(Wednesday, May 6, 1840; during the 1840 Democratic National Convention) — The Democratic Party re-nominated President Martin Van Buren by acclamation today at The Assembly Rooms in Baltimore.

The delegates, however, failed to select a nominee for vice president.

Incumbent Vice President Richard M. Johnson was largely seen as a liability in the 1836 election and had focused much of his time as vice president on his own economic affairs.

Former President Andrew Jackson backed James K. Polk for the position of vice president, but Van Buren supported his vice president’s renomination.

The convention ultimately failed to nominate a running mate for Van Buren. Van Buren remains the only major party presidential nominee since the passage of the 12th Amendment to seek election without a running mate.

Van Buren would face the Whig Party ticket of former Senator William Henry Harrison of Ohio for president and former Senator John Tyler of Virginia for vice president (nominated in December 1839) in the 1840 United States presidential election.