November 4 – December 7, 1796 · The Founding Era · 276 electoral votes, 139 to win
The first contested presidential election produced a Federalist president and a Democratic-Republican vice president, Adams and Jefferson, an awkwardness the two-vote system made possible. Margin in the Electoral College: three votes.
Elected
John Adams
Federalist
Electoral vote
71 of 276
Popular vote
53.4%
35,726 votes
Turnout
20.1%
The result
John Adams
Federalist · 53.40% of votes
71
electoral votes
Thomas Jefferson
Democratic-Republican · 46.50% of votes
68
electoral votes
Aaron Burr
Democratic-Republican
30
electoral votes
Samuel Adams
Democratic-Republican
15
electoral votes
Oliver Ellsworth
Federalist
11
electoral votes
George Clinton
Democratic-Republican
7
electoral votes
John Jay
Federalist
5
electoral votes
James Iredell
Federalist
3
electoral votes
George Washington
Independent
2
electoral votes
John Henry
Democratic-Republican
2
electoral votes
Samuel Johnston
Federalist
2
electoral votes
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Federalist
1
electoral votes
EV share
John Adams
Federalist
—
71
35,726
53.40%
9
Thomas Jefferson
Democratic-Republican
—
68
31,115
46.50%
7
Aaron Burr
Democratic-Republican
—
30
—
—
—
Samuel Adams
Democratic-Republican
—
15
—
—
—
Oliver Ellsworth
Federalist
—
11
—
—
—
George Clinton
Democratic-Republican
—
7
—
—
—
John Jay
Federalist
—
5
—
—
—
James Iredell
Federalist
—
3
—
—
—
George Washington
Independent
—
2
—
—
—
John Henry
Democratic-Republican
—
2
—
—
—
Samuel Johnston
Federalist
—
2
—
—
—
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Federalist
—
1
—
—
—
Before 1824 most electors were chosen by state legislatures, so popular-vote figures cover only a handful of states, and until the 12th Amendment each elector cast two votes, with the runner-up becoming vice president.
Results by state
Connecticut
John Adams
9
electoral votes
Delaware
John Adams
3
electoral votes
Georgia
Thomas Jefferson
4
electoral votes
Kentucky
Thomas Jefferson
4
electoral votes
Maryland
John Adams
7 Adams · 4 Jefferson
electoral votes
Massachusetts
John Adams
16
electoral votes
New Hampshire
John Adams
6
electoral votes
New Jersey
John Adams
7
electoral votes
New York
John Adams
12
electoral votes
North Carolina
Thomas Jefferson
1 Adams · 11 Jefferson
electoral votes
Pennsylvania
Thomas Jefferson
1 Adams · 14 Jefferson
electoral votes
Rhode Island
John Adams
4
electoral votes
Connecticut
John Adams
—
9
—
Delaware
John Adams
—
3
—
Georgia
Thomas Jefferson
—
4
—
Kentucky
Thomas Jefferson
—
4
—
Maryland
John Adams
—
7 Adams · 4 Jefferson
—
Massachusetts
John Adams
—
16
—
New Hampshire
John Adams
—
6
—
New Jersey
John Adams
—
7
—
New York
John Adams
—
12
—
North Carolina
Thomas Jefferson
—
1 Adams · 11 Jefferson
—
Pennsylvania
Thomas Jefferson
—
1 Adams · 14 Jefferson
—
Rhode Island
John Adams
—
4
—
South Carolina
Thomas Jefferson
—
8
—
Tennessee
Thomas Jefferson
—
3
—
Vermont
John Adams
—
4
—
Virginia
Thomas Jefferson
—
1 Adams · 20 Jefferson
—
States marked without popular votes chose their electors in the legislature.
The Congress it seated
5th Congress
1797–1799
Unified government
Senate
10–22
Pro-Administration control · Anti-Administration–Pro-Administration
House
49–57
Pro-Administration control · Anti-Administration–Pro-Administration