Who won Kentucky in the 1840 presidential election?

Harrison (Whig) carried Kentucky in 1840, winning its 15 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did Kentucky have in 1840?

Kentucky cast 15 electoral votes in the 1840 presidential election.

Did Kentucky vote for the national winner in 1840?

Yes. Kentucky backed William Henry Harrison, who won the presidency that year.

Second Party SystemKY · 15 EV

1840

Kentucky: Harrison carries 15 EV.

Kentucky cast its 15 electoral votes for Harrison (Whig). National winner: William Henry Harrison (Whig) — Kentucky voted with the national winner this cycle.

What happened in Kentucky, 1840

In 1840, Kentucky awarded its 15 electoral votes to Harrison of the Whig party. That placed Kentucky with the eventual winner: William Henry Harrison went on to take the presidency, and Kentucky was part of his column.

Kentucky stayed in the Whig column for the 2nd straight cycle, extending a run that began in 1836. The region divided — Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee joined Kentucky for the Whig ticket, while Virginia, Missouri, and Illinois did not. 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 Second Party System — Jackson, Whigs, and the rise of mass politics.

Nationally, William Henry Harrison finished with 234 of the 294 electoral votes to Martin Van Buren's 60. William Henry Harrison led the national popular vote with 52.87% of the ballots cast.

The 1840 national map

Kentucky full history →