think reapplying for your job after being let go . It would be elusive enough to win over your former employer to rehire you , but what about when that employer is roughly170 millionAmerican people ?
That ’s just what four pastU.S. presidentshave tried to do . They ’ve fall back an election and tried to run again later . And now it appear Donald Trump , who lost the 2020 presidential election after serve one full term as the forty-fifth chairman is attempting to do the same . Trumpannounced he was running for presidentfor the third time Nov. 15 , 2022 , making him the fifth ex - president in U.S. history to do so .
The last sentence an ex-husband - chairman try out to get his job back was before the19th Amendmentwas ratified and cleaning woman could legally vote . But what is even rare than defeated presidents who play again ? Those who gain the presidency . Just one in history has done that and the honor goes to Grover Cleveland , who is the 22nd and 24th chairman of the United States .
What helped Cleveland succeed his second time around may have been the support of the Democratic Party for which he was the official candidate . The other three candidates who lose ran on third - political party tickets andthird - party candidateshave historically fared badly , unless we ’re talk about themid-19th centurywhen the Republicans supercede the Whigs and became the political party ofAbraham Lincoln .
Let ’s take a facial expression at these four former presidents who wanted to make their version of a comeback record album .
Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)
DemocratMartin Van Burencame to the presidency like many others , through the office of vice presidency . He was Andrew Jackson ’s second VP . Van Buren also served as secretary of state during Jackson ’s first term . Van Buren was easily elected president in 1836 , defeating three regional Whig candidates . His presidency included economic issues accompany thepanic of 1837and questions about thraldom andWestward expanding upon .
Although the Democrats backed Van Buren for the 1840 election , the Whigs had pull together , selected William Henry Harrison and promoted the heck out of him with the memorablecampaign slogan"Tippecanoe and Tyler Too " ( John Tyler was Harrison ’s track checkmate ) . The lateJoel Silbey , emeritus professor of history at Cornell University , wrotefor the Miller Centerthat the president " remained close in the pop vote but Harrison jam him in the Electoral College . "
After some time away from the White House , Van Buren was convinced by the Free Soil Party – a faction that had split from the Democratic Party — to lead as its campaigner in 1848 . Although the former chairperson did not expect to gain , Joshua Zeitzwrites for Politico , he did want to improve the standing of the New York Barnburners , a progressive faction of the Democratic Party . finally , Van Buren and popular nominee Lewis Cass lost to Whig Zachary Taylor . With 10.1 percent of the ballot to Taylor ’s 47.3 percent and Cass ' 42.5 percent , Van Buren ’s run could have swungthe electionaway from the Democrats .
Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)
The thirteenth U.S. president " knew nothing " about winning elections — perhaps because he was never elected by the people . Millard Fillmore was frailty President of the United States when President Zachary Taylor died in July 1850 after just more than a year in power . Within months , Fillmore had sign on into lawfive bills , include theFugitive Slave Act . As a result , he was not pick out as the Whig prospect for the 1852 election .
But Filmore did n’t fall back hope of riposte to the White House . Rather than link the newfangled Republican Party , in 1856 he fly the coop under theKnow Nothing(American ) Party . Since there has never formally been a Know Nothing Chief Executive , it ’s clear that Fillmore suffer , but he did secure21.6 per centum of the popular vote , which earned him eight electoral vote .
Grover Cleveland (1885-1889 and 1893-1897)
Now for the sole achiever tale . Incumbent president Cleveland , a Democrat , lost the1888 electionto Benjamin Harrison despite besting him in the popular vote . Cleveland had 48.6 percentage to Harrison ’s 47.8 percent . But Harrison acquire in the Electoral College with 233 suffrage to Cleveland ’s 168 .
However , neither Cleveland nor his Democratic Party lose religious belief . He was nominated again for the 1892 election and this time he won , catch up with Harrison in pop and electoral votes , as well as beat out Populist Party candidate James B. Weaver .
Butparty supportmeans a lot , and Cleveland no longer had his by the 1896 presidential election . Instead , the Democrats take William Jennings Bryan to run on the slate . If " President Bryan " does n’t go familiar , you may suppose how that election turned out for the Democrats , as well as the election of 1900 and 1908 when the party nominated him again ( and again ) .
Cleveland is still the only ex - United States President to function two non - serial condition .
Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)
A valet de chambre who needs no introduction , President Theodore Rooseveltslid into post whenPresident William McKinleywas assassinated Sep. 6 , 1901 . bonk for his high up - pitched interpreter , jutting jaw and pounding fist , Roosevelt was easily elected for another term in 1904 . After leave office on his own volition , Roosevelt became disappointed with " his hired man - pick heir , William Howard Taft , " Drew DeSilverwrote for Pew Research Center .
Unable to batten down the Republican nomination , Roosevelt ran again anyway in1912after launching the Progressive Party . Although he drop off to Woodrow Wilson , Roosevelt number in second , and his carrying into action is still the best ever by a third - party candidate . Four nominee were vie for the Oval Office in 1912 : Wilson ( the Democrat and success ) , Roosevelt ( Progressive ) , Taft ( Republican ) and Eugene V. Debs ( Socialist ) . Roosevelt come in second in both the popular ( 27.4 percentage ) and electoral ( 88 ) right to vote .
There have been other x - presidents who would havelikedto run again , but without the support of their company , adjudicate not to move forrader . Ulysses S. Grant had serve well two term , put out from politics but tried to gain theRepublican nomination in 1880 , which depart alternatively to James Garfield . Herbert Hoover alsounsuccessfully pursued the GOP nominationtwice after he was ousted from the presidency by Franklin D. Roosevelt .
