Who won Tennessee in the 1796 presidential election?

Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) carried Tennessee in 1796, winning its 3 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did Tennessee have in 1796?

Tennessee cast 3 electoral votes in the 1796 presidential election.

Did Tennessee vote for the national winner in 1796?

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

First Party SystemTN · 3 EV

1796

Tennessee: Jefferson carries 3 EV.

Tennessee cast its 3 electoral votes for Jefferson (Democratic-Republican). National winner: John Adams (Federalist) — Tennessee voted against the national winner this cycle.

Reading the 1796 result in Tennessee

Tennessee backed Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) in the 1796 presidential election, casting 3 electoral votes for the ticket. The presidency went elsewhere: John Adams (Federalist) won nationally, while Tennessee had backed a different ticket.

1796 was the first presidential election in which Tennessee cast electoral votes. Tennessee did not move alone — neighboring Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia broke the same way in 1796. Over its 57 recorded presidential cycles, Tennessee has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 24 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

Tennessee full history →