U.S. Senators Who Became President
Seventeen U.S. presidents previously served as senators during their political careers. Of those, only three—Warren G. Harding, John F. Kennedy, and Barack Obama—were elected directly from the Senate to the presidency. These senators used their national platforms to build influence, shape legislation, and establish themselves as statesmen. While the Senate does not have an executive role like a governorship, it offers unparalleled visibility on foreign policy, judicial appointments, and national debates.
Notable examples include John F. Kennedy, who represented Massachusetts in the Senate before winning the presidency in 1960, and Barack Obama, whose rapid rise from Illinois state senator to U.S. Senator and President in just a few years captured the nation's attention. Additional examples include James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, and, more recently, Joe Biden, who spent 36 years in the Senate before becoming vice president and eventually the 46th President of the United States.
Their success demonstrates that while the path may differ from that of a governor, the Senate remains a viable and historically significant presidential launching point.
James Monroe
5th President of the United States
James Monroe was the 5th President of the United States, serving from 1817 to 1825. Monroe served in the U.S. Senate, representing Virginia from 1790 to 1794.
William H. Harrison
9th President of the United States
William H. Harrison was the 9th President of the United States, serving in 1841. Harrison previously served in the U.S. Senate, representing Ohio from 1825 to 1828.
Andrew Johnson
17th President of the United States
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. Johnson served in the U.S. Senate, representing Tennessee from 1857 to 1862.
John F. Kennedy
35th President of the United States
John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 to 1963. Kennedy also served in the U.S. Senate, representing Massachusetts, from 1953 to 1960.
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
46th President of the United States
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. was the 46th President of the United States, serving from 2021 to 2025. Biden served in the U.S. Senate representing Delaware from 1973 to 2009.
John Quincy Adams
6th President of the United States
John Quincy Adams was the 6th President of the United States, serving from 1825 to 1829. Adams served in the U.S. Senate, representing Massachusetts from 1803 to 1808.
John Tyler
10th President of the United States
John Tyler was the 10th President of the United States, serving from 1841 to 1845. Tyler previously served in the U.S. Senate, representing Virginia from 1827 to 1836.
Benjamin Harrison
23rd President of the United States
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States, serving from 1889 to 1893. Harrison served in the U.S. Senate, representing Indiana from 1881 to 1887.
Lyndon B. Johnson
36th President of the United States
Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th President of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. Johnson served in the U.S. Senate, representing Texas from 1949 to 1961.
Andrew Jackson
7th President of the United States
Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of the United States, serving from 1829 to 1837. Jackson served in the U.S. Senate, representing Tennessee from 1797 to 1798 and 1823 to 1825.
Franklin Pierce
14th President of the United States
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. Pierce served in the U.S. Senate, representing New Hampshire from 1837 to 1842.
Warren G. Harding
29th President of the United States
Warren G. Harding was the 29th President of the United States, serving from 1921 to 1923. Harding served in the U.S. Senate, representing Ohio from 1915 to 1921.
Richard Nixon
37th President of the United States
Richard Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. Nixon previously served in the U.S. Senate from 1950 to 1953.
Martin Van Buren
8th President of the United States
Martin Van Buren was the 8th President of the United States, serving from 1837 to 1841. Van Buren served in the U.S. Senate, representing New York from 1821 to 1828.
James Buchanan
15th President of the United States
James Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861. Buchanan served in the U.S. Senate, representing Pennsylvania from 1834 to 1845.
Harry Truman
33rd President of the United States
Harry Truman was the 33rd President of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. Truman served in the U.S. Senate, representing Missouri from 1935 to 1945.
Barack Obama
44th President of the United States
Barack Obama was the 44th President of the United States, serving from 2009 to 2017. Obama served in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois from 2005 to 2008.