Third past the post

Although there are several other minor parties, such as the Green and Constitution parties, and some independent candidates as well, since 1852, a candidate from the Republican or Democratic parties has always won or become runner-up in the US presidential elections, except in 1912, when Theodore Roosevelt, a popular former Republican president and a unique candidate unto himself came in second while not running under the banner of one of the two major parties and lost to Woodrow Wilson.