primary.  Though I am sure that there have been small town mayors who have gone down worse than that.  Out of every race I can think of with an incumbent, this has to be the most lopsided with the incumbent losing.

The results:
NP - GARY S. JENSEN 2,072 83.55%
NP - JERRY LANDCASTLE 408 16.45%
Total 2,480 100.00%


As of last night one of the city council races was tied, with 881 votes going to each candidate.

For a political party I agree that the 1993 general election in Canada was the worst.  Losing 167 seats probably was not good for them.  It may have been one of the reasons that the Conservative Party was founded.

[HardRCafé]

So the political defeat of Ann Richards for Governor of Texas in 1994 had far reaching consequences for the United States and for the world.

Then even more so Clayton Williams's slip.

[Stranger in a strange land]

As far as American political history goes, I'd say FDR's defeat of Herbert Hoover in 1932 has to rank up there. I don't think an incumbent president has ever been repudiated so strongly (except maybe Carter in '80, which would be a close 2nd)

In terms of a politician utterly shooting himself in the foot and throwing his life away, I'd say George Allen in 2006 was a good example, but certainly not the worst. 

[Tetro Kornbluth]

1918 General Election
Sinn Féin	73	(+73)
Unionist Party	22	(+4)
Irish Parliamentary Party	7	(-75)
Labour Unionist	3	(+3)
Independent Unionist	1	(-1)
Liberal Unionist	0	(-2)

Seconded.

Also had a much greater impact on Irish History than the 1993 election ever had on Canadian.

[Michael Z]

It sort of depends how we define "amazing". Sheer size of the defeat? Canada 93 is definitely a prime contender. Surprise (as in, people being literally *amazed* when they opened the paper the next day)? I was pretty amazed at Kohl hanging on in 94.

I reckon Schröder could have beaten him in 94. How on earth did Scharping get the nomination anyhow?

[Robespierre's Jaw]

The PC in 1993 in Canada by far. That was a staggering loss, to go from 169 seats to 2 seats, that's bad.

Though this dosen't seem like a bad result, the 2002 Victorian State Election was bad, especially if you look at the results from 1996 to 2002.

1996 Victorian State Election

Liberals/Nationals           58 (-3)
Australian Labor Party    29 (+2)
Others                               1 (+1)

1999 Victorian State Election

Australian Labpr Party     42 (+13)
Liberals/Nationals            43 (-15)
Others                                3 (+2)

NOTE: The ALP won Government because they won the support of 3 independents. Afterwards the Liberals and Nationals split as a coalition.

2002 Victorian State Election

Australian Labor Party         62 (+20)
Liberal Party                        17 (-19)
National Party                        7 (-0)
Others                                    2 (-1)