List of United States Democratic Party presidential candidates

This is a list of major Democratic Party candidates for president. The Democratic Party has existed since the dissolution of the Democratic-Republican Party in the 1820s, and the Democrats have nominated a candidate for president in every presidential election since the party's first convention in 1832. The list is divided into two sections, reflecting the increasing importance of primaries and caucuses following the changes stemming from the McGovern–Fraser Commission.

Only those candidates are included who were major contenders of the primaries and caucuses, and had held significant elective office or received substantial media coverage. Also, all those people are included who received at-least one delegate in the convention.

Candidates

1972-present

List of candidates
YearCandidateBorn[a]ExperienceStatePrimariesRef.
LogoContests won[b]% of delegates
2020November 20, 1942
(age 77)
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Vice President of the United States (2009–2017)
U.S. senator from Delaware (1973–2009)
Candidate for President in 1988 and 2008
 Delaware
46
67.5%
[1]
September 8, 1941
(age 78)
Brooklyn, New York
U.S. senator from Vermont (2007–present)
U.S. representative from VT-AL (1991–2007)
Candidate for president in 2016
 Vermont
9
27%
[2]
June 22, 1949
(age 71)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
U.S. senator from Massachusetts (2013–present)  Massachusetts
0
1.6%
[3]
February 14, 1942
(age 78)
Boston, Massachusetts
Mayor of New York City, New York (2002–2013)
CEO of Bloomberg L.P.
 New York
1
1.5%
[4]
January 19, 1982
(age 38)
South Bend, Indiana
Mayor of South Bend, Indiana (2012–2020)  Indiana
1
0.5%
[5]
May 25, 1960
(age 60)
Plymouth, Minnesota
U.S. senator from Minnesota (2007–present)  Minnesota
0
0.2%
[6]
April 12, 1981
(age 39)
Leloaloa, American Samoa
U.S. representative from HI-02 (2013–2021)  Hawaii
0
0.05%
[7]
June 27, 1957
(age 63)
Manhattan, New York
Hedge fund manager

Founder of Farallon Capital and Beneficial State Bank

 California
0
0%
[8]
July 31, 1956
(age 64)
Chicago, Illinois
Governor of Massachusetts (2007–2015)  Massachusetts
0
0%
[9]
November 28, 1964
(age 55)
New Delhi, India
U.S. senator from Colorado (2009–present)  Colorado
0
0%
[10]
January 13, 1975
(age 45)
Schenectady, New York
Entrepreneur

Founder of Venture for America

 New York
0
0%
[11]
2016October 26, 1947
(age 68)
Chicago, Illinois
67th
U.S. Secretary of State(2009–2013)
 New York
34
54%
[12]
September 8, 1941
(age 74)
Brooklyn, New York
U.S. Senator from Vermont

(2007–present)

 Vermont
23
46%
[13]
January 18, 1963
(age 53)
Washington, D.C.
61st Governor of Maryland

(2007–2015)

 Maryland
0
0%
[14]
2012August 4, 1961
(age 51)
Honolulu, Hawaii
President of the United States (2009–2017)  Illinois
56
100%
[15]
April 21, 1954
(age 58)
Nashville, Tennessee
Candidate for Tennessee's 3rd congressional district elections in 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2010  Tennessee
0
0%
[16]
2008August 4, 1961
(age 47)
Honolulu, Hawaii
U.S. Senator from Illinois

(2005–2008)

 Illinois
33
72.2%
[17]
October 26, 1947
(age 60)
Chicago, Illinois
First Lady of the United States(1993–2001)

U.S. Senator from New York(2001–2009)

 New York
23
22.9%
[18]
June 10, 1953
(age 55)
Seneca, South Carolina
 U.S. Senator from North Carolina 

(1999–2005)

 North Carolina
0
0%
[19]
November 15, 1947
(age 60)
Pasadena, California
30thGovernor of New Mexico

(2003–2011)

 New Mexico
0
0%
[20]
November 20, 1942
(age 65)
Scranton, Pennsylvania
U.S. senator from Delaware (1973–2009)
Candidate for President in 1988 and 2008
 Delaware
0
0%
[21]
May 27, 1944
(age 64)
Willimantic, Connecticut
U.S. Senator from Connecticut

(1981–2011)

 Connecticut
0
0%
[22]
May 13, 1930
(age 78)
Springfield, Massachusetts
U.S. Senator from Alaska

(1969–1981)

 Alaska
0
0%
[23]
October 8, 1946
(age 61)
Cleveland, Ohio
U.S. Representative for Ohio's 10th

(1997–2013)

 Ohio
0
0%
[24]
2004December 11, 1943
(age 60)
Aurora, Colorado
U.S. Senator

from Massachusetts(1985–2013)

 Massachusetts
52
98.4%
[25]
June 10, 1953
(age 51)
Seneca, South Carolina
U.S. Senator

from North Carolina(1999–2005)

