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List of presidents who did not win re-election

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This is a list of incumbent presidents as heads of state and/or heads of state and government in any country who ran for another term in office but were not re-elected.

List

More information Term in office, President ...
Term in officePresidentCountryLost electionWinning successorNotes
1797–1801John Adams United States1800 United States presidential election Thomas JeffersonAdams placed third behind Jefferson and his running mate Aaron Burr. Jefferson narrowly won a contingent election in the U.S. House of Representatives.[1]
1825–1829John Quincy Adams United States1828 United States presidential election Andrew JacksonJackson previously won a plurality of the popular vote against Adams in the 1824 presidential election but lost a contingent election.
1837–1841Martin Van Buren United States1840 United States presidential election William Henry HarrisonVan Buren also ran in the 1848 presidential election with the Free Soil Party.
1871–1873Miguel García Granados Guatemala1873 Guatemalan general election Justo Rufino BarriosGarcía Granados was serving as acting president of Guatemala, however, he was defeated by Justo Rufino Barrios.
1885–1889Grover Cleveland United States1888 United States presidential election Benjamin HarrisonCleveland and his running mate Allen G. Thurman lost by the Electoral College vote, but Cleveland himself won the 1892 presidential election, becoming the first U.S. President to serve non-consecutive terms.
1889–1893Benjamin Harrison United States1892 United States presidential election Grover ClevelandA rematch of the presidential election four years earlier.
1909–1913William Howard Taft United States1912 United States presidential election Woodrow WilsonTaft also ran against former President Theodore Roosevelt for the Republican nomination. After Taft won Roosevelt launched his own presidential campaign under the Progressive Party. Taft came in third behind both Wilson and Roosevelt.
1929–1933Herbert Hoover United States1932 United States presidential election Franklin D. Roosevelt
1931–1937Pehr Evind Svinhufvud Finland1937 Finnish presidential election Kyösti Kallio
1944–1946Sergio Osmeña Philippines1946 Philippine presidential electionManuel Roxas

Then-Vice President Osmeña succeeded Manuel L. Quezon after the latter died on 1944. Osmeña lost his own right term to Manuel Roxas on 1946 Philippine presidential election.

1948–1953Elpidio Quirino Philippines1953 Philippine presidential electionRamon Magsaysay

Then-Vice President Quirino succeeded Manuel Roxas on 1948. Quirino won his own right on 1949 presidential election.

