PolitiFinder

Presidential Election Rematches

Most presidential elections are one-offs. A handful became sequels: the same two nominees facing each other again four years later. Here is every rematch in U.S. history, with who won each meeting and a link to the full head-to-head.
Dwight D. Eisenhower R vs Adlai Stevenson DEisenhower won both meetings (2–0).
Full head-to-head →
Dwight D. Eisenhower vs Adlai Stevenson shared elections
ElectionWinnerNote
1952Dwight D. Eisenhower—
1956Dwight D. Eisenhower—
William McKinley R vs William Jennings Bryan DMcKinley won both meetings (2–0).
Full head-to-head →
William McKinley vs William Jennings Bryan shared elections
ElectionWinnerNote
1896William McKinley—
1900William McKinley—
Grover Cleveland D vs Benjamin Harrison RSplit 1–1. Cleveland took the rematch.
Full head-to-head →
Grover Cleveland vs Benjamin Harrison shared elections
ElectionWinnerNote
1888Benjamin HarrisonCleveland won the popular vote
1892Grover Cleveland—
William Henry Harrison W vs Martin Van Buren DSplit 1–1. Harrison took the rematch.
Full head-to-head →
William Henry Harrison vs Martin Van Buren shared elections
ElectionWinnerNote
1836Martin Van Buren—
1840William Henry Harrison—
Andrew Jackson DR vs John Quincy Adams DRSplit 1–1. Jackson took the rematch.
Full head-to-head →
Andrew Jackson vs John Quincy Adams shared elections
ElectionWinnerNote
1824John Quincy AdamsJackson won the popular vote
1828Andrew Jackson—
Thomas Jefferson DR vs John Adams FSplit 1–1. Jefferson took the rematch.
Full head-to-head →
Thomas Jefferson vs John Adams shared elections
ElectionWinnerNote
1796John Adams—
1800Thomas Jefferson—

How this list is built

A rematch is counted when the same two candidates were the top two finishers of a presidential general election in two or more different years. Finalists are ranked by the national popular vote, falling back to electoral votes before 1824 (when popular votes were not recorded). “Winner” is the candidate who took office. In 1824 and 1888 a different candidate led the national popular vote, and there the “Note” column says so and links to the full list of popular-vote winners who lost.

Compiled by PolitiFinder · published June 14, 2026 · sources: Data & sources.