Fewest no of states for winner

[acsenray]

Which president was elected with the fewest number of states in his column?

[elcorazon]

Adams?

[zachman]

Which president was elected with the fewest number of states in his column?

Good question. I think elcorazon is probably right with Adams. I think for our purposes we should look at it as the lowest percentage in the last century. Since this both Kennedy and Carter won with 23/51 . Gore won 21 last time and could have made it with 22/51.

[12th Doctor]

Adams

[PBrunsel]

It is Adams. John Q. Adams won the majority in only 6 states (all New England) but won the election due to a vote in the House.

[Lunar]

Not really fair to look back that far.

[PBrunsel]

Not really fair to look back that far.

I guess the next is Carter in 1976 or Kennedy in 1960.

[© tweed]

It might be better to calculate the lowest percentage of states so the elections in the 1800s can be taken into consideration.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

Which president was elected with the fewest number of states in his column?

Good question. I think elcorazon is probably right with Adams. I think for our purposes we should look at it as the lowest percentage in the last century. Since this both Kennedy and Carter won with 23/51 . Gore won 21 last time and could have made it with 22/51.

If you're looking for close calls, I think Charles Hughes could have won with 19/48 states in 1916 by flipping <0.2% in California... this would be 39.6% of states.  

Kennedy and Carter won 45.1%.
Gore would have won 43.1% had he won FL.

I'm not sure any other president has won with a minority of states, excluding the elections before there was a populat vote.

[Fritz]

Kennedy won 22/50, not 23/51.  This was before DC had electoral votes.  So Kennedy had 44%.