# Mike Pence - have any losing vice-presidents gone on to win the presidency later? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 8, 2020, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031 "2020-11-08T03:11:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/1 "2020-11-08T03:11:29Z")
Walter Mondale got the nomination in 1984 and lost big time. I’m wondering if the Republicans are even going to consider Mike Pence after the loss of this election. I am aware the VP used to be the losing candidate, but if we only go by the time we have utilized the “running mate” version of the VP-slot, has any losing VP gone on to win? ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/2 "2020-11-08T03:18:23Z")
FDR was the VP candidate for the Dems in 1920. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/4 "2020-11-08T03:22:04Z")
Looks like **Ulf\_the\_Unwashed** got it > **[List of unsuccessful major party candidates for Vice President of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unsuccessful_major_party_candidates_for_Vice_President_of_the_United_States)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The United States has had a two-party system for much of its history, and the two major parties have nominated vice presidential candidates in most presidential elections. Since the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1789, there have been 59 unsuccessful major party candidates for Vice President of the United States. Eight other individuals have served as the main running mate to a third party or independent presidential candidate ... ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/5 "2020-11-08T03:24:16Z")
Based on the article to which @mikecurtis has linked, it looks like the answer is FDR (as @Ulf_the_Unwashed notes), and that’s technically it. John Tyler (lost as VP candidate in 1836) became president, but because he had been elected vice-president in 1840, under William Henry Harrison, who died a month after his inauguration. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/6 "2020-11-08T03:25:44Z")
I’m a little surprised he’s the only one. Then again, I couldn’t think of another. (Then again, I’m not real familiar with all the losing VP candidates of the nineteenth century…) ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/7 "2020-11-08T03:36:15Z")
I think it’s important to realize that for most of the history of the Republic the Vice Presidency was NOT something that ambitious politicians sought out – Vice President John Nance Garner famously described the vice presidency as being “not worth a bucket of warm piss.” Particularly early in the Republic, Secretary of State was seen as a grooming post for potential future Presidents. The Vice Presidency, on the other hand, was seen as a dead-end position and Vice Presidential nominations generally went to inoffensive party men who checked whatever geographic box the ticket needed to fill. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/8 "2020-11-08T03:54:56Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > FDR was the VP candidate for the Dems in 1920. But he was not the actual vice president, right? Mondale and Quayle didn’t win and I am certainly hoping Pence doesn’t run or doesn’t win. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/9 "2020-11-08T03:59:59Z")
Oh, you were talking about people who were already vice president. I thought you just meant losing vp candidates. Judging from the link **@mikecurtis** provided, there aren’t any. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/10 "2020-11-08T04:05:36Z")
Thanks. I kind of think the Republican party will push Pence out now. Total disaster. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/11 "2020-11-08T04:07:43Z")
So you’re asking about individuals who lost _reelection_ as Vice President and then went on to win the Presidency? That’s a pretty small pool to begin with – particularly prior to the mid-20th century, it was common for Presidents to change VPs for their reelection campaign. FDR ran with three different VPs in four elections. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/12 "2020-11-08T04:13:17Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I am aware the VP used to be the losing candidate, Maybe I’m too tired and giddy to think straight, but could you explain what you mean by this? Who are you referring to as “VP” - Biden or Pence? What did they “used to be” the losing candidate for? Not that it matters - your overall question is clear and has been answered - but I’m just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/13 "2020-11-08T04:20:46Z")
The Vice Presidency was originally given to the 2nd place finisher in the Presidential election. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/14 "2020-11-08T04:23:00Z")
Munch is right about what I was thinking about. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/15 "2020-11-08T04:43:52Z")
Ah, thank you! I did not know that. My American history knowledge is weaker than it should be - there was a required year-long course in my high school, but in what I now think was monumentally bad judgment on the school’s part, I was taken aside and asked if I, as one of my class’s more thoughtful students, would rather do an independent research project instead. Of course I jumped at the chance - and I ended up producing a rather fine, in-depth paper on colonial American music. But I wish I’d taken the history class. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/16 "2020-11-08T04:51:43Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Thanks. I kind of think the Republican party will push Pence out now. Total disaster. I predict we’ll be hearing this in **Denny’s** from now on: _“How do you want your Pence? White, Wheat or Rye?”_ ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/17 "2020-11-08T04:58:57Z")
One other data point, although a bit of a tangent - I believe Richard Nixon is the only person to have served as VP, lost a run for POTUS, and then later run again and won. Or am I forgetting somebody…? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/18 "2020-11-08T05:29:48Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > “How do you want your Pence? White, Wheat or Rye?” It only comes in white. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/19 "2020-11-08T05:34:50Z")
edit: Nevermind…. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/20 "2020-11-08T05:42:18Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Ah, thank you! I did not know that. It was really only in place for the first four elections. The framers of the Constitution didn’t really anticipate party politics, and realize that the system would eventually result in the President and Vice President being political rivals. In the first two elections, Washington and John Adams were of the same party, but in the election of 1796 Adams won the presidency and Thomas Jefferson, his rival, the vice presidency. Understandably, the relationship was tense. The election of 1800 became so messed up between Jefferson and Aaron Burr that it led to the Twelfth Amendment and the current system. Imagine a system in which Trump was elected in 2016 with Hillary as his Vice President. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/21 "2020-11-08T06:11:45Z")
Mike Pence is a poor man’s Dan Quayle. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031.md?page=2)