The 2000 Election between Al Gore and George HW Bush was the first election to be contested in over 100 years, but it wasn’t the last. Twenty years later, in 2020, Donald Trump claimed that the election was stolen and disputed the outcome. Despite both disputing the immediate election outcomes, Al Gore and Donald Trump had vastly different reactions to their eventual loss and the proceedings between election day and inauguration.

Many issues complicated the election of 2000, but in the end, it all came down to issues in Florida. There were plenty of issues with Florida, but there are three that stick out. First, issues with the ballots lead to inaccurate counting of votes and voter confusion. Second, conflicts of interest with election officials, including the Florida Secretary of State. Finally, premature reporting of election night results from the press. All of these problems led to a recount in Florida, which was complicated by a lack of regulation regarding how to determine voter intent. It is also worth noting that the Florida Secretary of State was Jeb Bush, the brother of HW Bush.

On election night, the press first said Gore won, then they backtracked and said it was too close to call, then they said Bush won, and finally they again said it was too close to call. Gore was minutes away from conceding the election, but his concession speech was narrowly intercepted and the long process of recounts began.

Trump had less grounds to contest the election, but both Trump in 2020 and Gore in 2000 suggested that the election was inaccurate due to issues with voting machines. After the 2020 election, Trump allies claimed that Dominion voting machines were faulty, but in 2023 this claim was proven false. In 2000 the ballots in Florida were voted by punching a piece of paper out to represent your vote, unfortunately, some of the paper bits ‘chads’ did not fully punch out as a result leading to those votes not being counted. The ballots were also designed in a confusing layout that could easily confuse voters.

Just as Gore was a sitting Vice President at the time of the 2000 election, Trump was a sitting President, but Gore did not use his power as Trump did. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the election of 2000, Gore gave a concession speech, thanked his supporters, and peacefully transferred power. Trump on the other hand never gave a concession speech, rallied his supporters, and incited an insurrection.

It is also important to look at what Trump and Gore are doing now. Trump is running for president for the third time, this time with a new running mate after his former Vice President, Mike Pence, refused to endorse him. Al Gore on the other hand has not run for office since 2000, advocates for climate-smart policy making, and spends most of his time on his regenerative farm in rural Tennessee.

Should Al Gore have reacted more like Donald Trump? Personally, I think his reaction was to be expected, and acted in a way that preserved the electoral process. Gore expressed disappointment in the final rulings on his election, but he never did anything to go above the law. If Gore had thrown a fit and rallied his supporters, he likely still would not have won, but he may have divided the nation and contributed to growing political division.

If there is one thing any future presidential candidate can learn from both Gore and Trump it is to stand up for yourself but never forget that no matter who you are, you are never above the law.