Presidential election
1836 presidential election
Martin Van Buren defeated William Henry Harrison, winning 170 of 294 electoral votes and 50.8% of the popular vote.
Results
57.8%
Turnout rate
1.5M
Total votes cast
2.5M
Eligible voters
| State | Electoral votes | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York(NY) | 42 | DemocraticVan Buren | +8% |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | 30 | DemocraticVan Buren | +4.2% |
| Ohio(OH) | 21 | WhigHarrison | +4% |
| Tennessee(TN) | 15 | WhigWhite | +3.8% |
| Massachusetts(MA) | 14 | WhigWebster | +10% |
Candidates
Party
DemocraticRunning mate
Richard M. Johnson
Home state
New York
Age at election
53
Previous position
8th Vice President of the United States
Campaign slogan
"Van Buren and Democracy"
Popular vote
764.2K
(50.8%)
Electoral votes
170
Party
WhigRunning mate
Francis Granger
Home state
Ohio
Age at election
63
Previous position
Minister to Colombia
Popular vote
550.8K
(36.6%)
Electoral votes
73
Party
WhigRunning mate
John Tyler
Home state
Tennessee
Age at election
63
Previous position
U.S. Senator from Tennessee
Popular vote
146.1K
(9.7%)
Electoral votes
26
Party
WhigRunning mate
Francis Granger
Home state
Massachusetts
Age at election
54
Previous position
U.S. Senator from Massachusetts
Popular vote
41.2K
(2.7%)
Electoral votes
14
Northern States
Van Buren
52%
Southern States
Van Buren
51%
Key events
Jackson Pays Off National Debt
Only time in U.S. history national debt reached zero
Whig Strategy
Multiple candidates to throw election to House
Issues & context
First Whig Party presidential campaign. Strategy to run multiple regional candidates to deny Van Buren electoral majority and throw election to House failed. Van Buren ran as Jackson's chosen successor.
Speculative boom in land and cotton. Jackson's Specie Circular disrupted credit. Panic of 1837 would hit months after election. Rising inflation.
Jackson (two-term Democrat) enormously popular but constitutionally limited. Handpicked Van Buren as successor. Whigs ran against 'King Andrew' as much as Van Buren.
Van Buren's one term marred by Panic of 1837. Whig Party established as viable opposition. Richard M. Johnson first VP chosen by Senate. Two-party system solidified.
Did you know?
- 1.Only election with multiple Whig candidates running simultaneously
- 2.Richard M. Johnson was first VP chosen by Senate (no electoral majority)
- 3.Van Buren was first president born U.S. citizen (not British subject)
- 4.His nickname 'Old Kinderhook' gave us the phrase 'OK'
- 5.Last sitting VP elected president until George H.W. Bush in 1988