Thomas Jefferson
The major candidates were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
The candidate for the Democratic-Republican Party in the election of 1796 was Thomas Jefferson. He ran against John Adams of the Federalist Party and ultimately became the vice-president after Adams won the presidency.
democratic republican
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.
Thomas Jefferson in 1796 Presidential election
John Adams (Federalist) won over Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) in 1796, the first contested election.
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John Adams won in 1796 over Jefferson.
The party of Thomas Jefferson was known as Republicans. It had nothing to do with the current Republican party. They supported Jefferson against Adams.
John Adams won this election and Thomas Jefferson by finishing second became the vice-president.