Andrew Jackson was the incumbent president, seeking re-election to a second term on the Democratic Party ticket.

The Anti-Masons nominated former United States Attorney General William Wirt at their national convention in Baltimore in September 1831.

Many were hopeful that Wirt would be selected by the National Republican Convention when it met in December, but the party instead nominated Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky.

Eager to avoid a split in the Anti-Jacksonian forces, New York Anti-Masonic leaders negotiated a fusion ticket of electors nominated jointly by both parties who were pledged to support whichever candidate stood the best chance of defeating Jackson in the electoral college.

[2] On election day, Jackson defeated the fusion ticket by a margin of 4.2 percent.