<P> The United States presidential election of 1796 was the third quadrennial presidential election . It was held from Friday , November 4 to Wednesday , December 7 , 1796 . It was the first contested American presidential election , the first presidential election in which political parties played a dominant role , and the only presidential election in which a president and vice president were elected from opposing tickets . Incumbent Vice President John Adams of the Federalist Party defeated former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson of the Democratic - Republican Party . </P>
<P> The United States presidential election of 1796 was the third quadrennial presidential election . It was held from Friday , November 4 to Wednesday , December 7 , 1796 . It was the first contested American presidential election , the first presidential election in which political parties played a dominant role , and the only presidential election in which a president and vice president were elected from opposing tickets . Incumbent Vice President John Adams of the Federalist Party defeated former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson of the Democratic - Republican Party . </P>
who won the first contested race for president
who won the first contested race for president
John Adams
John Adams