Who won Massachusetts in the 1796 presidential election?

Adams (Federalist) carried Massachusetts in 1796, winning its 16 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did Massachusetts have in 1796?

Massachusetts cast 16 electoral votes in the 1796 presidential election.

Did Massachusetts vote for the national winner in 1796?

Yes. Massachusetts backed John Adams, who won the presidency that year.

First Party SystemMA · 16 EV

1796

Massachusetts: Adams carries 16 EV.

Massachusetts cast its 16 electoral votes for Adams (Federalist). National winner: John Adams (Federalist) — Massachusetts voted with the national winner this cycle.

What happened in Massachusetts, 1796

In 1796, Massachusetts awarded its 16 electoral votes to Adams of the Federalist party. That placed Massachusetts with the eventual winner: John Adams went on to take the presidency, and Massachusetts was part of his column.

The result flipped Massachusetts away from the Independent ticket it had backed in each of the previous 2 cycles. Massachusetts did not move alone — neighboring Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire broke the same way in 1796. Over its 60 recorded presidential cycles, Massachusetts has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 23 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

Massachusetts full history →