John Adams (Federalist) won over Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) in 1796, the first contested election.
the 1796 presidential election:
The Presidential elections of 1796 were the third quadrennial elections. It was the first time that president and vice president were selected from opposing parties.
The purpose of primary elections is to choose the candidates for the main elections.
Elections in which no candidate has party label
Candidates for officeReferendumsRecallInitiatives
Candidates
Such is the purpose of primary elections. Candidates may also be determined by caucuses and state conventions.
The main candidates and their running mates were...Federalists John Adams of Massachusetts and Thomas Pinckney of South CarolinaDemocratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson of Virginia and Aaron Burr of New York
The major candidates were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Recall elections
primary
Primary