A Historical Overview of U.S. Presidential Election Results: 1789–2016

SSRI
23 Min Read

The Evolution of the Electoral College and Key Milestones in Election History

The U.S. presidential election process, governed by the Electoral College, has undergone significant changes since the nation’s first election in 1789. Initially, the candidate with the second-highest vote total became vice president. This system was modified in 1804 with the introduction of separate ballots for president and vice president under the Twelfth Amendment. However, popular vote data was only recorded starting with the 1824 election, making historical comparisons both fascinating and complex.

Election Results, 1789–2016

Note: Election data is taken from the University of California, Santa Barbara American Presidency Project

Election Year: 1789

Winner and Vice President: George Washington, John Adams

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 69

Opponent(s): 34

Candidates

Candidates: George Washington, John Adams

* Although theoretically John Adams could have won, it was widely understood that George Washington was the preferred choice for president; Adams was never expected to win the election.

Election Year: 1792

Winner and Vice President: George Washington, John Adams

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 132

Opponent(s): 77

Candidates by Party

Democratic-Republican: Aaron Burr, George Clinton, Thomas Jefferson

Federalist Candidates: George Washington, John Adams

Election Year: 1796

Winner and Vice President: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 71

Opponent(s): 68

Candidates by Party

Democratic-Republican Candidates: Thomas Jefferson, Aaron Burr

Federalist Candidates: John Adams, Thomas Pinckney

Election Year: 1800

Winner and Vice President: Thomas Jefferson, Aaron Burr

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 73* Opponent(s): 73

Candidates by Party

Democratic-Republican Candidates: Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson 

Federalist Candidates: John Adams, Charles C. Pinckney

* The tie in the Electoral College sent the election to the House of Representatives, where Thomas Jefferson received the most votes.

Election Year: 1804

Winner and Vice President: Thomas Jefferson, George Clinton

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 162

Opponent(s): 14

Candidates by Party

Democratic-Republican Candidate: Thomas Jefferson

Federalist Candidate: Charles C. Pinckney

Election Year: 1808

Winner and Vice President: James Madison, George Clinton

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 122

Opponent(s): 47

Candidates by Party

Democratic-Republican Candidate: James Madison

Federalist Candidate: Charles C. Pinckney

Election Year: 1812

Winner and Vice President: James Madison, Elbridge Gerry

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 128

Opponent(s): 89

Candidates by Party

Democratic-Republican Candidate: James Madison

Federalist Candidate: De Witt Clinton

Election Year: 1816

Winner and Vice President: James Monroe, Daniel D. Tompkins

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 183

Opponent(s): 34

Candidates by Party

Democratic-Republican Candidate: James Monroe

Federalist Candidate: Rufus King

Election Year: 1820

Winner and Vice President: James Monroe, Daniel D. Tompkins

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 231

Opponent(s): 1

Candidates by Party

Democratic-Republican Candidate: James Monroe

National Republican Candidate: John Quincy Adams

Election Year: 1824

Winner and Vice President: John Quincy Adams, John C. Calhoun

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 84

Opponent(s): 99 (Jackson), 41 (Crawford), 37 (Clay)

Popular Vote

Winner: 32.0%

Opponent(s): 42.0%

Candidates by Party

Democratic-Republican Candidates: Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford, Henry Clay Coalition Candidate: John Quincy Adams

Election Year: 1828

Winner and Vice President: Andrew Jackson, John C. Calhoun

 Electoral College Votes

Winner: 178

Opponent(s): 83

Popular Vote

Winner: 56.1%

Opponent(s): 43.6%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Andrew Jackson

National Republican Candidate: John Quincy Adams

Election Year: 1832

Winner and Vice President: Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 219

Opponent(s): 49 (Clay), 7 (Wirt)

Popular Vote

Winner: 54.2%

Opponent(s): 37.4% (Clay), 7.8% (Wirt)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Andrew Jackson

National Republican Candidate: Henry Clay

Anti-Masonic Candidate: William Wirt

Election Year: 1836

Winner and Vice President: Martin Van Buren, Richard M. Johnson

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 170

Opponent(s): 73 (Harrison), 26 (White), 14 (Webster). 11 (Mangum)

