1940 United States presidential election — 39th quadrennial U.S. presidential election
Roosevelt won an unprecedented third presidential term, defeating Willkie amid World War II in Europe and the tail end of the Great Depression.
Key Facts
- Election date
- November 5, 1940
- Winning ticket
- Franklin D. Roosevelt & Henry Wallace (Democratic)
- Losing ticket
- Wendell Willkie & Charles McNary (Republican)
- Term won
- Third presidential term (unprecedented at the time)
- Consecutive wins for party
- Three consecutive Democratic presidential victories
- Election number
- 39th quadrennial U.S. presidential election
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
With World War II escalating in Europe and the United States still recovering from the Great Depression, President Roosevelt — initially reluctant — chose to seek a third term. Isolationist sentiment was strong domestically, and Roosevelt had to navigate challenges from within his own party, including from Vice President John Nance Garner and James Farley, before securing renomination.
On November 5, 1940, Roosevelt and his new running mate, Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace, faced Republican dark horse Wendell Willkie and Senator Charles McNary. Roosevelt promised no involvement in foreign wars, while Willkie campaigned on New Deal inefficiency, the two-term tradition, and alleged warmongering. Roosevelt led in all pre-election polls and won a comfortable, if less decisive than prior elections, victory.
Roosevelt's win made him the first and only U.S. president elected to a third term, a record that prompted the eventual passage of the Twenty-Second Amendment limiting presidents to two terms. It also marked the last time until 1988 that the incumbent party won three consecutive presidential elections, and kept Roosevelt in office to lead the country through much of World War II.
Political Outcome
Roosevelt (Democratic) defeated Willkie (Republican), winning an unprecedented third presidential term.
Franklin D. Roosevelt in second term as President
Franklin D. Roosevelt elected to third term as President with Henry Wallace as Vice President