US Presidential Election: Republican Lincoln sweeps the entire North, winning 17 states and an absolute majority of seats: 180 electoral votes. His opponents won only 11 states (Breckinridge, 72 electoral votes), 3 states (Bell, 39 electoral votes), and 1 state (Douglas, 12 electoral votes). Counting only the states remaining in the Union, Lincoln wins 47.2% of the popular vote and the Democrats 46.6%. Counting all states, the percentages are: Lincoln wins 39.82% of the popular vote, John Cabell Breckinridge (Southern Democrat) 18%, John Bell (Constitutional/Whig) 13%, and Stephen Arnold Douglas (30%).
