List of Democratic Party presidential nominees

Introduction

The Democratic Party has a long history of nominating candidates for the presidency of the United States. This article provides a comprehensive list of these nominees, along with a brief overview of their campaigns and the outcomes of their respective elections.

19th Century Nominees

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson was the first presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, running for office in 1828. Jackson, a military hero and former Senator from Tennessee, was known for his populist views and his opposition to the Second Bank of the United States.

Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren was the Democratic nominee in 1836 and 1840. Van Buren, a former Vice President and Secretary of State, was the first president to be born a U.S. citizen.

James K. Polk

James K. Polk, a former Speaker of the House and Governor of Tennessee, was the Democratic nominee in 1844. Polk's presidency was marked by the annexation of Texas and the Mexican-American War.

Franklin Pierce

Franklin Pierce was the Democratic nominee in 1852. Pierce, a former Senator from New Hampshire, was a northern Democrat who saw the abolitionist movement as a fundamental threat to the unity of the nation.

James Buchanan

James Buchanan was the Democratic nominee in 1856. Buchanan, a former Secretary of State and Senator from Pennsylvania, was the last president before the Civil War.

Stephen A. Douglas and John C. Breckinridge

In 1860, the Democratic Party split over the issue of slavery, nominating both Stephen A. Douglas and John C. Breckinridge.

Horatio Seymour

Horatio Seymour, a former Governor of New York, was the Democratic nominee in 1868. Seymour's campaign focused on opposing the Reconstruction policies of the Republican Party.

Samuel J. Tilden

Samuel J. Tilden, a former Governor of New York, was the Democratic nominee in 1876. Tilden won the popular vote but lost the election after a controversial electoral commission awarded 20 disputed electoral votes to his Republican opponent.

Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland, a former Governor of New York, was the Democratic nominee in 1884, 1888, and 1892. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms.

20th Century Nominees

William Jennings Bryan

William Jennings Bryan was the Democratic nominee in 1896, 1900, and 1908. Bryan, a former Congressman from Nebraska, was known for his populist and progressive views.

Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson, a former Governor of New Jersey and President of Princeton University, was the Democratic nominee in 1912 and 1916. Wilson's presidency was marked by the implementation of progressive reforms and the U.S. entry into World War I.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt, a former Governor of New York, was the Democratic nominee in 1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944. Roosevelt, the only president to serve more than two terms, led the U.S. through the Great Depression and World War II.

Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman, a former Vice President and Senator from Missouri, was the Democratic nominee in 1948. Truman, who assumed the presidency upon Roosevelt's death in 1945, is known for implementing the Marshall Plan and establishing NATO.

John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy, a Senator from Massachusetts, was the Democratic nominee in 1960. Kennedy, the youngest person elected president, is known for his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis and his push for civil rights legislation.

Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon B. Johnson, a former Vice President and Senator from Texas, was the Democratic nominee in 1964. Johnson, who assumed the presidency upon Kennedy's assassination in 1963, is known for his Great Society programs and the escalation of the Vietnam War.

Hubert Humphrey

Hubert Humphrey, a former Vice President and Senator from Minnesota, was the Democratic nominee in 1968. Humphrey's campaign was marked by civil unrest and opposition to the Vietnam War.

George McGovern

George McGovern, a Senator from South Dakota, was the Democratic nominee in 1972. McGovern's campaign was marked by his opposition to the Vietnam War and his support for progressive policies.

Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter, a former Governor of Georgia, was the Democratic nominee in 1976 and 1980. Carter's presidency was marked by the Iran hostage crisis and the energy crisis.

Walter Mondale

Walter Mondale, a former Vice President and Senator from Minnesota, was the Democratic nominee in 1984. Mondale's campaign was marked by his choice of Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate, the first woman nominated for vice president by a major party.

Michael Dukakis

Michael Dukakis, a Governor of Massachusetts, was the Democratic nominee in 1988. Dukakis's campaign was marked by his opposition to the Reagan administration's policies.

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton, a Governor of Arkansas, was the Democratic nominee in 1992 and 1996. Clinton's presidency was marked by economic prosperity and a scandal that led to his impeachment.

Al Gore

Al Gore, a former Vice President and Senator from Tennessee, was the Democratic nominee in 2000. Gore won the popular vote but lost the election after a controversial Supreme Court decision.

John Kerry

John Kerry, a Senator from Massachusetts, was the Democratic nominee in 2004. Kerry's campaign was marked by his opposition to the Iraq War.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama, a Senator from Illinois, was the Democratic nominee in 2008 and 2012. Obama, the first African American president, is known for his healthcare reform and his handling of the Great Recession.

21st Century Nominees

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton, a former Secretary of State and Senator from New York, was the Democratic nominee in 2016. Clinton, the first woman nominated for president by a major party, won the popular vote but lost the election.

Joe Biden

Joe Biden, a former Vice President and Senator from Delaware, was the Democratic nominee in 2020. Biden's campaign was marked by his opposition to the Trump administration's policies.

References