1800 Presidential Election

The Revolution of 1800

October 30 – December 3, 1800 · The Founding Era · 276 electoral votes, 139 to win

Jefferson's victory over Adams was the first peaceful transfer of power between parties in modern history, but a tie with his own running mate Burr threw it into the House for 36 ballots. The 12th Amendment followed directly.

Elected by the House

Thomas Jefferson

Democratic-Republican

Electoral vote

73 of 276

Popular vote

61.4%

41,330 votes

Turnout

32.3%

The result

EV share
Thomas JeffersonDemocratic-RepublicanAaron Burr73
41,33061.40%8
John AdamsFederalistCharles Cotesworth Pinckney64
25,95238.60%8

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

ConnecticutJohn Adams9
DelawareJohn Adams3
GeorgiaThomas Jefferson4
KentuckyThomas Jefferson4
MarylandJohn Adams5 Adams · 5 Jefferson
MassachusettsJohn Adams16
New HampshireJohn Adams6
New JerseyJohn Adams7
New YorkThomas Jefferson12
North CarolinaThomas Jefferson4 Adams · 8 Jefferson
PennsylvaniaThomas Jefferson7 Adams · 8 Jefferson
Rhode IslandJohn Adams4
South CarolinaThomas Jefferson8
TennesseeThomas Jefferson3
VermontJohn Adams4
VirginiaThomas Jefferson21

The state table accounts for 65 of John Adams's 64 official electoral votes. The remainder reflect split delegations, district allocations, faithless electors or votes not counted, as recorded at the electoral count.

States marked without popular votes chose their electors in the legislature.

The Congress it seated

7th Congress

1801–1803

Divided government

Senate

17–15

Anti-Administration vs Pro-Administration

House

68–38

Anti-Administration vs Pro-Administration