1948–1955Luigi Einaudi Italy1955 Italian presidential election Giovanni Gronchi
1938–1950İsmet İnönü Turkey1950 Turkish presidential election Celal Bayar
1955–1962Giovanni Gronchi Italy1962 Italian presidential election Antonio Segni
1957–1961Carlos P. Garcia Philippines1961 Philippine presidential election Diosdado MacapagalThen-Vice President Garcia succeeded Ramon Magsaysay after the latter died in 1957. Garcia became president on his own right after winning the 1957 presidential election.
1960–1967Aden Abdullah Osman Daar Somalia1967 Somali presidential election Abdirashid Shermarke
1961–1965Diosdado Macapagal Philippines1965 Philippine presidential election Ferdinand Marcos
1964–1971Giuseppe Saragat Italy1971 Italian presidential election Giovanni Leone
1974–1977Gerald Ford United States1976 United States presidential election Jimmy CarterFormer Georgia governor Jimmy Carter and Minnesota senator Walter Mondale narrowly defeated the Republican ticket of incumbent president Gerald Ford and Kansas senator Bob Dole.
1977–1981Jimmy Carter United States1980 United States presidential election Ronald ReaganCarter was the first elected president to lose a re-election bid since Herbert Hoover in 1932.[2]
1974–1981Valéry Giscard d'Estaing France1981 French presidential election François MitterrandA rematch of the presidential election seven years earlier.
1965–1986Ferdinand Marcos Philippines1986 Philippine presidential election Corazon AquinoThe final results of the election were disputed, Marcos initially led in the polls by COMELEC to the belief that the polls were tampered and considered an electoral fraud. These events eventually lead to the People Power Revolution.
1977–1988Spyros Kyprianou Cyprus1988 Cypriot presidential election George VassiliouThen President of the House of Representatives succeeded Archbishop Makarios III after his death in 1977. Kyprianou became president on his own right after winning the 1977 presidential by-election unopposed. He lost re-election in the first round of voting in the 1988 Cypriot presidential election, placing third.[3]
1985–1990Daniel Ortega Nicaragua1990 Nicaraguan general election Violeta ChamorroOrtega later returned to power in the 2006 elections.
1972–1991Mathieu Kérékou Benin1991 Beninese presidential election Nicéphore Soglo
1980–1991Aristides Pereira Cape Verde1991 Cape Verdean presidential election António Mascarenhas Monteiro
1964–1991Kenneth Kaunda Zambia1991 Zambian general election Frederick Chiluba
1977–1992Denis Sassou-Nguesso Congo1992 Republic of the Congo presidential election Pascal Lissouba
1989–1993George H. W. Bush United States1992 United States presidential election Bill ClintonSome speculated that Ross Perot, the unsuccessful third candidate in the presidential race, cost incumbent President Bush the election. Arkansas governor Clinton and Tennessee senator Al Gore defeated the Republican ticket of Bush and incumbent Vice President Dan Quayle.[4]
1989–1992Václav Havel Czechoslovakia1992 Czechoslovak presidential election none due to the Dissolution of CzechoslovakiaHavel later elected President of the Czech Republic.[5][6]
1975–1993Didier Ratsiraka Madagascar1992–93 Malagasy presidential election Albert ZafyRatsiraka returned to power in 1996.[7]
1988–1993George Vassiliou Cyprus1993 Cypriot presidential election Glafcos Clerides
1981–1993André Kolingba Central African Republic1993 Central African general election Ange-Félix Patassé
1966–1994Hastings Banda Malawi1994 Malawian general election Bakili Muluzi
1991–1994Leonid Kravchuk Ukraine1994 Ukrainian presidential election Leonid Kuchma
1990–1995Lech Wałęsa Poland1995 Polish presidential election Aleksander KwaśniewskiWalesa also lost 2000 election.[8]
1989–1996Ion Iliescu Romania1996 Romanian general election Emil ConstantinescuIliescu returned to power in the 2000 election. Constantinescu did not run for reelection.
1991–1996Nicéphore Soglo Benin1996 Beninese presidential election Mathieu Kérékou
1993–1996Albert Zafy Madagascar1996 Malagasy presidential election Didier Ratsiraka
1990–1997Mircea Snegur Moldova1996 Moldovan presidential election Petru Lucinschi
1990–1997Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat Mongolia1997 Mongolian presidential election Natsagiin Bagabandi
1981–2000Abdou Diouf Senegal2000 Senegalese presidential election Abdoulaye Wade
1996–2001Didier Ratsiraka Madagascar2001 Malagasy presidential election Marc Ravalomanana
1996–2001Petar Stoyanov Bulgaria2001 Bulgarian presidential election Georgi Parvanov
