1936 United States elections was held on November 3 . The Democratic Party built on their majorities in both chambers of Congress and maintained control of the presidency . In the presidential election , incumbent Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt won re-election , defeating Republican Governor Alf Landon of Kansas . Roosevelt took every state but Vermont and Maine , winning with the fourth largest electoral vote margin in American history . Roosevelt took just under 61 percent of the popular vote , a number that only Lyndon Johnson would surpass ( although the popular vote was not officially counted prior to the 1824 election ) . Landon decisively won his party 's nomination over Idaho Senator William Borah
party 's nomination
1936 Republican National Convention
1936 United States elections