You've probably heard the "two-term rule" a thousand times. It’s one of those civics facts stuck in the back of everyone’s head, right next to the three branches of government. But when you start asking how many times can a candidate run for president, the answer isn't as simple as just saying "two."
Honestly, the "two" refers to how many times you can actually win. Running is a whole different ball game.
If you want to get technical—and we should—there is no limit on how many times a person can lose. You could run every four years until you’re 100, provided you meet the basic requirements of being 35, a natural-born citizen, and a resident for 14 years. But once those wins start piling up, the Constitution steps in to shut the party down.
The Magic Number and the 22nd Amendment
Before 1951, the U.S. was basically operating on a "gentleman’s agreement." George Washington decided two terms were enough, and everyone else just followed suit because, well, he was Washington. Then came Franklin D. Roosevelt. He won four times. Four.
After FDR passed away in office, Congress decided they didn’t want another "president for life" scenario. They ratified the 22nd Amendment, which is the rulebook for this stuff. It says no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.
The Math of Presidential Service
It’s not just about the elections, though. There is a weird "10-year rule" buried in the fine print.
If a Vice President takes over because the sitting President dies or resigns, and they serve more than two years of that remaining term, they can only be elected on their own once. However, if they serve two years or less of the previous guy's term, they can still be elected twice.
In that specific scenario, someone could technically be President for ten years. It hasn't happened yet, but the law allows it.
The "Perennial" Candidates Who Never Stop
Since there's no limit on losing, some people have turned running for president into a lifelong hobby. Take Harold Stassen, for example. He was the former governor of Minnesota and actually a pretty serious contender early on.
But then he just... kept going. Stassen ran for the Republican nomination nine different times between 1944 and 1992. By the end, he was basically a political punchline, but he was legally allowed to do it every single time.
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Then you have guys like Ralph Nader. Most people remember his 2000 run where he got nearly 3 million votes, but he actually ran four times (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008).
- Norman Mattoon Thomas ran six times for the Socialist Party.
- Lyndon LaRouche ran eight times, even once from a prison cell.
- Eugene Debs also ran from prison in 1920 and got nearly a million votes.
Can a Former President Run for Vice President?
This is where the law geeks get into heated arguments at bars. The 22nd Amendment says you can’t be elected President more than twice. But the 12th Amendment says that no person "constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President."
So, if you’ve already served two terms, are you "ineligible" to hold the office? Or are you just "ineligible to be elected" to it?
Some scholars, like Bruce Peabody and Scott Gant, have argued that a two-term president could technically be Vice President and then succeed to the presidency if the current one dies. Since they weren't "elected" to the top spot that third time, it might—maybe—be legal.
But let’s be real. If a former two-term president tried to run on a VP ticket, it would go straight to the Supreme Court faster than you can say "inauguration."
Common Myths About Running Multiple Times
People get a lot of this wrong. You'll hear rumors that if a president loses, they can't come back. Not true. Grover Cleveland is the classic example. He won in 1884, lost his re-election in 1888, and then came back to win again in 1892.
He’s the reason why the current count of presidents is one higher than the actual number of people who have held the job.
Why People Think There Are Limits on Running
- Confusion with term limits: People confuse the limit on serving with a limit on campaigning.
- Primary rules: Political parties have their own rules. If you lose a primary, you usually can't just jump onto the ballot for that party again in the same cycle.
- Money: Running costs billions now. Most people stop running because they're broke or the donors have moved on, not because the law stopped them.
The Loophole for Non-Consecutive Terms
There is nothing in the Constitution that says your two terms have to be back-to-back. You could serve four years, take a twelve-year break to go fishing, and then come back for your second four.
The 22nd Amendment just says "twice." Total. Forever.
What You Should Know Before the Next Election
If you’re watching the news and wondering how many times can a candidate run for president, keep these points in your back pocket:
- Losing is free: You can lose as many times as you can afford to.
- Winning is capped: Two wins and you’re out (unless you're a VP who took over mid-term for less than two years).
- The "Succession" Gamble: There is still no definitive legal answer on whether a two-term president can become VP or Speaker of the House and move up the line.
The reality is that "running" is a right, but "winning" is a privilege that the 22nd Amendment limits to keep the executive branch from becoming a monarchy. If you're planning a run, just make sure you've got a good lawyer and a very large campaign chest.
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To stay informed on current eligibility disputes, you can monitor the Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings or check out the latest constitutional interpretations from the National Constitution Center. If a candidate's eligibility is ever officially challenged, the case will likely be documented in the Supreme Court's dockets under Article II or 22nd Amendment challenges.