 North Carolina
2
0%
[26]
November 17, 1948
(age 55)
East Hampton, New York
Former Governor

of Vermont(1991–2003)

 Vermont
1
0%
[27]
December 23, 1944
(age 59)
Chicago, Illinois
Supreme Allied

Commander Europe(1997–2000)

 Arkansas
1
0%
[28]
October 8, 1946
(age 57)
Cleveland, Ohio
U.S. Representative

from Ohio (1997–2013)

 Ohio
0
1%
[29]
October 3, 1954
(age 49)
New York City
Activist and

television host

 New York
0
0%
[30]
February 24, 1942
(age 62)
Stamford, Connecticut
U.S. Senator

from Connecticut(1989–2013)

 Connecticut
0
0%
[31]
January 31, 1941
(age 63)
St. Louis, Missouri
House Minority Leader

(1995–2003)

 Missouri
0
0%
[32]
August 16, 1947
(age 56)
Chicago, Illinois
Former U.S. Senator

from Illinois(1993–1999)

 Illinois
0
0%
[33]
2000March 31, 1948
(age 52)
Washington, D.C.
Vice President of the United States (1993–2001)  Tennessee
56
99.8%
[34]
July 28, 1943
(age 57)
Crystal City, Missouri
U.S. Senator from New Jersey (1979–1997)  New Jersey
0
0%
[35]
1996August 19, 1946
(age 50)

Hope, Arkansas

President of the United States (1993–2001)  Arkansas
34
99.7%
[36]
May 15, 1943
(age 53)

Lake City, Minnesota

Republican primary candidate for 1976 United States Senate election in Minnesota  North Dakota
1
0%
[37]
September 8, 1922
(age 73)

Rochester, New Hampshire

Perennial candidate for President in 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992 elections.  Virginia
0
0%
[37]
June 29, 1929
(age 67)

Buffalo, New York

Mayor of Buffalo (1978–1993)  New York
0
0%
[37]
1992August 19, 1946
(age 45)

Hope, Arkansas

Governor of Arkansas(1979–1981, 1983–1992)  Arkansas
37
78.6%
[38]
April 7, 1938
(age 54)

San Francisco, California

Governor of California(1975–1983)  California
6
13.9%
[39]
February 14, 1941
(age 51)

Lowell, Massachusetts

U.S. Senator

from Massachusetts(1979–1985)

 Massachusetts
9
6.7%
[40]
August 27, 1943
(age 48)

Lincoln, Nebraska

U.S. Senator

from Nebraska(1989–2001)

 Nebraska
1
0%
[41]
August 27, 1943
(age 48)

Cumming, Iowa

U.S. Senator from Iowa

(1985–2015)

 Iowa
3
0%
[41]
February 2, 1945
(age 47)

Chicago, Illinois

Mayor of Irvine, California (1982–1984, 1986–1990)  California
0
0.07%
[42]
1988Michael Dukakis1933GovernorMA31
Jesse Jackson1941MinisterIL14
Al Gore1948SenatorTN7
Dick Gephardt1941RepresentativeMO3
Paul Simon1928SenatorIL1
Gary Hart1936F. SenatorCO0
Bruce Babbitt1938F. GovernorAZ0
1984Walter Mondale1928F. Vice PresidentMN21
Gary Hart1936SenatorCO26
Jesse Jackson1941MinisterIL3
John Glenn1921SenatorOH0
George McGovern1922F. SenatorSD0
Reubin Askew1928F. GovernorFL0
Alan Cranston1914SenatorCA0
Ernest Hollings1922SenatorSC0
1980Jimmy Carter1924PresidentGA38
Ted Kennedy1932SenatorMA12
Jerry Brown1938GovernorCA0
Cliff Finch1927GovernorMS0
1976Jimmy Carter1924F. GovernorGA30
Jerry Brown1938GovernorCA3
George Wallace1919GovernorAL3
Mo Udall1922SenatorAZ3
Henry M. Jackson1912SenatorWA4
Frank Church1924SenatorID5
Robert Byrd1917SenatorWV1
Birch Bayh1928SenatorIN0
Lloyd Bentsen1921SenatorTX0
Walter E. Fauntroy1933DelegateDC0
Fred R. Harris1930F. SenatorOK0
Sargent Shriver1915F. AmbassadorMD0
1972George McGovern1922SenatorSD11
Hubert Humphrey1911F. Vice PresidentMN4
Edmund Muskie1914SenatorME3
George Wallace1919GovernorAL6
Henry M. Jackson1912SenatorWA0
Terry Sanford1917F. GovernorNC0
John Lindsay1921MayorNY0
Walter E. Fauntroy1933DelegateDC1
Shirley Chisholm1924RepresentativeNY0
Eugene McCarthy1916F. SenatorMN0

1832-1968

These pre-1972 candidates won at least 10% of the delegates on at least one convention ballot.

