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.
Candidate | Born | Experience | State | Primaries | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Logo | Contests won | of delegates | ||||||
2024 | (age) Oakland, California | Vice President of the United States (2021–present) U.S. senator from California (2017–2021) | [1] [2] | |||||
(age) Scranton, Pennsylvania | President of the United States (2021–present) Vice President of the United States (2009–2017) U.S. senator from Delaware (1973–2009) | [3] | ||||||
(age) Saint Paul, Minnesota | U.S. representative from (2019–present) CEO of Phillips Distilling Company (2000–2012) | [4] | ||||||
(age) Aberdeen, Maryland | Venture capitalist | [5] | ||||||
(age) Houston, Texas | Author Founder of Project Angel Food Candidate for president in 2020 | [6] | ||||||
2020 | (age) Scranton, Pennsylvania | Vice President of the United States (2009–2017) U.S. senator from Delaware (1973–2009) Candidate for President in 1988 and 2008 | [7] | |||||
(age) Brooklyn, New York | U.S. senator from Vermont (2007–present) U.S. representative from VT-AL (1991–2007) Candidate for president in 2016 | [8] | ||||||
(age) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | U.S. senator from Massachusetts (2013–present) | [9] | ||||||
(age) Boston, Massachusetts | Mayor of New York City, New York (2002–2013) CEO of Bloomberg L.P. | [10] | ||||||
(age) South Bend, Indiana | Mayor of South Bend, Indiana (2012–2020) | [11] | ||||||
(age) Plymouth, Minnesota | U.S. senator from Minnesota (2007–present) | [12] | ||||||
(age) Leloaloa, American Samoa | U.S. representative from HI-02 (2013–2021) | [13] | ||||||
(age) Manhattan, New York | Hedge fund managerFounder of Farallon Capital and Beneficial State Bank | [14] | ||||||
(age) Chicago, Illinois | Governor of Massachusetts (2007–2015) | [15] | ||||||
(age) New Delhi, India | U.S. senator from Colorado (2009–present) | [16] | ||||||
(age) Schenectady, New York | EntrepreneurFounder of Venture for America | [17] | ||||||
2016 | (age) Chicago, Illinois | U.S. Secretary of State(2009–2013) | [18] | |||||
(age) Brooklyn, New York | U.S. Senator from Vermont(2007–present) | [19] | ||||||
(age) Washington, D.C. | 61st Governor of Maryland(2007–2015) | [20] | ||||||
2012 | (age) Honolulu, Hawaii | President of the United States (2009–2017) | [21] | |||||
(age) Nashville, Tennessee | Candidate for Tennessee's 3rd congressional district elections in 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2010 | [22] | ||||||
2008 | (age) Honolulu, Hawaii | U.S. Senator from Illinois(2005–2008) | [23] | |||||
(age) Chicago, Illinois | First Lady of the United States(1993–2001)U.S. Senator from New York(2001–2009) | [24] | ||||||
(age) Seneca, South Carolina | U.S. Senator from North Carolina (1999–2005) | [25] | ||||||
(age) Pasadena, California | Governor of New Mexico(2003–2011) | [26] | ||||||
(age) Scranton, Pennsylvania | U.S. senator from Delaware (1973–2009) Candidate for President in 1988 and 2008 | [27] | ||||||
(age) Willimantic, Connecticut | U.S. Senator from Connecticut(1981–2011) | [28] | ||||||
(age) Springfield, Massachusetts | U.S. Senator from Alaska(1969–1981) | [29] | ||||||
(age) Cleveland, Ohio | U.S. Representative for Ohio's 10th(1997–2013) | [30] | ||||||
2004 | (age) Aurora, Colorado | U.S. Senator from Massachusetts(1985–2013) | [31] | |||||
(age) Seneca, South Carolina | U.S. Senatorfrom North Carolina(1999–2005) | [32] | ||||||
(age) East Hampton, New York | Former Governorof Vermont(1991–2003) | [33] | ||||||