Popular Vote

Winner: 50.8%

Opponent(s): 36.6% (Harrison), 9.7% (White), 2.7% (Webster)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Martin Van Buren

Whig Candidates: William H. Harrison, Hugh White, Daniel Webster

Independent/Whig Candidate: Willie P. Mangum

Election Year: 1840

Winner and Vice President: William H. Harrison, John Tyler

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 234

Opponent(s): 60

Popular Vote

Winner: 52.9%

Opponent(s): 46.8%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Martin Van Buren

Whig Candidate: William H. Harrison

Election Year: 1844

Winner and Vice President: James K. Polk, George M. Dallas

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 170

Opponent(s): 105

Popular Vote

Winner: 49.5%

Opponent(s): 48.1%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: James K. Polk Whig Candidate: Henry Clay

Election Year: 1848

Winner and Vice President: Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 163

Opponent(s): 127 (Cass), 0 (Van Buren)

Popular Vote

Winner: 47.3%

Opponent(s): 42.5% (Cass), 10.1% (Van Buren)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Lewis Cass Whig Candidate: Zachary Taylor

Free Soil Candidate: Martin Van Buren

Election Year: 1852

Winner and Vice President: Franklin Pierce, William R. King

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 254

Opponent(s): 42

Popular Vote

Winner: 50.8%

Opponent(s): 43.9%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Franklin Pierce

Whig Candidate: Winfield Scott

Election Year: 1856

Winner and Vice President: James Buchanan, John C. Breckinridge

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 174

Opponent(s): 114 (Fremont), 8 (Fillmore)

Popular Vote

Winner: 45.3%

Opponent(s): 33.1% (Fremont), 21.6% (Fillmore)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: James Buchanan

Republican Candidate: John C. Fremont

Whig-American Candidate: Millard Fillmore

Election Year: 1860

Winner and Vice President: Abraham Lincoln, Hannibal Hamlin

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 180

Opponent(s): 72 (Breckinridge), 39 (Bell), 12 (Douglas)

Popular Vote

Winner: 39.9%

Opponent(s): 18.1% (Breckinridge), 12.6% (Bell), 29.5% (Douglas)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Stephen A. Douglas Republican Candidate: Abraham Lincoln

Southern Democratic Candidate: John C. Breckinridge Constitutional Union Candidate: John Bell

Election Year: 1864

Winner and Vice President: Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 212

Opponent(s): 21

Popular Vote

Winner: 55.1%

Opponent(s): 44.9%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: George B. McClellan Republican Candidate: Abraham Lincoln

Election Year: 1868

Winner and Vice President: Ulysses S. Grant, Schuyler Colfax

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 214

Opponent(s): 80

Popular Vote

Winner: 52.7%

Opponent(s): 47.3%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Horatio Seymour

Republican Candidate: Ulysses S. Grant

Election Year: 1872

Winner and Vice President: Ulysses S. Grant, Henry Wilson

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 286

Opponent(s): 0

Popular Vote

Winner: 55.6%

Opponent(s): 43.8%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidates: B. Gratz Brown, Horace Greeley, Charles J. Jenkins, David Davis Republican Candidate: Ulysses S. Grant

Independent Democratic Candidate: Thomas A. Hendricks

Note: Horace Greeley was the major Democratic candidate and earned electoral votes, but he died between the election and the Electoral College meeting. Greeley’s votes were subsequently distributed among the other three Democratic candidates.

Election Year: 1876

Winner and Vice President: Rutherford B. Hayes, William A. Wheeler

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 185

Opponent(s): 184

Popular Vote

Winner: 48.0%

Opponent(s): 51.0%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Samuel J. Tilden

Republican Candidate: Rutherford B. Hayes

Election Year: 1880

Winner and Vice President: James Garfield, Chester A. Arthur

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 214

Opponent(s): 155

Popular Vote

Winner: 48.3%

Opponent(s): 48.2%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Winfield S. Hancock

Republican Candidate: James Garfield

Election Year: 1884

Winner and Vice President: Grover Cleveland, Thomas A. Hendricks

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 219

Opponent(s): 182

Popular Vote

Winner: 48.9%

Opponent(s): 48.2%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Grover Cleveland

