Who won Kentucky in the 1796 presidential election?

Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) carried Kentucky in 1796, winning its 4 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did Kentucky have in 1796?

Kentucky cast 4 electoral votes in the 1796 presidential election.

Did Kentucky vote for the national winner in 1796?

No. Kentucky backed Jefferson, while John Adams won the presidency nationally.

First Party SystemKY · 4 EV

1796

Kentucky: Jefferson carries 4 EV.

Kentucky cast its 4 electoral votes for Jefferson (Democratic-Republican). National winner: John Adams (Federalist) — Kentucky voted against the national winner this cycle.

Reading the 1796 result in Kentucky

Kentucky backed Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) in the 1796 presidential election, casting 4 electoral votes for the ticket. The presidency went elsewhere: John Adams (Federalist) won nationally, while Kentucky had backed a different ticket.

The result flipped Kentucky away from the Independent it had supported in 1792. Kentucky did not move alone — neighboring Virginia and Tennessee broke the same way in 1796. Over its 59 recorded presidential cycles, Kentucky has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 28 times in all. The vote fell within the First Party System — Federalists vs Democratic-Republicans.

Nationally, John Adams finished with 71 of the 138 electoral votes to Thomas Jefferson's 68.

The 1796 national map

Kentucky full history →