The 1996 United States presidential election in Florida took place on November 5, 1996, as part of the 1996 United States presidential election. Voters chose twenty-five representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. Florida was won by President Bill Clinton (D) over Senator Bob Dole (R-KS), with Clinton winning 48.02% to 42.32% by a margin of 5.7%. Billionaire businessman Ross Perot (Reform-TX) finished in third, with 9.12% of the popular vote. Clinton is also the only US president to win the White House without Florida and then carry it upon winning re-election.
Among white voters, 46% supported Dole, 43% supported Clinton, and 10% supported Perot. As of the 2024 presidential election, this is the last election in which Calhoun, Dixie, Gilchrist, Franklin, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hendry, Levy, Madison, Okeechobee, Putnam, Sumter, Taylor, Wakulla, and Citrus counties voted for a Democratic presidential candidate and the last election in which Orange County voted for a Republican presidential candidate.
Primaries
The Republican Party held its presidential primary election on March 12, 1996, with Bob Dole winning the primary.
Campaign
The first and only vice presidential debate of the 1996 election was held in Florida in St. Petersburg's Bayfront Center Mahaffey Theater with Vice President Al Gore and Jack Kemp participating.
Results
Results by county
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Calhoun
- Citrus
- Franklin
- Gulf
- Hendry
- Hillsborough
- Osceola
- St. Lucie
- Taylor
- Wakulla
By congressional district
Despite losing the state, Dole won 12 of 23 congressional districts, while the remaining 11 were won by Clinton, including three which elected Republicans.