When Was the First U.S. Presidential Election?

It is widely known that George Washington was the first President of the United States. It is also well known that he was a successful general and a statesman who guided the colonies through the Revolutionary War that resulted in the United States’ freedom from Britain under the reign of George III. Washington was therefore a widely popular candidate to stand for president in the first elections. So, when were these elections held, and what happened?

Before the United States held its first presidential election, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation which vested limited power to the Congress of Confederation. Several presidents served as President of Continental Congress, but this station was largely ceremonial, and was very different to the station of the President of the United States which was later established.

After the US Constitution had been ratified by nine states, it came into effect on June 21, 1788. Although several states had not yet ratified the Constitution, for the nine states who had, the laws contained therein were adopted.

The time had come for the fledgling nation to elect its first president. Electors selected by each state would cast their votes and determine who would become president. States had different methods of selecting electors. Some states chose electors via state legislature, while others had some sort of popular vote. Suffrage was only granted to white male landowners. Each elector was able to cast two votes—one for each of their two preferred candidates. 

The First Election: 1789

The first election in the United States was not contested by different parties, but rather by individuals who were categorized by their political stance. “Federalists” supported the constitution while Anti-Federalists opposed the constitution and its ratification. Of the latter, only George Clinton received electoral votes. Nevertheless, both factions were in favor of George Washington being president. Despite the Anti-Federalist sentiment amongst some, Washington had won the loyalty of those around him—even those who opposed federalization. Washington had been reluctant to re-enter public office, and the campaign was very much a movement to convince him to do so.

From December 15, 1788 to January 7, 1789, the United States ran its first election to select the nation’s president, and on February 7, the electors convened to cast their votes for the president and vice president.

10 states took part, and Washington carried all of them, winning a total of 69 electoral votes. Every elector cast a vote for Washington, making his election completely unanimous. North Carolina and Rhode Island had not ratified the constitution and New York failed to appoint electors, and was declared ineligible. 

John Adams won 34 votes and was elected to the position of Vice President. Other candidates were John Jay (9 votes), Robert H. Harrison (6 votes), John Rutledge (6 votes), John Hancock (4 votes), George Clinton (3 votes), Samuel Huntington (2 votes), John Milton (2 votes), James Armstrong (1 vote), Benjamin Lincoln (1 vote), and Edward Telfair (1 vote). 

The first election was a rudimentary affair compared with the elections that were held subsequently, and the elections that are held today. On April 30, 1789, George Washington arrived in New York from Mount Vernon, and was inaugurated as the first President of the United States. His journey was one of triumph, greeted by red, white, and blue fanfare wherever he went. In 1792, another election was held, and despite his failing health and reluctance to run for office, George Washington was elected again.