I willingly accept the correction. Worse, if I remember right, Lincoln lost a number of elections prior to his nomination for president.
In defense, I was primarily considering presidents since FDR, realizing Hoover was never elected to anything other than the presidency, if I remember right. I was drawing the line with FDR because the nature of the office of the presidency changed numerous times until FDR's unprecedented four elections and the changes resulting after WWII.