Has a mayor ever become President of the USA?

[alphaboi867]

Many presidents served as govenors prior to becoming presidents, but did any of them serve as a mayor?

[Indistinguishable]

Grover Cleveland was Mayor of Buffalo, then Governor of New York, then President, then not, then President again.

[Beware of Doug]

Hubert Humphrey was mayor of Minneapolis from 1945-49, and a Senator from Minnesota after that. He got as far as Vice President under LBJ, and a nomination (lost to Nixon in '68).

[yabob]

Calvin Coolidge was also a mayor during his political career (Northampton, MA). In fact he may have taken more incremental steps towards the presidency than anybody else who ever held the office:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Coolidge

If the OP is asking about anybody proceeding DIRECTLY to the presidency from a position of mayor as their last elected office, I don't believe so.

[yabob]

However, the fact that Giuliani is a serious contender is not without precedent, if that's what prompted the question. Mayors of the big cities, like NY and LA, are in the realms of possibility, if they're well enough known nationally. John Lindsay was in the running in 1972. He fizzled after the early primaries.

[Number]

Andrew Johnson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson) served as mayor of Greeneville, TN. He also held the offices of alderman, state representative, state senator, governor, U.S. representative, U.S. senator, and Vice President. The guy did it all.

[BobLibDem]

Andrew Johnson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson) served as mayor of Greeneville, TN. He also held the offices of alderman, state representative, state senator, governor, U.S. representative, U.S. senator, and Vice President. The guy did it all.

Yeah, but he didn't serve on the Supreme Court. What a slacker.

[denquixote]

However, the fact that Giuliani is a serious contender is not without precedent, if that's what prompted the question. Mayors of the big cities, like NY and LA, are in the realms of possibility, if they're well enough known nationally. John Lindsay was in the running in 1972. He fizzled after the early primaries.

Sam Yorty, mayor of L.A. ran the same year in the Democratic primary in New Hampshire, got 6 % of the vote and later switched parties.

[Little Nemo]

One factor is how big a job being a mayor is. New York City has a population of over eight million people, which makes it bigger than all but eleven states. Wyoming is the least populous state with about a half a million people and there are thirty two American cities that have a bigger population than Wyoming.

[OneCentStamp]

There have been a few, but I'm holding out for this guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Springer). Former mayor of a major city in Ohio, which we all know is a real hotbed state for future Presidents. And he has done a good job of keeping a high profile since leaving office. I think his time has come.

[Arnold Winkelried]

Andrew Johnson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson) served as mayor of Greeneville, TN. He also held the offices of alderman, state representative, state senator, governor, U.S. representative, U.S. senator, and Vice President. The guy did it all.Not that I don't believe you, but I didn't notice where, at the page you cited, it is said that Andrew Johnson served in the Tennessee state senate or the US House of Representatives.

[Otto]

There have been a few, but I'm holding out for this guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Springer). Former mayor of a major city in Ohio, which we all know is a real hotbed state for future Presidents. And he has done a good job of keeping a high profile since leaving office. I think his time has come.
Is there an Ohio Senate seat up in 2008? He's been making noises for the last several years about running for one.

[gigi]

There have been a few, but I'm holding out for this guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Springer). Former mayor of a major city in Ohio, which we all know is a real hotbed state for future Presidents. And he has done a good job of keeping a high profile since leaving office. I think his time has come.
His sex scandal is behind him too.

[WarmNPrickly]

His sex scandal is behind him too.

And sometimes in the front, below, to the right, to the left and sandwiched in between.

[Hypnagogic Jerk]

There have been a few, but I'm holding out for this guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Springer). Former mayor of a major city in Ohio, which we all know is a real hotbed state for future Presidents. And he has done a good job of keeping a high profile since leaving office. I think his time has come.
Yeah, but he isn't a native-born US citizen.

[Elendil's Heir]

And no one even thinks to mention Dennis Kucinich? A former mayor of Cleveland, and he's running right now! George Voinovich, our senior U.S. senator, is also a former Cleveland mayor (he succeeded Kucinich) and has been mentioned as a possible VP candidate, but I think he's probably too independent-minded for GOP kingmakers.

In the movie City Hall, Al Pacino plays a charismatic mayor of NYC with White House ambitions. You might want to check it out, Rudy. ;)

[Chronos]

And no one even thinks to mention Dennis Kucinich?I was considering it, but decided it'd be too snarky. And of course, he's currently a Representative, not a mayor, which I presume is not an unprecedented jump to President.

[Number]

Not that I don't believe you, but I didn't notice where, at the page you cited, it is said that Andrew Johnson served in the Tennessee state senate or the US House of Representatives.At the bottom there are links to Tennessee State Senators (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Tennessee_State_Senators) and Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Members_of_the_Tennessee_House_of_Representatives). There used to be something in the main text of the article about the extraordinary number of public offices he held. I remember because it erroneously stated that he had been elected to every possible non-judicial position at the time. I corrected it to note that he succeeded to the Presidency and was not elected. A wasted effort, as the whole section apparently got excised at some point.

Some non-wikipedia cites regarding the state legislatures:
http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=17
http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/bio/public/johnson.htm
http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=J016

[Number]

Oops, you said US House of Representatives. Check the Political offices section of the wikipedia article.
United States House of Representatives
Member from Tennessee's 1st congressional district (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee%27s_1st_congressional_district)
March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1853.

[Governor Quinn]

Is there an Ohio Senate seat up in 2008?

No. He'd have to wait until 2010, when Voinovich is up for re-election.