CAN A UNITED STATES SENATOR RUN FOR PRESIDENT AND WIN?

In 1913, the 17th Amendment to the Constitution gave the people the right to elect their United States Senators. Before that time, Senators were elected by the State legislatures.

Since 1913, there have been 22 Presidential elections.

In two of those elections, sitting United States Senators were elected:

John Kennedy (1960)
Warren Harding (1920)

In three of those elections, sitting United States Senators were defeated:

Robert Dole (1996)(Dole actually resigned from the Senate during the campaign process)
George McGovern (1972)
Barry Goldwater (1964)

In the 20th century, three additional United States Presidents had been Senators, then became Vice President, and then became President:

Richard Nixon (President 1969-1974; Vice President 1953-1961; Senator 1950-1953)
Lyndon Johnson (President 1963-1969; Vice President 1961-1963; Senator 1949-1961)
Harry Truman (President 1945-1953; Vice President 1945; Senator 1935-1945)

In the 20th century, four men had been Senators, then became Vice President, and then lost elections to become President

Al Gore (lost election 2000; Vice President 1993-2001; Senator 1985-1993)
Walter Mondale (lost election 1984; Vice President 1977-1981; Senator 1964-1976)
Hubert Humphrey (lost election 1968; Vice President 1965-1969; Senator 1949-1964)
Richard Nixon (lost election 1960; Vice President 1953-1961; Senator 1950-1953)

Richard Nixon (1968) is the last person to ever be nominated to run for President after previously losing a Presidential election. For the record, in the 20th century, Eisenhower beat Stevenson twice (1952 and 1956) Dewey lost to both Roosevelt (1944) and Truman (1948. Bryan lost to Taft (1908) and to McKinley twice (1896 and 1900)

More fun trivia to follow in later blog postings