Republican Candidate: James G. Blaine

Election Year: 1888

Winner and Vice President: Benjamin Harrison, Levi P. Morton

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 233

Opponent(s): 168

Popular Vote

Winner: 47.8%

Opponent(s): 48.6%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Grover Cleveland

Republican Candidate: Benjamin Harrison

Election Year: 1892

Winner and Vice President: Grover Cleveland, Adlai E. Stevenson

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 277

Opponent(s): 145 (Harrison), 22 (Weaver)

Popular Vote

Winner: 46.0%

Opponent(s): 43.0% (Harrison), 8.5% (Weaver)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Grover Cleveland Republican Candidate: Benjamin Harrison People’s (Populist) Candidate: James B. Weaver

Election Year: 1896

Winner and Vice President: William McKinley, Garret A. Hobart

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 271

Opponent(s): 176

Popular Vote

Winner: 51.1%

Opponent(s): 45.8%

Candidates by Party

Republican Candidate: William McKinley

Democratic-Populist Candidate: William J. Bryan

Election Year: 1900

Winner and Vice President: William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 292

Opponent(s): 155

Popular Vote

Winner: 51.7%

Opponent(s): 45.5%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: William J. Bryan

Republican Candidate: William McKinley

Election Year: 1904

Winner and Vice President: Theodore Roosevelt, Charles W. Fairbanks

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 336

Opponent(s): 140

Popular Vote

Winner: 56.4%

Opponent(s): 37.6%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Alton B. Parker

Republican Candidate: Theodore Roosevelt

Election Year: 1908

Winner and Vice President: William H. Taft, James S. Sherman

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 321

Opponent(s): 162

Popular Vote

Winner: 51.6%

Opponent(s): 43.0%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: William J. Bryan

Republican Candidate: William H. Taft

Election Year: 1912

Winner and Vice President: Woodrow Wilson, Thomas R. Marshall

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 435

Opponent(s): 88 (Roosevelt), 8 (Taft)

Popular Vote

Winner: 41.8%

Opponent(s): 27.4% (Roosevelt), 23.2% (Taft)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Woodrow Wilson

Republican Candidate: William H. Taft

Progressive Candidate: Theodore Roosevelt

Election Year: 1916

Winner and Vice President: Woodrow Wilson, Thomas R. Marshall

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 277

Opponent(s): 254

Popular Vote

Winner: 49.2%

Opponent(s): 46.1%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Woodrow Wilson

Republican Candidate: Charles E. Hughes

Election Year: 1920

Winner and Vice President: Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 404

Opponent(s): 127

Popular Vote

Winner: 60.3%

Opponent(s): 34.1%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: James M. Cox

Republican Candidate: Warren G. Harding

Election Year: 1924

Winner and Vice President: Calvin Coolidge, Charles G. Dawes

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 382

Opponent(s): 136 (Davis), 13 (LaFollette)

Popular Vote

Winner: 54.0%

Opponent(s): 28.8% (Davis), 16.6% (LaFollette)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: John W. Davis

Republican Candidate: Calvin Coolidge Progressive Candidate: Robert M. LaFollette

Election Year: 1928

Winner and Vice President: Herbert C. Hoover, Charles Curtis

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 444

Opponent(s): 87

Popular Vote

Winner: 58.2%

Opponent(s): 40.8%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Alfred E. Smith

Republican Candidate: Herbert C. Hoover

Election Year: 1932

Winner and Vice President: Franklin D. Roosevelt, John N. Garner

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 472

Opponent(s): 59

Popular Vote

Winner: 57.4%

Opponent(s): 39.6%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Republican Candidate: Herbert C. Hoover

Election Year: 1936

Winner and Vice President: Franklin D. Roosevelt, John N. Garner

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 523

Opponent(s): 8

Popular Vote

Winner: 60.8%

Opponent(s): 36.5%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Republican Candidate: Alfred M. Landon

Election Year: 1940

Winner and Vice President: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Henry A. Wallace

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 449

Opponent(s): 82

Popular Vote

Winner: 54.7%

Opponent(s): 44.8%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Republican Candidate: Wendell L. Wilkie

