The president of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States, indirectly elected to a four-year term via the Electoral College. The president is eligible for re-election, but since 1951 under the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States cannot be re-elected twice (no person may serve more than two full terms as president or one term if they have served over two years of a partial term).
List Term in office President Election Challengers Notes 1789–1797 1792 – Washington ran unopposed. 1801–1809 1804 Jefferson ran with a different running mate for his reelection. 1809–1817 1812 Madison ran with a different running mate due to his incumbent vice president dying in office. 1817–1825 1820 – Like Washington, Monroe ran unopposed. 1829–1837 1832 , John Floyd and William Wirt The first reelection race with more than two candidates receiving electoral votes. 1861–1865 1864 These elections were held during the American Civil War. 1869–1877 1872 Greeley was the only candidate running, however, after the popular vote was counted but before the Electoral College cast its votes, he died. As a result, electors previously committed to Greeley voted for four candidates for president (Thomas A. Hendricks, Benjamin Gratz Brown, Charles J. Jenkins and David Davis). To date, this is the only instance in U.S. history in which a major presidential candidate who won electoral votes died during the election process. 1885–1889 / 1893–1897 1892 , Cleveland lost his reelection campaign in 1888 to Harrison, then ran again in 1892 to win a nonconsecutive reelection against Harrison. 1897–1901 1900 Bryan also ran for the presidency in 1896. 1901–1909 1904 Roosevelt was first elected as vice president, then became president when McKinley died, and later elected to a full term as president. 1913–1921 1916 1923–1929 1924 , Coolidge was first elected as vice president, then became president when Warren G. Harding died, and later elected to a full term as president. 1933–1945 1936 1940 1944 1945–1953 1948 , Truman was first elected as vice president, then became president when Roosevelt died, and later elected to a full term as president. 1953–1961 1956 Stevenson also ran for the presidency in 1952. 1963–1969 1964 Johnson was first elected as vice president, then became president when John F. Kennedy died, and later elected to a full term as president. 1969–1974 1972 1981–1989 1984 Mondale served as vice president under Jimmy Carter, whom Reagan defeated in 1980. 1993–2001 1996 , Perot did not win any electoral votes, but gained over 8 million votes in the popular vote. 2001–2009 2004 2009–2017 2012 2017–2021 / 2025– 2024 Trump lost his reelection campaign in 2020 to Joe Biden, then ran again in 2024 to win a nonconsecutive reelection against Biden's vice president.
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