the first us presidential election was held in 1789, followed by the second in 1792. presidential elections have been held every four years thereafter. ==1789-1800== this is a list of candidates under the original wording of the us constitution, which was in effect from 1788 to 1803. {| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#ccc;" ! year !! winning candidate (party) !!vice president (party) !! losing candidate(s) (party) |- |align=center| 1789 || george washington (no party) || john adams (no party)|| john rutledge, john hancock, samuel huntington, benjamin lincoln, john jay (federalist); george clinton (no party) |- |align=center| 1792 || george washington (federalist) || john adams (no party) || george clinton (no party), thomas jefferson (democratic-republican), aaron burr (democratic-republican) |- |align=center| 1796 || john adams (federalist) || thomas jefferson (democratic-republican) ||federalists: oliver ellsworth, john jay, james iredell, samuel johnston, charles cotesworth pinckney; democratic-republicans: aaron burr, thomas pinckney |- |align=center| 1800 || thomas jefferson (democratic-republican) || aaron burr (democratic-republican) || john adams, charles pinckney, john jay |- |} ==1804-1852== this is list of candidates for the office of president of the united states after the adoption of the 12th amendment and prior to 1856 who received at least one electoral vote. {| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#ccc;" ! year !! winning candidate (party) !! losing candidate(s) (party) |- |align=center| 1804 || thomas jefferson (democratic-republican) || charles pinckney (federalist) |- |align=center| 1808 || james madison (democratic-republican) || charles pinckney (federalist), george clinton (democratic-republican) |- |align=center| 1812 || james madison (democratic-republican) || dewitt clinton (federalist) |- |align=center| 1816 || james monroe (democratic-republican) || rufus king (federalist) |- |align=center| 1820 || james monroe (democratic-republican) || john q. adams (democratic-republican) |- |align=center|
Candidates_for_President_of_the_United_States Lists_of_American_political_candidates Lists_relating_to_the_United_States_presidency