Election Year: 1944

Winner and Vice President: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 432

Opponent(s): 99

Popular Vote

Winner: 53.4%

Opponent(s): 45.9%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Republican Candidate: Thomas E. Dewey

Election Year: 1948

Winner and Vice President: Harry S. Truman, Alben W. Barkley

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 303

Opponent(s): 189 (Dewey), 39 (Thurmond)

Popular Vote

Winner: 49.5%

Opponent(s): 45.1% (Dewey), 2.4% (Thurmond)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Harry S. Truman

Republican Candidate: Thomas E. Dewey

States’ Rights (Dixiecrat) Candidate: Strom Thurmond

Election Year: 1952

Winner and Vice President: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard M. Nixon

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 442

Opponent(s): 89

Popular Vote

Winner: 54.9%

Opponent(s): 44.4%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Adlai Stevenson

Republican Candidate: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Election Year: 1956

Winner and Vice President: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard M. Nixon

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 457

Opponent(s): 73

Popular Vote

Winner: 57.4%

Opponent(s): 42.0%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Adlai Stevenson

Republican Candidate: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Election Year: 1960

Winner and Vice President: John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 303

Opponent(s): 219

Popular Vote

Winner: 49.7%

Opponent(s): 49.5%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: John F. Kennedy

Republican Candidate: Richard M. Nixon Independent Candidate: Harry F. Byrd

Election Year: 1964

Winner and Vice President: Lyndon B. Johnson, Hubert H. Humphrey

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 486

Opponent(s): 52

Popular Vote

Winner: 61.1%

Opponent(s): 38.5%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Lyndon B. Johnson

Republican Candidate: Barry M. Goldwater

Election Year: 1968

Winner and Vice President: Richard M. Nixon, Spiro T. Agnew

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 301

Opponent(s): 191 (Humphrey), 46 (Wallace)

Popular Vote

Winner: 43.4%

Opponent(s): 42.7% (Humphrey), 13.5% (Wallace)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Hubert H. Humphrey

Republican Candidate: Richard M. Nixon

American Independent Candidate: George C. Wallace

Election Year: 1972

Winner and Vice President: Richard M. Nixon, Spiro T. Agnew

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 520

Opponent(s): 17

Popular Vote

Winner: 60.7%

Opponent(s): 37.5%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: George S. McGovern

Republican Candidate: Richard M. Nixon Libertarian Candidate: Joseph Hospers

Election Year: 1976

Winner and Vice President: Jimmy Carter, Walter F. Mondale

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 297

Opponent(s): 240

Popular Vote

Winner: 50.1%

Opponent(s): 48.0%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Jimmy Carter

Republican Candidate: Gerald R. Ford

Election Year: 1980

Winner and Vice President: Ronald Reagan, George Bush

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 489

Opponent(s): 49 (Carter), 0 (Anderson)

Popular Vote

Winner: 50.7%

Opponent(s): 41.0% (Carter), 6.6% (Anderson)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Jimmy Carter

Republican Candidate: Ronald Reagan

National Union Candidate: John B. Anderson

Election Year: 1984

Winner and Vice President: Ronald Reagan, George Bush

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 525

Opponent(s): 13

Popular Vote

Winner: 58.8%

Opponent(s): 40.6%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Walter F. Mondale

Republican Candidate: Ronald Reagan

Election Year: 1988

Winner and Vice President: George Bush, James Danforth Quayle

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 426

Opponent(s): 111

Popular Vote

Winner: 53.4%

Opponent(s): 45.6%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Michael S. Dukakis

Republican Candidate: George Bush

Election Year: 1992

Winner and Vice President: William J. Clinton, Albert Gore Jr.

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 370

Opponent(s): 168 (Bush), 0 (Perot)

Popular Vote

Winner: 43.0%

Opponent(s): 37.4% (Bush), 18.9% (Perot)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: William J. Clinton

Republican Candidate: George Bush

Independent Candidate: H. Ross Perot

Election Year: 1996

Winner and Vice President: William J. Clinton, Albert Gore Jr.