(age) Chicago, Illinois | Supreme Allied Commander Europe(1997–2000) | [34] | ||||||
(age) Cleveland, Ohio | U.S. Representativefrom Ohio (1997–2013) | [35] | ||||||
(age) New York City | Activist and television host | [36] | ||||||
(age) Stamford, Connecticut | U.S. Senatorfrom Connecticut(1989–2013) | [37] | ||||||
(age) St. Louis, Missouri | House Minority Leader(1995–2003) | [38] | ||||||
(age) Chicago, Illinois | Former U.S. Senatorfrom Illinois(1993–1999) | [39] | ||||||
2000 | (age) Washington, D.C. | Vice President of the United States (1993–2001) | [40] | |||||
(age) Crystal City, Missouri | U.S. Senator from New Jersey (1979–1997) | [41] | ||||||
1996 | (age)Hope, Arkansas | President of the United States (1993–2001) | [42] | |||||
(age)Lake City, Minnesota | Republican primary candidate for 1976 United States Senate election in Minnesota | [43] | ||||||
(age)Rochester, New Hampshire | Perennial candidate for President in 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992 elections. | |||||||
(age)Buffalo, New York | Mayor of Buffalo (1978–1993) | |||||||
1992 | (age)Hope, Arkansas | Governor of Arkansas(1979–1981, 1983–1992) | [44] | |||||
(age)San Francisco, California | Governor of California(1975–1983) | [45] | ||||||
(age)Lowell, Massachusetts | U.S. Senatorfrom Massachusetts(1979–1985) | [46] | ||||||
(age)Lincoln, Nebraska | U.S. Senatorfrom Nebraska(1989–2001) | [47] | ||||||
(age)Cumming, Iowa | U.S. Senator from Iowa(1985–2015) | |||||||
(age)Chicago, Illinois | Mayor of Irvine, California (1982–1984, 1986–1990) | [48] | ||||||
1988 | Michael Dukakis | 1933 | Governor | MA | 31 | |||
Jesse Jackson | 1941 | Minister | IL | 14 | ||||
Al Gore | 1948 | Senator | TN | 7 | ||||
Dick Gephardt | 1941 | Representative | MO | 3 | ||||
Paul Simon | 1928 | Senator | IL | 1 | ||||
Gary Hart | 1936 | CO | 0 | |||||
Bruce Babbitt | 1938 | AZ | 0 | |||||
1984 | Walter Mondale | 1928 | MN | 21 | ||||
Gary Hart | 1936 | Senator | CO | 26 | ||||
Jesse Jackson | 1941 | Minister | IL | 3 | ||||
John Glenn | 1921 | Senator | OH | 0 | ||||
George McGovern | 1922 | SD | 0 | |||||
Reubin Askew | 1928 | FL | 0 | |||||
Alan Cranston | 1914 | Senator | CA | 0 | ||||
Ernest Hollings | 1922 | Senator | SC | 0 | ||||
1980 | Jimmy Carter | 1924 | President | GA | 38 | |||
Ted Kennedy | 1932 | Senator | MA | 12 | ||||
Jerry Brown | 1938 | Governor | CA | 0 | ||||
Cliff Finch | 1927 | Governor | MS | 0 | ||||
1976 | Jimmy Carter | 1924 | GA | 30 | ||||
Jerry Brown | 1938 | Governor | CA | 3 | ||||
George Wallace | 1919 | Governor | AL | 3 | ||||
Mo Udall | 1922 | Senator | AZ | 3 | ||||
Henry M. Jackson | 1912 | Senator | WA | 4 | ||||
Frank Church | 1924 | Senator | ID | 5 | ||||
Robert Byrd | 1917 | Senator | WV | 1 | ||||
Birch Bayh | 1928 | Senator | IN | 0 | ||||
Lloyd Bentsen | 1921 | Senator | TX | 0 | ||||
Walter E. Fauntroy | 1933 | Delegate | DC | 0 | ||||
Fred R. Harris | 1930 | OK | 0 | |||||
Sargent Shriver | 1915 | MD | 0 | |||||
1972 | George McGovern | 1922 | Senator | SD | 11 | |||
Hubert Humphrey | 1911 | MN | 4 | |||||
Edmund Muskie | 1914 | Senator | ME | 3 | ||||
George Wallace | 1919 | Governor | AL | 6 | ||||
Henry M. Jackson | 1912 | Senator | WA | 0 | ||||
Terry Sanford | 1917 | NC | 0 | |||||
John Lindsay | 1921 | Mayor | NY | 0 | ||||
Walter E. Fauntroy | 1933 | Delegate | DC | 1 | ||||
Shirley Chisholm | 1924 | Representative | NY | 0 | ||||
Eugene McCarthy | 1916 | MN | 0 |
These pre-1972 candidates won at least 10% of the delegates on at least one convention ballot.
