How many US Presidents have not sought re-election?

Throughout US history, a select group of presidents have opted not to seek re-election, either by choice or due to unforeseen circumstances.

This article will discuss both presidents who did not seek a second term and a more morose group who were killed or fell ill during their time in the White House and thus could not run for re-election.

Elections in the 1800s

William Henry Harrison won the election of 1840 but contracted phenomena during his inauguration and died a month later.

That’s the first US President not to seek re-election.

The 1844 election was won by James K. Polk, the first US President not to seek a second term. During the campaign, he committed to serving only one term and honored that promise. Polk would pass away a few months after leaving office in 1849.

That’s the second US President not to seek re-election.

Zachary Taylor won the presidency in 1848 and served until his untimely death in June of 1850.

That’s the third US President not to seek re-election.

James Buchanan had promised voters he would only seek one term as president, and he kept it.

That’s the third US President not to seek re-election.

Rutherford B. Hayes did not seek re-election, a promise he had made to voters.

That’s the fourth US President not to seek re-election.

James A. Garfield followed Hayes and, like some of his predecessors, died in office shortly after being elected. Garfield was inaugurated on March 4, 1881, and died in September that same year.

That’s the fifth US President not to seek re-election.

Elections in the 1900s

Warren G. Harding, a Republican, won the election of 1920 but would die in 1923 before he had the chance to seek re-election.

That’s the sixth US President not to seek re-election.

Harry S. Truman, who took over after FDR passed away within a year of being elected to his third term, opted not to run in for another term, though he was eligible, in 1952.

That’s the seventh US President not to seek re-election.

John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and thus did not seek re-election. Though Johnson ran and won in 1964 and was eligible for another term, he opted to sit out the 1968 race.

Those are the eighth and ninth US Presidents not to seek re-election.

Elections in the 2000s

And now, Joe Biden tried his hardest to run again, but pulled out with less than four months to the election.

That’s the tenth.