Politics with Nolan: Top 7 Most Controversial Presidential Elections

By Nolan Cleary, Managing Editor 

With the 2020 election has come and gone, many look back at the racial justice protests, the COVID-19 pandemic, the appointment of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and the social unrest stemming from the death of George Floyd as controversial defining factors of the race. 

With that thought on the minds of hundreds of millions of Americans, let’s take a look back at some of the most controversial elections in American history. 

7. 1860 Election – Lincoln v. Breckinridge v. Bell v. Douglas 

During the fight to end slavery in the 1860s, the newly formed Republican Party nominated their second-ever candidate on the ballot. At the convention in Chicago, the party chose Illinois native Abraham Lincoln to be their nominee. 

Lincoln ran on a moderate platform, promising not to interfere with slavery, viewing it as a state’s rights matter. Many abolitionists were angered by his rhetoric, believing long time New York Senator Willam Seward to be the far more anti-slavery pick. 

Nonetheless, Democrats became worried that Republicans were out to end slavery. As a result, Lincoln would have to face multiple different Democrats. 

Stephen Douglas, an Illinois Senator who’d famously defeated Lincoln in a previous Senate race, was supposed to be the main star for Democrats. However, his moderate views worried some southern Democrats that opposed slavery. 

As a result, Democrats to the south put their own candidate on the ballot, then-Vice President John C. Breckinridge. Meanwhile, third-party candidate John Bell was also gaining traction. 

Ultimately, vote splitting turned a once competitive race into a cakewalk for Lincoln, however, the results angered many in the nation. 

The south began to succeed in 1860, leading to the bloody civil war. The once thought to be moderate Abraham Lincoln would put Seward, his former rival in his cabinet, while signing the Emancipation Proclamation into law, ending slavery. 

6. 1800 Election – Jefferson v. Burr v. Adams

Fans of the play “Hamilton” may remember the contentious 1800 election that would usher in a new century. With President John Adams having had become an underdog in the race for re-election, the race became a headline of two Democratic-Republicans of the same party: Vice President Thomas Jefferson and New York Senator Aaron Burr. 

One faithless elector in a state that Burr would eventually win agreed to break for Jefferson, but later backtracked voting for Burr. As a result, the electoral vote became a tie, leaving the decision to the United States House of Representatives. 

As Federalists controlled the House at the time, Alexander Hamilton was influential in getting Jefferson the votes he needed. As said in the play, Jefferson eventually “had Hamilton on [his] side,” despite previous feuds between the two. 

5. 2016 Election – Trump v. Clinton 

Considered one of the most shocking elections in some time, 2016 was said to have redefined American politics as we know it. Democrats nominated Hillary Clinton, hoping to elect her the nation’s first woman President. 

Republicans selected a wildcard nominee, real estate mogul Donald Trump. Trump and Clinton would immediately become two of the most polarizing figures in the nation, with Trump gaining fans and critics for his bombastic, unprecedented nature, while Clinton was loved and scorned for her personality and actions. 

Many accused Trump of being a racist, citing his rhetoric and policies, while many viewed Clinton as corrupt and unfit to lead. It became clear that despite their supporters, Trump and Clinton were ranked as two of the most unpopular candidates in American history according to polls. 

Many people, including members of their own party, felt polarized. This election would be historic regardless of who won. Polling consistently favored Clinton, with many pundits giving her as high as a 99% chance of winning the Presidency. 

However, in November, America watched in shock as Trump defied the odds, winning the Presidency. Despite an electoral disadvantage, Trump flipped traditionally Democratic states that year. 

Trump’s win was met with both immense celebration and just as immense social unrest. Protests and outrage occurred as a result of Trump’s accession to the White House. 

Perhaps more controversially, was that Clinton would win the popular vote by three million ballots, despite losing the Presidency to Trump, making her the first candidate in 16 years to lose the Presidency despite winning the national popular vote. 

4. 1888 – Harrison v. Cleveland 

As many Americans went to the polls in 1888, incumbent Democratic President Grover Cleveland remained the clear favorite against Republican rival Benjamin Harrison. 

As such, Cleveland would predictably win the national popular vote. However, in a shocking twist, Harrison would still win the election by a slight electoral margin. The race had come down to the state of New York. 

Cleveland had been the former Governor of the state, making him favored to win there, however, New York was considered reliably Republican at the time, as Cleveland barely managed to carry the state four years earlier. Cleveland never would have won the Presidency in the first place had he lost that state. 

By a razor-thin margin, Harrison was declared the winner of New York, giving him a majority of electoral votes to win the election. However, Democrats didn’t go down without a fight. 

Recounts were requested, election theft was alleged, but ultimately Harrison was the victor. Angry Democrats at the time claimed that Harrison was an illegitimate President. Harrison himself was the grandson of former President William Henry Harrison. 