Position | Name | Home | Born | First ballot % | Final contested ballot % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | Vice President | Hubert Humphrey | MN | 1911 | 67.5 | - | |
Senator | Eugene McCarthy | MN | 1916 | 23.1 | - | ||
1964 | President | Lyndon B. Johnson | TX | 1908 | 100 | - | |
1960 | Senator | John F. Kennedy | MA | 1917 | 52.9 | - | |
Senator | Lyndon B. Johnson | TX | 1908 | 26.8 | - | ||
1956 | Adlai Stevenson II | IL | 1900 | 65.9 | - | ||
Governor | W. Averell Harriman | NY | 1891 | 15.3 | - | ||
1952 | Governor | Adlai Stevenson II | IL | 1900 | 10.2 | ||
Senator | Estes Kefauver | TN | 1903 | 24.4 | 22.7 | ||
Senator | Richard Russell, Jr. | GA | 1897 | 21.7 | 21.3 | ||
W. Averell Harriman | NY | 1891 | 10.2 | 0 | |||
1948 | President | Harry S. Truman | MO | 1916 | 75 | ||
Senator | Richard Russell, Jr. | GA | 1897 | 21.6 | - | ||
1944 | President | Franklin D. Roosevelt | NY | 1882 | 92.4 | - | |
1940 | President | Franklin D. Roosevelt | NY | 1882 | 86.3 | - | |
1936 | President | Franklin D. Roosevelt | NY | 1882 | 100 | - | |
1932 | Governor | Franklin D. Roosevelt | NY | 1882 | 57.7 | - | |
Al Smith | NY | 1873 | 17.5 | 16.5 | |||
1928 | Governor | Al Smith | NY | 1873 | 77.2 | - | |
1924 | John W. Davis | WV | 1873 | 2.8 | 18.7 | ||
William Gibbs McAdoo | CA | 1863 | 39.4 | 17.5 | |||
Governor | Al Smith | NY | 1873 | 30.4 | 32.4 | ||
1920 | Governor | James M. Cox | OH | 1870 | 12.7 | - | |
William Gibbs McAdoo | CA | 1863 | 25.1 | 25.5 | |||
Attorney General | A. Mitchell Palmer | PA | 1872 | 24.2 | 0.1 | ||
Governor | Al Smith | NY | 1873 | 10.3 | 0 | ||
1916 | President | Woodrow Wilson | NJ | 1856 | 100 | - | |
1912 | Governor | Woodrow Wilson | NY | 1856 | 29.8 | - | |
Speaker | Champ Clark | MO | 1850 | 40.5 | 7.7 | ||
Governor | Judson Harmon | OH | 1846 | 13.6 | 1.1 | ||
Representative | Oscar Underwood | AL | 1862 | 10.8 | 0 | ||
1908 | F. Representative | William Jennings Bryan | NE | 1860 | 88.7 | - | |
1904 | Alton Parker | NY | 1852 | 65.8 | - | ||
Representative | William Randolph Hearst | NY | 1863 | 20 | - | ||
1900 | F. Representative | William Jennings Bryan | NE | 1860 | 100 | - | |
1896 | William Jennings Bryan | NE | 1860 | 14.7 | - | ||
Richard P. Bland | MO | 1835 | 25.3 | 1.2 | |||
Robert E. Pattison | PA | 18 | 10.4 | 10.2 | |||
1892 | Grover Cleveland | NY | 1837 | 67.8 | - | ||