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 379

Opponent(s): 159 (Dole), 0 (Perot)

Popular Vote

Winner: 49.2%

Opponent(s): 40.7% (Dole), 8.4% (Perot)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: William J. Clinton

Republican Candidate: Bob Dole

Independent Candidate: H. Ross Perot

Election Year: 2000

Winner and Vice President: George W. Bush, Dick Cheney

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 271

Opponent(s): 266 (Gore), 0 (Nader)

Popular Vote

Winner: 47.9%

Opponent(s): 48.4% (Gore), 2.7% (Nader)

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Albert Gore Jr.

Republican Candidate: George W. Bush

Green Party Candidate: Ralph Nader

Election Year: 2004

Winner and Vice President: George W. Bush, Dick Cheney

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 286

Opponent(s): 251

Popular Vote

Winner: 50.7%

Opponent(s): 48.3%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: John F. Kerry

Republican Candidate: George W. Bush

Election Year: 2008

Winner and Vice President: Barack Obama, Joe Biden

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 365

Opponent(s): 173

Popular Vote

Winner: 52.9%

Opponent(s): 45.7%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Barack Obama

Republican Candidate: John McCain

Election Year: 2012

Winner and Vice President: Barack Obama, Joe Biden

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 332

Opponent(s): 206

Popular Vote

Winner: 51.1%

Opponent(s): 47.2%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Barack Obama

Republican Candidate: Mitt Romney

Election Year: 2016

Winner and Vice President: Donald Trump, Mike Pence

Electoral College Votes

Winner: 304

Opponent(s): 227

Popular Vote

Winner: 46.1%

Opponent(s): 48.2%

Candidates by Party

Democratic Candidate: Hillary Clinton

Republican Candidate: Donald Trump

The summary of U.S. presidential election results from 1789 to 1924 reveals key insights into the evolving nature of American electoral politics. Several patterns and transitions emerge from this dataset:

Early Dominance by Founding Figures: George Washington’s elections in 1789 and 1792 were exceptional due to his unanimous support, reflecting his symbolic leadership role. His uncontested popularity set a precedent for non-partisan leadership during the nation’s infancy. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson later emerged as primary leaders of competing ideologies, marking the rise of organized political parties.

Emergence of Political Parties: The early years saw the formation of distinct factions, such as the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. From 1796 onwards, elections became competitive between these groups. Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party gained dominance after his victory in 1800, further emphasizing the country’s transition to partisan politics.

Electoral College vs. Popular Vote: As early as 1824, conflicts arose between electoral college results and the popular vote, notably when John Quincy Adams won despite losing the popular vote to Andrew Jackson. Similar discrepancies occurred in later elections, reflecting tensions between the two systems, particularly in close contests like 1876 (Rutherford Hayes) and 1888 (Benjamin Harrison).

Fracturing of Political Power: Elections in 1824, 1836, and 1912 illustrate the fracturing of political power into multiple factions or third parties, leading to highly fragmented results. For example, the 1824 election featured four candidates from the Democratic-Republican Party, resulting in a decision by the House of Representatives.

Civil War and Reconstruction: The elections surrounding the Civil War (1860–1868) marked significant shifts, with Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 victory being a major cause of southern secession. His re-election in 1864, despite the ongoing war, demonstrated the North’s commitment to his leadership. The Reconstruction era brought significant changes in voter demographics and the political landscape.

Rise of Populism and Third Parties: The late 19th century saw the rise of populist movements, as reflected in elections like 1892, where James Weaver from the People’s Party garnered a substantial portion of the vote. However, third parties typically struggled to break the dominance of the Democratic and Republican parties.

Shifts in Electoral Landslides: Throughout this period, large electoral vote margins occurred sporadically, as seen with Warren G. Harding’s landslide in 1920. Such victories often coincided with national crises or dissatisfaction with the incumbent party.

In conclusion, U.S. electoral history from 1789 to 1924 reveals the gradual institutionalization of political parties, recurring conflicts between the popular vote and the electoral college, and the impact of external factors such as war and economic instability on election outcomes. The persistent dominance of the two-party system, despite occasional third-party challenges, underscores a key feature of American political development during this period.

Share This Article
Leave a comment