1996–2001Lyudvig Chibirov South Ossetia2001 South Ossetian presidential election Eduard KokoityThe President of South Ossetia is only recognized as an independent head of state by some states.
1998–2003Valdas Adamkus Lithuania2002–2003 Lithuanian presidential election Rolandas PaksasReturned to the office in 2004.
1993–2003Glafcos Clerides Cyprus2003 Cypriot presidential election Tassos PapadopoulosLost reelection in the first round of voting.
2000–2004Hipólito Mejía Dominican Republic2004 Dominican Republic presidential election Leonel Fernández
2001–2004Megawati Sukarnoputri Indonesia2004 Indonesian presidential election Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Megawati was vice president elected by indirect votes from the Indonesian House of Representatives. She then became President after her predecessor Abdurrahman Wahid was impeached and removed from the office. In the Presidential Election, she sought election on a full term in the first direct presidential elections but lost to her former minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
1999–2004Rudolf Schuster Slovakia2004 Slovak presidential election Ivan Gašparovič[9]
2001–2006Arnold Rüütel Estonia2006 Estonian presidential election Toomas Hendrik Ilves
2003–2008Tassos Papadopoulos Cyprus2008 Cypriot presidential election Demetris ChristofiasLost reelection in the first round of voting where he placed third.
1978–2008 Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Maldives 2008 Maldivian presidential election Mohamed Nasheed
2005–2009Nambaryn Enkhbayar Mongolia2009 Mongolian presidential election Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj
2002–2010Dahir Riyale Kahin Somaliland2010 Somaliland presidential election Ahmed Mohamed SilanyoThe President of Somaliland is not diplomatically recognized as an independent head of state by the international community.
2005–2010Viktor Yushchenko Ukraine2010 Ukrainian presidential election Viktor Yanukovich[10]
2000–2011Laurent Gbagbo Ivory Coast2010 Ivorian presidential election Alassane OuattaraGbagbo declared President by Constitutional Council despite recognition of Outtara by the international community, leading to the Second Ivorian Civil War
1991–2011Igor Smirnov Transnistria2011 Transnistrian presidential election Yevgeny ShevchukThe President of Transnistria is not recognized as an independent head of state by the international community.
2007–2011Valdis Zatlers Latvia2011 Latvian presidential election Andris Bērziņš
2007–2012José Ramos-Horta East Timor2012 East Timorese presidential election Taur Matan Ruak Ramos-Horta later won the 2022 presidential election
2008–2011Rupiah Banda Zambia2011 Zambian general election Michael Sata
2007–2012Nicolas Sarkozy France2012 French presidential election François HollandeAlso ran in 2017 but lost The Republicans primary.
2000–2012Abdoulaye Wade Senegal2012 Senegalese presidential election Macky Sall
2004–2012Boris Tadić Serbia2012 Serbian presidential election Tomislav Nikolić
2005–2015Mahinda Rajapaksa Sri Lanka2015 Sri Lankan presidential election Maithripala SirisenaFailed after running for an unprecedented third term after a constitutional amendment. Returned as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in 2019 after his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected president.
2007–2012Danilo Türk Slovenia2012 Slovenian presidential election Borut Pahor[11]
2012–2014Joyce Banda Malawi2014 Malawian general election Peter Mutharika
2010–2015Ivo Josipović Croatia2014–2015 Croatian presidential election Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović[12]
2010–2015Goodluck Jonathan Nigeria2015 Nigerian presidential election Muhammadu Buhari
2010–2015Bronisław Komorowski Poland2015 Polish presidential election Andrzej Duda[13]
1994–2017Yahya Jammeh The Gambia2016 Gambian presidential election Adama BarrowJammeh initially refused to step down, causing the 2016–2017 Gambian constitutional crisis and the ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia.
2012–2017John Mahama Ghana2016 Ghanaian general election Nana Akufo-AddoAfter later losing the 2020 election, Mahama would win the 2024 election and succeed Akufo-Addo.
2011–2016Manuel Pinto da Costa São Tomé and Príncipe2016 São Toméan presidential election Evaristo Carvalho
2011–2016Yevgeny Shevchuk Transnistria2016 Transnistrian presidential election Vadim KrasnoselskyThe President of Transnistria is not recognized as an independent head of state by the international community.
2012–2017Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Somalia2017 Somali presidential election Mohamed Abdullahi MohamedWon the 2022 Somali presidential election.
