Wilson was renominated without opposition in the Democratic convention held in St. Louis in June. The Republicans nominated Charles Evans Hughes of New York.

The major campaign issue of the election was the war in Europe. The Democrats' theme was "He kept us out of war". Wilson claimed that it was his policies that were both defending American rights and keeping the US out of war. The Democrats claimed that if Hughes were to win the US would be drawn into the war. The Republicans claimed that Wilson had not protected the neutral rights of the United States. Many political analysts predicted a victory for Hughes, and on election night when both Wilson and Hughes went to sleep it looked that Hughes had indeed won. Late editions of several New York papers carried the headline President-Elect Hughes. Overnight the upset took place whenWilson carried California by 3,000 votes.

Participation of Eligible Voters: 61.6%