Question

most states have a winner - take - all system for the electoral college, meaning if a candidate wins the majority of a state’s popular vote, the candidate wins all the electoral votes for that state. only maine and nebraska split their electoral votes between candidates.
imagine two candidates, david martinez and brenda johnson, received the following votes in texas. in which cases would david martinez win all 40 of the electoral votes in texas? select all that apply.
martinez: 4,000,000 johnson: 6,000,000
martinez: 5,000,001 johnson: 5,000,000
martinez: 2,000,000 johnson: 8,000,000
martinez: 9,000,000 johnson: 1,000,000

Explanation:

Under the winner-take-all system for Texas's electoral votes, a candidate wins all 40 electoral votes by receiving the majority (more) of the state's popular vote. We compare David Martinez's votes to Brenda Johnson's in each case:

1. Martinez: 4,000,000; Johnson: 6,000,000: Johnson has more votes, so Martinez does not win.
2. Martinez: 5,000,001; Johnson: 5,000,000: Martinez has 1 more vote (a majority), so he wins all electoral votes.
3. Martinez: 2,000,000; Johnson: 8,000,000: Johnson has more votes, so Martinez does not win.
4. Martinez: 9,000,000; Johnson: 1,000,000: Martinez has far more votes (a majority), so he wins all electoral votes.

Answer:

• Martinez: 5,000,001; Johnson: 5,000,000
• Martinez: 9,000,000; Johnson: 1,000,000