

Election Data Trivia From America's 250 Years
Jul 10, 2025
The hosts kick off with a humorous take on America's upcoming 250th birthday and its quirky terminology. They dive into trivia about the first accurately predicted election, revealing how surprising polling can be. The discussion highlights the infamous polling accuracy blunder of 1936 and explores how polling methods have evolved. An interactive quiz on presidential elections, particularly the pivotal 1860 contest, adds an engaging twist, making historical knowledge entertaining and fun.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
First Accurate Election Polling
- The first election accurately predicted by polling in the U.S. was in 1936.
- Gallup predicted FDR's victory but had a large error margin of 12 percentage points.
Lowest Popular Vote Winner
- Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 election with only 38.5% of the popular vote.
- It was a four-way race, and he still won decisively in the Electoral College.