The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Democratic candidate Al Gore , then-Vice President , and Republican candidate George W. Bush , then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush ( 1989-1993 ) . The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush , then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush ( 1989 â `` 1993 ) , and Democratic candidate Al Gore , then-Vice President .