The American Vote
Candidate

Martin Van Buren

Democratic · Free Soil

Elections
3
Won
1
Electoral votes, all elections
230
Years
1836–1848

Record

Martin Van Buren: result of each presidential election
YearPartyElectoral votesPopular voteResult
1836Democratic
170
of 294
Not computed
state counts not sourced
Won
1840Democratic
60
of 294
Not computed
state counts not sourced
Lost
1848Free Soil
0
of 290
Not computed
minor-party votes not named in every state
Lost

Popular vote is the sum of the sourced state counts, shown only where every state that held a popular vote has one; sums from county returns (1868–1972) can run a few tenths of a point below national totals published elsewhere.

Electoral votesNational Archives, Electoral College results: 1836, 1840, 1848 (public domain, read 2026-10-03). How these figures were compiled

Election by election

1836Democratic · Won

From the National Archives

Because no candidate for Vice President was elected by the people, the election was decided by the Senate. In that vote, Richard M. Johnson was elected Vice President with 33 votes. Francis Granger received 16 votes.

National Archives, Electoral College results for 1836, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.

1840Democratic · Lost

From the National Archives

William H. Harrison, ninth President of the United States, died on April 4, 1841. He was succeeded by Vice President John Tyler, who took the oath of office on April 6, 1841.

National Archives, Electoral College results for 1840, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.

1848Free Soil · Lost

From the National Archives

Zachary Taylor, twelfth President of the United States, died on July 9, 1850. He was succeeded by Vice President Millard Fillmore, who took the oath of office on July 10, 1850.

National Archives, Electoral College results for 1848, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.