United States presidential elections in Kentucky


Following is a table of United States presidential elections in Kentucky, ordered by year. Since its admission to statehood in 1792, Kentucky has participated in every U.S. presidential election. Prior to the election of 1792, Kentucky was part of Virginia, and residents of the area voted as part of that state.
Winners of the state are in bold.

Elections from 1864 to present

Election of 1860

The election of 1860 was a complex realigning election in which the breakdown of the previous two-party alignment culminated in four parties each competing for influence in different parts of the country. The result of the election, with the victory of an ardent opponent of slavery, spurred the secession of eleven states and brought about the American Civil War.
YearWinner VotesPercentLoser VotesPercentLoser VotesPercentLoser VotesPercentElectoral
Votes
1860Abraham Lincoln1,3640.9Stephen A. Douglas25,65117.5John C. Breckinridge53,14336.3John Bell66,05845.212

Elections from 1828 to 1856

YearWinner VotesPercentLoser VotesPercentOther national
candidates		VotesPercentElectoral
Votes		Notes
1856James Buchanan74,64252.54John C. Frémontno ballotsMillard Fillmore67,41647.4612
1852Franklin Pierce53,49448.32Winfield Scott57,42851.44John P. Hale2660.2412
1848Zachary Taylor67,14557.46Lewis Cass49,72042.54Martin Van Burenno ballots12
1844James K. Polk51,98845.91Henry Clay61,24954.09—12
1840William Henry Harrison58,48864.20Martin Van Buren32,61635.80—15
1836Martin Van Buren33,22947.41William Henry Harrison36,86152.59various15
1832Andrew Jackson36,29245.51Henry Clay43,44954.49William Wirtno ballots15
1828Andrew Jackson39,30855.54John Quincy Adams31,46844.46—14

Election of 1824

The election of 1824 was a complex realigning election following the collapse of the prevailing Democratic-Republican Party, resulting in four different candidates each claiming to carry the banner of the party, and competing for influence in different parts of the country. The election was the only one in history to be decided by the House of Representatives under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution after no candidate secured a majority of the electoral vote. It was also the only presidential election in which the candidate who received a plurality of electoral votes did not become President, a source of great bitterness for Jackson and his supporters, who proclaimed the election of Adams a corrupt bargain.
YearWinner VotesPercentLoser VotesPercentLoser VotesPercentLoser VotesPercentElectoral
Votes
1824Andrew Jackson6,35627.23John Quincy Adamsno ballotsHenry Clay16,98272.77William H. Crawfordno ballots14

Elections from 1792 to 1820

In the election of 1820, incumbent President James Monroe ran effectively unopposed, winning all twelve of Kentucky's electoral votes, and all electoral votes nationwide except one vote in New Hampshire. To the extent that a popular vote was held, it was primarily directed to filling the office of Vice President.
YearWinner Loser Electoral
Votes		Notes
1820James Monroe-12Monroe effectively ran unopposed.
1816James MonroeRufus King12
1812James MadisonDeWitt Clinton12
1808James MadisonCharles C. Pinckney7
1804Thomas JeffersonCharles C. Pinckney8
1800Thomas JeffersonJohn Adams4
1796John AdamsThomas Jefferson4
1792George Washington—4Washington effectively ran unopposed.