At Harrison’s inauguration in 1889, Frances Cleveland, First Lady to Grover Cleveland told staff to take care of the White House, because they’d be back. 

Four years later, Cleveland returned to defeat Harrison, reclaiming the White House. Cleveland remains the only President to date to serve two non-consecutive terms in office. 

3. 1824 Election – Adams v. Jackson v. Crawford v. Clay 

Considered one of the most corrupt and undemocratic elections in the country’s history, 1824 pitted four major candidates against themselves. John Quincy Adams, the long-time Secretary of State who was hoping to hold the same office his father once held, political stalwart William Crawford and House Speaker Henry Clay. 

However, the clear front runner was General Andrew Jackson. Jackson had become popular for his service as a successful general during the War of 1812. 

Jackson’s style of campaigning was more bombastic compared to other candidates, as he ran a grassroots campaign positioning himself as a common man, rather than an “elitist” as he put it. 

However, his wild style was unnerving to many who believed he wasn’t fit for office. On Election Day, Jackson easily won the popular vote and a plurality of the electoral vote. 

However, with multiple candidates running, Jackson was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempt to getting a majority of votes, landing the election in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Viewing Jackson as a crazed extremist, the House reportedly made a deal behind closed doors which made Adams President, under the condition that Clay would be Secretary of State. Clay hoped that like Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and now Adams, being Secretary of State would eventually make him President. 

The House chose Adams to lead the nation, angering Jackson and supporters, who called the election stolen. Jackson would return four years later to defeat Adams in another contentious battle. 

2. 2000 Election – Bush v. Gore

When discussing controversial elections, the 2000 election always seems to be a poster child of that category. Texas Governor George W. Bush, who was the son of former President George H. W. Bush remained deadlocked with Vice President Al Gore throughout. 

The polls remained tight and the electoral map didn’t appear to favor any particular candidate. It became clear early on that Florida could be a deciding state. Bush’s father had won Florida during his re-election in 1992, and Clinton carried the state in 1996, making it closer than ever this year. 

Even more contentious was the fact that the Governor of Florida at the time was Bush’s brother, Jeb. On Election night, Gore appeared to have a decisive lead, as Florida was called early in the night for him, a crippling blow to the Bush campaign. 

However, results remained tight, and after backlash arose from the Bush camp, CBS withdrew their projection of Florida for Gore. Later that night, Bush won Ohio, a state no candidate had won without since John F. Kennedy in 1960. A major win for Bush. 

However, Gore would pick up Pennsylvania, an equally as important swing state, evening the odds. Finally, as Florida tightened, the state was finally called for Gore. 

However, the state remained closed, forcing networks to withdraw their projection again. Finally, Bush pulled ahead in the state, and networks finally declared him the winner with a bare 271 electoral votes, just one vote over the needed 270 electoral votes to win. 

Gore was set to give an acceptance speech, but was stopped by advisors, and called to concede to Bush. However, the race was far from over. Gore still won the popular vote, and Bush was ahead by fewer than 1,000 votes in Florida. 

By state law, Gore requested a recount. The recount preceded and Bush was declared the winner. However, Bush’s lead decreased to just 500 votes, and Gore requested another recount. The recount was granted from the Florida Supreme Court, however, Republicans brought their lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

By a narrow 5-4 margin, the Supreme Court ordered that Florida end their recount, making Bush the winner. The election angered Democrats, and to this day many wonder how key events like 9/11, the Iraq War, and the stock market crash of 2008 might have been differently shaped under the presidency of Al Gore. 

1. 1876 Election – Hayes v. Tilden 

When it comes to contentious election battles, perhaps none are more contentious than with the election between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden in 1876. 

Tilden remained the favorite throughout the election and was declared the winner of the popular vote, and the electoral vote on Election Night. 

However, many Republicans called foul, as rumors spread that Democrats in Utah, South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana (states that Tilden carried) attempted to suppress black turnout, which was historically Republican at the time. 

Congress put together a bipartisan committee of five Republican Congressman (including future President James Garfield) and five Democrats, as well as two Supreme Court justices appointed by Democratic Presidents, and two justices appointed by Republican Presidents. 

David Davis, a swing justice considered independent, was also on the committee. However, after Davis was elected to the U.S. Senate by Democrats, he excused himself, fearing he might seem partisan towards Tilden. 

Justice Joseph Bradley, aligned with Republicans, replaced Davis and would vote to make Hayes President. By an 8-7 decision amongst the committee, the four states awarded to Tilden would have to flip to Hayes, making him the winner of the election by a mere electoral vote, the closest election in history. 

Angered Democrats threatened social unrest, with talks of another civil war. Tragically, to avoid this unrest, Republicans agreed to end reconstruction, which gave African Americans in the south the same basic rights as whites. The decision led to Jim Crow laws being established in the south.