2012–2017Leonid Tibilov South Ossetia2017 South Ossetian presidential election Anatoly BibilovThe President of South Ossetia is only recognized as an independent head of state by some states.[14]
2014–2018Hery Rajaonarimampianina Madagascar2018 Malagasy presidential election Andry Rajoelina
2013–2018 Abdulla Yameen Maldives 2018 Maldivian presidential election Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
2014–2019Petro Poroshenko Ukraine2019 Ukrainian presidential election Volodymyr Zelenskyy[15]
2015–2019Mauricio Macri Argentina2019 Argentine presidential election Alberto Fernández
2014–2020José Mário Vaz Guinea-Bissau2019 Guinea-Bissau presidential election Umaro Sissoco Embaló
2015–2020Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović Croatia2019–2020 Croatian presidential election Zoran Milanović[16]
2014–2020Peter Mutharika Malawi2020 Malawian presidential election Lazarus ChakweraA re-run of the previous year's election, which had been won by Mutharika but overturned by a court due to irregularities. Mutharika would later go on to defeat Chakwera in re-match at the 2025 election.[17]
2017–2021Donald Trump United States2020 United States presidential election Joe BidenTrump refused to concede shortly after he lost to former Vice President Biden and his running mate, California senator Kamala Harris, alleging fraud and filing and ultimately losing post-election lawsuits before 86 judges.[18][19] The counting of the Electoral College votes by Congress on January 6, 2021, was briefly stopped when rioters stormed the Capitol building.[20] Biden's victory was confirmed when Congress reconvened hours later.[21] Trump and Biden were initially presumptive nominees in the 2024 presidential election until Biden withdrew, Trump subsequently won the 2024 presidential election and is ineligible to run for another term due to the term limits set by the Twenty-second Amendment.
2016–2020Igor Dodon Moldova2020 Moldovan presidential election Maia SanduDodon alleged multiple voting irregularities including the prevention of Transnistrians from voting and interference from foreign leaders but congratulated Sandu as a precaution. Sandu became the first female president of the country.[22][23]
2015–2021Edgar Lungu Zambia2021 Zambian general election Hakainde Hichilema
2017–2022Francisco Guterres East Timor2022 East Timorese presidential election José Ramos-Horta
2017–2022Anatoly Bibilov South Ossetia2022 South Ossetian presidential election Alan GagloevThe President of South Ossetia is only recognized as an independent head of state by some states.
2017–2022Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Somalia2022 Somali presidential election Hassan Sheikh Mohamud[24]
2019–2022Jair Bolsonaro Brazil2022 Brazilian general election Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaBolsonaro ran against former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula won the election along with his running mate Geraldo Alckmin narrowly defeated Bolsonaro and his running mate Walter Braga Netto.
2018–2022Barham Salih Iraq2022 Iraqi presidential election Abdul Latif Rashid
2018–2023Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Maldives2023 Maldivian presidential election Mohamed Muizzu
2018–2024George Weah Liberia2023 Liberian general election Joseph Boakai
2019–2024Stevo Pendarovski North Macedonia2024 North Macedonian presidential election Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova
2022–2024Ranil Wickremesinghe Sri Lanka2024 Sri Lankan presidential election Anura Kumara Dissanayake
2019–2024 Mokgweetsi Masisi Botswana 2024 Botswana general election Duma Boko
2017–2024Muse Bihi Abdi Somaliland2024 Somaliland presidential election Abdirahman Mohamed AbdullahiThe President of Somaliland is not diplomatically recognized as an independent head of state by the international community.
2020–2025Lazarus Chakwera Malawi2025 Malawian general election Peter MutharikaMutharaika previously served as president from 2014 until his defeat by Chakwera in 2020.[25]
2017–2024Muse Bihi Abdi Somaliland2024 Somaliland presidential election Abdirahman Mohamed AbdullahiThe President of Somaliland is not diplomatically recognized as an independent head of state by the international community.
2020–2025Umaro Sissoco Embaló Guinea-Bissau2025 Guinea-Bissau general election Fernando DiasDays after the presidential election, the 2025 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état took place, annulling the results but also removing Embaló.
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