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Presidential election

1976 presidential election

Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford, winning 297 of 538 electoral votes and 50.1% of the popular vote.

November 2, 1976

Jimmy Carter

Democratic

Jimmy Carter won the 1976 presidential election with 297 of 538 electoral votes, and 50.1% of the popular vote. Running mate: Walter Mondale.

297
of 538 electoral votes
50.1%
popular vote
53.6%
turnout

Results

Vote breakdown
Jimmy CarterDemocratic
50.1%(40.8M votes)
297 EV
Gerald FordRepublican
48%(39.1M votes)
240 EV
Voter turnout

53.6%

Turnout rate

81.6M

Total votes cast

152.0M

Eligible voters

State results
StateElectoral votesWinnerMargin
New York(NY)41
DemocraticCarter
+4.4%
Pennsylvania(PA)27
DemocraticCarter
+2.7%
Texas(TX)26
DemocraticCarter
+3.2%
California(CA)45
RepublicanFord
+1.9%
Ohio(OH)25
DemocraticCarter
+0.3%
Swing states
Ohio
Flipped
Electoral votes:25
Margin:0.3%
Previous:Nixon
Pennsylvania
Flipped
Electoral votes:27
Margin:2.7%
Previous:Nixon

Candidates

Jimmy Carter
Winner

Party

Democratic

Running mate

Walter Mondale

Home state

Georgia

Age at election

52

Previous position

Governor of Georgia

Campaign slogan

"A Leader, For a Change"

Popular vote

40.8M

(50.1%)

Electoral votes

297

Gerald Ford

Party

Republican

Running mate

Bob Dole

Home state

Michigan

Age at election

63

Previous position

38th President of the United States (Incumbent)

Popular vote

39.1M

(48%)

Electoral votes

240

Voting demographics

African Americans

Carter

83%

Southern Whites

Carter

54%

Evangelicals

Carter

56%

Key events

Campaign timeline
major
September 1974

Nixon Pardon

Ford pardoned Nixon, dooming his campaign

moderate
October 1976

Eastern Europe Gaffe

Ford's debate claim that Poland wasn't Soviet-dominated

Presidential debates

Issues & context

Key campaign issues
Watergate Aftermath
Nixon Pardon
Economy (Stagflation)
Trust in Government
Outsider vs Insider
Historical context

Post-Watergate election. Carter ran as Washington outsider. Ford's pardon of Nixon hurt him badly. First Southern Democrat elected since before Civil War. Carter's 'I'll never lie to you' resonated.

Economic conditions

Stagflation - high inflation and unemployment. Energy crisis aftermath. Economic malaise. Working class struggling.

Incumbent factors

Ford never elected president or VP. Pardon deeply unpopular. Barely survived Reagan primary challenge. Carter's outsider appeal attractive.

Legacy and impact

Carter's presidency plagued by energy crisis, Iran hostage crisis. Evangelical vote emerged. Reagan would crush him in 1980.

Did you know?

  • 1.Ford was only president never elected president or VP
  • 2.Carter was first president from Deep South since before Civil War
  • 3.First debates since Kennedy-Nixon in 1960
  • 4.Ford's Poland gaffe hurt in final weeks
  • 5.Closest race since 1968
Explore more

1980 Election

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1972 Election

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Compare This Election

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Electoral College Map

Interactive visualization of electoral results

Swing State Analysis

Which states were battlegrounds?

This site explains the structure and history of U.S. federal elections and is not an official government resource. All data shown is for educational purposes only.