List of candidates (1832-1968)
YearPositionNameHome[c]BornFirst
ballot %
Final contested
ballot %[d]
1968Vice PresidentHubert HumphreyMN191167.5-
SenatorEugene McCarthyMN191623.1-
1964PresidentLyndon B. JohnsonTX1908100-
1960SenatorJohn F. KennedyMA191752.9-
SenatorLyndon B. JohnsonTX190826.8-
1956F. GovernorAdlai Stevenson IIIL190065.9-
GovernorW. Averell HarrimanNY189115.3-
1952GovernorAdlai Stevenson IIIL190010.2
SenatorEstes KefauverTN190324.422.7
SenatorRichard Russell, Jr.GA189721.721.3
F. AmbassadorW. Averell HarrimanNY189110.20
1948PresidentHarry S. TrumanMO191675
SenatorRichard Russell, Jr.GA189721.6-
1944PresidentFranklin D. RooseveltNY188292.4-
1940PresidentFranklin D. RooseveltNY188286.3-
1936PresidentFranklin D. RooseveltNY1882100-
1932GovernorFranklin D. RooseveltNY188257.7-
F. GovernorAl SmithNY187317.516.5
1928GovernorAl SmithNY187377.2-
1924F. AmbassadorJohn W. DavisWV18732.818.7[e]
F. Sec. of the TreasuryWilliam Gibbs McAdooCA186339.417.5[f]
GovernorAl SmithNY187330.432.4[g]
1920GovernorJames M. CoxOH187012.7-
F. Sec. of the TreasuryWilliam Gibbs McAdooCA186325.125.5
Attorney GeneralA. Mitchell PalmerPA187224.20.1
GovernorAl SmithNY187310.30
1916PresidentWoodrow WilsonNJ1856100-
1912GovernorWoodrow WilsonNY185629.8-
SpeakerChamp ClarkMO185040.57.7
GovernorJudson HarmonOH184613.61.1
RepresentativeOscar UnderwoodAL186210.80
1908F. RepresentativeWilliam Jennings BryanNE186088.7-
1904State judgeAlton ParkerNY185265.8-
RepresentativeWilliam Randolph HearstNY186320-
1900F. RepresentativeWilliam Jennings BryanNE1860100-
1896F. RepresentativeWilliam Jennings BryanNE186014.7-
F. RepresentativeRichard P. BlandMO183525.31.2
F. GovernorRobert E. PattisonPA1810.410.2
1892F. PresidentGrover ClevelandNY183767.8-
SenatorDavid B. HillNY1812.5-
GovernorHorace BoiesIA1811.3-
1888PresidentGrover ClevelandNY1837100-
1884GovernorGrover ClevelandNY183764-
SenatorThomas F. BayardDE182827.824.8
F. SenatorAllen G. ThurmanOH181314.49.8
F. SpeakerSamuel J. RandallPA1828100.7
1880GeneralWinfield Scott HancockPA182423.1-
SenatorThomas F. BayardDE182820.815.2
SpeakerSamuel J. RandallPA18280.817.4
F. RepresentativeHenry B. PayneNY18110
1876GovernorSamuel J. TildenNY181454.4-
GovernorThomas A. HendricksIN18191911.5
GeneralWinfield Scott HancockPA182410.27.9
1872F. RepresentativeHorace GreeleyNY181193.7-
1868F. GovernorHoratio SeymourNY18100-
F. RepresentativeGeorge H. PendletonOH182533.10
SenatorThomas A. HendricksIN18190.745.9
GeneralWinfield Scott HancockPA182410.532.6
PresidentAndrew JohnsonTN180820.51.3
F. Lt. GovernorSanford E. ChurchNY181510.70
1864GeneralGeorge B. McClellanNJ182677-
F. GovernorThomas H. SeymourCT180716.8-
1860SenatorStephen A. DouglasIL181357.7-
F. Sec. of the TreasuryJames GuthrieKY179214.126[h]
SenatorRobert M. T. HunterVA180916.76.3[i]
1856F. Sec. of StateJames BuchananPA179145.8-
PresidentFranklin PierceNH180441.40
SenatorStephen A. DouglasIL181311.141.2
1852F. SenatorFranklin PierceNH18040-
SenatorLewis CassMI178239.20.7
F. Sec. of StateJames BuchananPA179131.40
F. Sec. of WarWilliam L. MarcyNY17869.10
SenatorStephen A. DouglasIL18136.80.7
1848SenatorLewis CassMI178249-
Sup. Court JusticeLevi WoodburyNH1789100
Sec. of StateJames BuchananPA1791100
1844F. SpeakerJames K. PolkTN17950-
F. PresidentMartin Van BurenNY178254.90
F. Sec. of WarLewis CassMI178231.210.9
F. Vice PresidentRichard Mentor JohnsonKY178090
1840PresidentMartin Van BurenNY1782100-
1836Vice PresidentMartin Van BurenNY1782100-
1832PresidentAndrew JacksonTN1767100-

Notes and references

Notes

References