Monday is a momentous day for the United States, marking both Martin Luther King Day—a time to honor a civil rights icon—and Inauguration Day. It’s a time of reflection on leadership, democracy, and the power of the vote. This got me thinking: who has received the most votes in U.S. history? Male or female, President or Vice President, who is the ultimate “Lifetime Big Kahuna” of American elections?

Let’s count down the top five vote-getters in national elections and crown the winner on our abbreviated version of America’s Top Forty. Can you guess who is at Number One?

#5: Al Gore — 143 Million Votes
In the three national elections from 1992 to 2000, Al Gore amassed an impressive 143 million votes. He won the Vice Presidency twice as Bill Clinton’s running mate, and then famously lost the 2000 Presidential race to hanging chads and the Supreme Court. I doubt Al agrees with Meatloaf that, “two out of three ain’t bad.” Although Gore fell short of the Oval Office, his environmental advocacy and national presence have left a lasting legacy.

#4: Richard Nixon — 182 Million Votes
Richard Nixon’s career was as remarkable as it was tumultuous. Over five national elections, from his Vice Presidential bids with Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956 to his three Presidential runs in 1960, 1968, and 1972, Nixon garnered 182 million votes. He won four of those elections, making him a dominant figure of his era, even if Tricky Dick’s second term as President ended with the Watergate scandal and disgrace.

#3: George H.W. Bush — 186 Million Votes
The 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush, takes third place on our survey with 186 million votes in four elections from 1980 to 1992. He was victorious twice as Ronald Reagan’s Vice President, but flanked by Dan Quayle he succeeded in only one of his two Presidential bids. Though his reelection bid in 1992 fell short, Bush’s patrician demeanor and success in the first Gulf War left a mark on American history.

#2: Donald Trump — 214 Million Votes
Number 2 on the list is President Trump, a position I am sure Rudy Guliani and Sidney Powell would help him improve. His total of 214 million votes is impressive, probably comparable to the number of votes Richard J. Daley received from the City of Chicago in any of his frequent mayoral runs. Just think how many votes Trump could have with someone like The Boss (Daley, not Springsteen) in his corner.

#1: Joe Biden — 291 Million Votes
And now, the undisputed “Lifetime Big Kahuna” of American elections: Joe Biden. With Vice Presidential elections alongside Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, combined with his two Presidential campaigns in 2020 and 2024, Biden’s lifetime total stands at a staggering 291 million votes. His record-breaking 81 million votes in the 2020 election solidified his place in history as the candidate with the most individual votes ever cast in a single election. Biden’s political career, spanning decades, reflects the enduring power of perseverance and public service. We will be sorry to see you go, Joe.

Conclusion:
There you have it, America’s top five vote-getters. These leaders represent the highs and lows of American democracy, earning their places in history through the astounding number of citizens who supported them. Love them or hate them, they each received a staggering number of votes on the national stage.

The next time you’re at the polling booth, remember: every vote contributes to the story of our nation’s leaders—and maybe, just maybe, to a future “Big Kahuna.” As Casey Kasem used to say, “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars!”

Help “Getting More From Les” grow. Please forward or share today’s post to one or more readers!