Ever sat around at a BBQ or a bar and someone tries to sound smart by asking, "How many elections has the US had?" You might think it's a simple number. It isn't. Honestly, it’s one of those questions that sounds easy until you actually start counting. Are we talking about Presidents? Congress? The weird special elections that happen on a random Tuesday in March?
The answer depends entirely on how you define "election." If you just want the big one—the race for the White House—the number is pretty solid. But once you factor in midterms and state-level cycles, the tally explodes.
The Magic Number: How Many Presidential Elections Have There Been?
Let's get the big one out of the way. The United States has had 60 presidential elections.
The most recent one was in 2024. That was the big showdown where Donald Trump secured his second, non-consecutive term. Before that, we go all the way back to 1789. That was the very first one. George Washington basically ran unopposed because, well, he was George Washington.
Since that first cycle, we’ve held one every four years like clockwork. Even during the Civil War. Even during World Wars. Even during global pandemics. It’s one of the few things in American life that hasn't missed a beat.
Why 60?
It's simple math, sorta.
- First election: 1789.
- The frequency: Every 4 years.
- Total cycles including 2024: 60.
If you’re doing the math at home and wondering why 2024 wasn't the 59th or 61st, remember that the first one was 1789, then 1792 (a short first cycle), and every four years since. Actually, that first gap was a bit weird because of how the Constitution was ratified, but the four-year rhythm stabilized immediately after.
Midterms: The Elections Nobody Remembers Until They Happen
If we only had 60 elections in our history, Washington D.C. would be a much quieter place. But we have these things called midterms. They happen right in the middle of a president's term.
Because House Representatives only serve two-year terms, we have a national federal election every two years. If you count every time the entire country went to the polls for federal offices (House, Senate, or President), the number jumps significantly.
We have had roughly 118 federal election cycles since the Constitution took effect.
Basically, if it’s an even-numbered year, there’s a massive election happening. Every single seat in the House of Representatives is up for grabs every two years. Senators have longer leashes—six years—but their terms are staggered so that about a third of the Senate is up for reelection every time we vote.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Count
Here is where it gets kinda messy. People often confuse the number of elections with the number of Presidents.
We’ve had 60 presidential elections, but we are currently on the 47th President (Donald Trump). Why the gap?
- Multiple Terms: Most presidents serve more than one term. Franklin D. Roosevelt won four elections by himself.
- The Non-Consecutive Outliers: Grover Cleveland and Donald Trump are the only ones to win, lose, and then win again. This means they occupy two different spots in the "number of presidents" list but only represent a few of the 60 elections.
- VPs Stepping Up: When a president dies or resigns (looking at you, Nixon), the VP takes over. They become a "President," but they weren't "elected" to that specific office in their own right initially.
Expert Tip: If you want to win a trivia night, remember that the 2024 election was the 60th, but Joe Biden was the 46th President and Donald Trump became the 47th.
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The "Invisible" Elections
If you really want to be a pedant—and who doesn't—you could argue the US has had thousands of elections.
Every state has its own cycle. Virginia and New Jersey, for instance, love to hold their governor races in "off-off" years (the years right after a presidential election). Then you have local elections for mayors, school boards, and sheriffs.
If we’re talking about "national" days where the whole country is invited to vote for federal leadership, we are looking at that 118 number. But in terms of the "National General Election" for the Presidency, it is 60.
A Quick History of Weird Cycles
- 1788-1789: The very first one. It actually spanned months because communication was slow and horses aren't exactly fiber-optic cables.
- 1800: A total mess. It ended in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, leading to the 12th Amendment.
- 1864: Held in the middle of the Civil War. Lincoln was terrified he’d lose. He didn't.
- 2000 & 2016: These are the famous ones where the person with the most votes (popular vote) didn't actually win the election because of the Electoral College.
Why the Number Matters for You
Understanding that we’ve had 60 presidential elections helps put our current political "chaos" into perspective. We’ve done this 60 times. We’ve had contested results, peaceful transfers of power, not-so-peaceful transfers, and everything in between.
If you’re looking to get involved or just want to track what's next, here is what you should do:
- Check your registration now. Don't wait for 2028. Midterms in 2026 will decide who controls Congress, which is arguably just as important as the White House.
- Look up your local "off-year" schedule. Depending on where you live, you might have an election this year for local judges or city council.
- Study the 2026 map. The Senate seats up for grabs in 2026 are already being contested by donors and shadow campaigns.
Knowing how many elections the US has had is cool for trivia, but knowing when the next one is—and why it matters—is how you actually use that knowledge. We are currently in the 2026 election cycle for the House and Senate. The gears never really stop turning.