1789 Presidential Election Interactive Map

35 electoral votes to win

Change history with the 1789 presidential election interactive map.

Update a state winner by clicking it to rotate through candidates. Alternately, select a candidate color in the Map Color Palette, then select states to apply. Use the edit button in the Palette to update candidate information.

Split electoral vote states - if any - are not interactive. Use the table below the map to make changes.

For full details, see the user guide.

Democrats
Republicans
no 1789 election
no 1789 election
NH
MA
RI
CT
NJ
DE
MD
Washington
Undecided
           
Edit

Split Electoral Votes

States shown here did not allocate all their available electoral votes to one candidate. The historical split can be edited in this table. You can also use the drop down menu to split other states.

Removing the split () will set the state to undecided and make it interactive on the map.

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1789 Actual Election Results

Candidate Party Electoral Votes
✓
George Washington Federalist 69
Others Independent 35
John Adams Federalist 34

1789 Election Facts

  • Prior to 1804, each Elector cast two votes for President, effectively doubling the votes cast
  • Each Elector selected Washington with one of his votes, effectively making him unanimous choice for President. That is reflected on the map above. By coming in 2nd, John Adams was named Vice-President
  • Two of 13 original Colonies (North Carolina and Rhode Island) had not ratified Constitution, and did not participate; New York did not choose Electors due to an internal dispute
  • Issues of the Day: Ratification of U.S. Constitution (Article Two relates to the executive branch and selection of the president)
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