Where Does Harris-vs.-Trump Rank in America’s “Most Pivotal Election” Sweepstakes?

Many believe this is the most pivotal election of their lifetime.

But just how pivotal is it when compared to all 59 previous White House races? By my own personal tally, it ranks number three .

Some of these races have proved “pivotal” only with the benefit of hindsight.

President Lyndon Johnson pushed for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act .

Some still believe that the 2000 election was a silent coup, a swindle.

FDR 's unrivaled four -term presidency began in the Great Depression and ended as the Allies were on the verge of winning World War II .

In 1796 , John Adams triumphed over Thomas Jefferson ; in 1800 , Thomas Jefferson bested Aaron Burr in an eleventh-hour ballot in the House of Representatives .

One hundred and four years ago , thanks to the ratification of the 19th Amendment, for the first time American women were able to go to their polling stations and cast ballots in a federal election.

In January 2021 , a mob of insurrectionists stormed the US Capitol in an effort to stop Congress from certifying a free and fair election.

Joseph Biden won the presidency, beating the incumbent, Donald Trump , in November 2020 .