The Democratic presidential primaries of 1916 represented the first election in which presidential primaries were held for a sitting President who was running essentially unopposed. President Woodrow Wilson remained popular in the Democratic Party and had the full support of Democratic leaders.

Wilson did have token Democratic opposition in the Democratic primaries of 1916, although no historian has written about this opposition. The only Democrat running a "nationwide" campaign against Wilson was Edward Callaghan, a former state representative from Charleroi, Pennsylvania. Callaghan entered the presidential race on 2/23/1916 (Muscatine [Ohio] News-Tribune, 2/23/1916). Callaghan believed that the United States should enter World War I on the side of Germany and that the Democratic Party's mascot of the time, the rooster, should be replaced by the eagle. Callaghan filed for the presidential primaries in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, but his paperwork was defective in two states, and he only appeared on the ballot in WV. Wilson's other opponent of note in the primaries was Robert G. Ross of Lexington, Nebraska. Ross had filed for the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries in Nebraska in both 1912 and 1916. Ross did not actively campaign for president in either year; he only appeared on the ballot in Nebraska. Wilson’s third primary opponent was Henry Ford. Although Ford allowed his name to be placed on the ballot in various states for the

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The Democratic presidential primaries of 1916 represented the first election in which presidential primaries were held for a sitting President who was running essentially unopposed. President Woodrow Wilson remained popular in the Democratic Party and had the full support of Democratic leaders.

Wilson did have token Democratic opposition in the Democratic primaries of 1916, although no historian has written about this opposition. The only Democrat running a "nationwide" campaign against Wilson was Edward Callaghan, a former state representative from Charleroi, Pennsylvania. Callaghan entered the presidential race on 2/23/1916 (Muscatine [Ohio] News-Tribune, 2/23/1916). Callaghan believed that the United States should enter World War I on the side of Germany and that the Democratic Party's mascot of the time, the rooster, should be replaced by the eagle. Callaghan filed for the presidential primaries in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, but his paperwork was defective in two states, and he only appeared on the ballot in WV. Wilson's other opponent of note in the primaries was Robert G. Ross of Lexington, Nebraska. Ross had filed for the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries in Nebraska in both 1912 and 1916. Ross did not actively campaign for president in either year; he only appeared on the ballot in Nebraska. Wilson’s third primary opponent was Henry Ford. Although Ford allowed his name to be placed on the ballot in various states for the Republican nomination, he said that he would run if nominated and had scattered support among Democrats as well.

As the primary season opened, Wilson cruised through the early primaries. He won Indiana, Minnesota, and North Dakota without opposition (these states did not permit write-in votes in primaries). Wilson also carried New Hampshire and New York, neither of which held a preference primary but solely elected national convention delegates. Wilson won Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois with 99.75%; these states reported scattered write-in votes for Ford, Champ Clark, William J. Bryan, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Wilson’s first contested presidential primary took place in Nebraska on 4/18. Counties with a large German population chose Ross over Wilson, but overall Wilson won by an 88-12% margin.

Wilson then won a string of 11 primaries mostly unopposed. He won these primaries over minor write-in opposition totalling slightly more than one percent: Montana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. Wilson won these states (which did not permit write-in votes) unanimously: Iowa, California, Oregon, and South Dakota.

The final Democratic presidential primary was held in West Virginia on 6/6/1916, just eight days prior to the Democratic National Convention. By this time, it was clear that Wilson had secured sufficient delegates to win a second nomination, but the primary was Callaghan's first test of his strength. Although West Virginia never reported the results of its primary, it appears that Wilson won approximately 97% of the vote. The only county result reported in the Newspapers.com database was Raleigh County, in which Wilson won over 98%.

Wilson won the 1916 Democratic presidential primaries with over 98% of the vote. Ross won 0.8% from Nebraska, and Ford won 0.3% in four states. Callaghan’s total, unreported in West Virginia, could force an adjustment in these percentages, but it was clear that the Democratic electorate was united behind a second term for President Wilson.

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