1964 United States Elections were held on November 3 , and elected the members of the 89th United States Congress , as well as the 45th Presidential Election . The Democratic party retained the presidency and added to their majorities in both chambers of Congress . This was the first presidential election after the ratification of the 23rd Amendment , which granted electoral votes to Washington , D.C. Democratic incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson ( who took office on November 22 , 1963 , upon the death of his predecessor , John F. Kennedy ) won a full term , defeating Republican Senator Barry Goldwater from Arizona . Johnson won every state except for Arizona and the Deep South . Johnson won 61 % of the popular vote , the largest share of the popular vote since 1820 . Goldwater won the Republican nomination on the first ballot , defeating Governor William Scranton of Pennsylvania and Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York
death
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
1964 United States elections