The pro-peace Democrats sought to nominate Long as a candidate for president in 1864, but he declined the candidacy. Long refused to back either President Abraham Lincoln or the Democratic candidate for president, General George B. McClellan, in the 1864 election; so, Long refused to vote for a presidential candidate in 1864 just as he had refused to vote for a presidential candidate in 1860. In fact, Long refused to vote for any presidential candidate until 1876 because the candidates had all supported the war. Regarding his own political career, Long did make an unsuccessful bid for reelection to the 39th Congress in 1864.