Election of 1912
Definition
The presidential election where former president Theodore Roosevelt ran against his successor William Howard Taft, splitting their party vote (Republican), which allowed Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win.
Analogy
Imagine if two popular singers from one band decided to start solo careers at exactly same time. They would likely split their fan base, allowing another band or artist (who might not have been as popular before) to swoop in and top the charts. That's essentially what happened during this election!
Related terms
Bull Moose Party: This was a new "progressive" party created by Theodore Roosevelt when he didn't get Republican nomination for president in 1912.
Split Ticket Voting: This refers to when a voter in an election votes for candidates from different political parties when multiple offices are being decided by a single election, similar to the split vote situation in 1912.
Third Party: A political party that challenges the two major parties. In this case, Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party was a third party.
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