U.S. presidential election, 1832

Summary

Despite opposition from the universally respected Henry Clay of Kentucky, the election of 1832 served as little more than a coronation for President Andrew Jackson. A split within the National Republicans resulted in the nomination of two presidential candidates (Clay and John Floyd of Virginia), and three different Vice Presidential candidates. Had the party been unified however it would not have impacted the election as Jackson won 219 of the 286 electoral votes cast, easily defeating Clay, Floyd and Anti-Masonic Party candidate William Wirt.

This was also the first national election for "The Magician," Vice President-elect Martin Van Buren of New York, who was put on the Democratic ticket to succeed John Caldwell Calhoun and four years later would succeed Jackson. Van Buren faced opposition for the Vice Presidency within his own party however, and as a result 30 electors cast ballots for Pennsylvania's William Wilkins, in hopes of throwing the Vice Presidential election into the Senate.

Election Results

Other Elections

For More Information

President of the United States, U.S. presidential election, 1832, History of the United States (1776-1865)