Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris certified George W. Bush as the winner of Florida's 25 electoral votes, effectively clinching the presidency amidst controversy. Bush's margin of victory in Florida was a mere 537 votes out of nearly 6 million cast. Gore, who won the national popular vote by over 543,000 votes, contested the results in several counties, but ultimately conceded after the Supreme Court halted recounts in Bush v. Gore. The 2000 presidential election will forever be remembered for its disputed outcome and lasting impact on American politics.