Party Challenge to Incumbent

[JSojourner]

Can someone list examples -- oh, say since 1900 or so -- of cases where a sitting President has faced a primary challenge from a member of his own party?

And then, what do you think are the chances some Democrat will challenge President Obama (from the left or the right) in 2012?  Dennis Kucinich?  Evan Bayh?

[Devilman88]

I don't think it hasn't happen alot, but I don't think anyone will try to primary Mr. Obama unless he becomes very very unpopular and fails as a president.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

The only major times I can think of are 1912 GOP, 1952 Democratic, 1968 Democratic, 1980 Democratic, and 1992 Republican.  I don't think any serious challenger will emerge; nobody who can get more than 5% of the vote in a given primary/caucus.

[muon2]

The only major times I can think of are 1912 GOP, 1952 Democratic, 1968 Democratic, 1980 Democratic, and 1992 Republican.  I don't think any serious challenger will emerge; nobody who can get more than 5% of the vote in a given primary/caucus.

Add 1976 Republican. Note that when it did happen it marked the end of that president.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Even Bayh wouldn't be dumb enough to try. Primary challenges running as more moderate never work, unless the person in question is a total embarrassment to their party (such as Arlon Lindner)

[Lunar]

Typically it's very difficult to primary an incumbent [president or not] from the ideological center.

[pbrower2a]

Typically it's very difficult to primary an incumbent [president or not] from the ideological center.

Most Democrats who think themselves the possible 45th President are looking forward to 2016. Some may make the decision in 2013 or later.

Of course it is difficult to "primary" a Republican incumbent from the center; although a moderate Republican might have crushed the weak John Kerry in 2004, the moderate wing of the GOP that used to be significant has nearly disappeared.

[You kip if you want to...]

Ronald Reagan came close to primarying Gerald Ford in 1976 and Ted Kennedy came close to primarying Jimmy Carter in 1980.

I suppose you could say Lyndon Johnson face a serious primary challenge in 1968 considering he was the incumbent running for President and he ended up dropping out.

[Mr. Morden]

I think times have changed.  I don't think it's possible anymore for a politician to primary an incumbent president without facing an enormous backlash that seriously damages his standing within the party, even if that incumbent president is as unpopular as Carter was in 1980.  It just wouldn't fly.  Note that even in 1992, the guy challenging Bush within the party was a non-politician who had nothing to lose, and who didn't manage to win a single primary.

[JSojourner]

The only one I could think of without research was Buchanan.