Senator | David B. Hill | NY | 18 | 12.5 | - | ||
Governor | Horace Boies | IA | 18 | 11.3 | - | ||
1888 | President | Grover Cleveland | NY | 1837 | 100 | - | |
1884 | Governor | Grover Cleveland | NY | 1837 | 64 | - | |
Senator | Thomas F. Bayard | DE | 1828 | 27.8 | 24.8 | ||
Allen G. Thurman | OH | 1813 | 14.4 | 9.8 | |||
Samuel J. Randall | PA | 1828 | 10 | 0.7 | |||
1880 | General | Winfield Scott Hancock | PA | 1824 | 23.1 | - | |
Senator | Thomas F. Bayard | DE | 1828 | 20.8 | 15.2 | ||
Speaker | Samuel J. Randall | PA | 1828 | 0.8 | 17.4 | ||
Henry B. Payne | NY | 18 | 11 | 0 | |||
1876 | Governor | Samuel J. Tilden | NY | 1814 | 54.4 | - | |
Governor | Thomas A. Hendricks | IN | 1819 | 19 | 11.5 | ||
General | Winfield Scott Hancock | PA | 1824 | 10.2 | 7.9 | ||
1872 | Horace Greeley | NY | 1811 | 93.7 | - | ||
1868 | Horatio Seymour | NY | 1810 | 0 | - | ||
George H. Pendleton | OH | 1825 | 33.1 | 0 | |||
Senator | Thomas A. Hendricks | IN | 1819 | 0.7 | 45.9 | ||
General | Winfield Scott Hancock | PA | 1824 | 10.5 | 32.6 | ||
President | Andrew Johnson | TN | 1808 | 20.5 | 1.3 | ||
Sanford E. Church | NY | 1815 | 10.7 | 0 | |||
1864 | General | George B. McClellan | NJ | 1826 | 77 | - | |
Thomas H. Seymour | CT | 1807 | 16.8 | - | |||
1860 | Senator | Stephen A. Douglas | IL | 1813 | 57.7 | - | |
James Guthrie | KY | 1792 | 14.1 | 26 | |||
Senator | Robert M. T. Hunter | VA | 1809 | 16.7 | 6.3 | ||
1856 | James Buchanan | PA | 1791 | 45.8 | - | ||
President | Franklin Pierce | NH | 1804 | 41.4 | 0 | ||
Senator | Stephen A. Douglas | IL | 1813 | 11.1 | 41.2 | ||
1852 | Franklin Pierce | NH | 1804 | 0 | - | ||
Senator | Lewis Cass | MI | 1782 | 39.2 | 0.7 | ||
James Buchanan | PA | 1791 | 31.4 | 0 | |||
William L. Marcy | NY | 1786 | 9.1 | 0 | |||
Senator | Stephen A. Douglas | IL | 1813 | 6.8 | 0.7 | ||
1848 | Senator | Lewis Cass | MI | 1782 | 49 | - | |
Sup. Court Justice | Levi Woodbury | NH | 1789 | 10 | 0 | ||
Sec. of State | James Buchanan | PA | 1791 | 10 | 0 | ||
1844 | James K. Polk | TN | 1795 | 0 | - | ||
Martin Van Buren | NY | 1782 | 54.9 | 0 | |||
Lewis Cass | MI | 1782 | 31.2 | 10.9 | |||
Richard Mentor Johnson | KY | 1780 | 9 | 0 | |||
1840 | President | Martin Van Buren | NY | 1782 | 100 | - | |
1836 | Vice President | Martin Van Buren | NY | 1782 | 100 | - | |
1832 | President | Andrew Jackson | TN | 1767 | 100 | - |