1872 Election Results Grant vs Greeley

President Grant was nominated to run for a second term at the Republican Convention at Philadelphia in June 1872. Grant was renominated without opposition. The Republican platform condemned racial and religious discrimination. It also called for granting women greater rights. President Grant's opponent was Horace Greeley of New York. Greeley was first nominated by the "Liberal Republicans," who wished to protest the corruption of the Grant administration. The Democrats were in such disarray that they were unable to select a presidential candidate. Therefore, they endorsed Greeley.

Horace Greeley had been the editor of the New York Tribune. Greeley was known to be an eccentric figure. At various time, Greeley had been a supporter of spiritualism, prohibition, vegetarianism, and socialism. This made Greeley an easy target of Republican attacks.

Greeley's campaign focused primarily on the theme of "more honest government." He also campaigned for an end to radical reconstruction. Greeley received support from most of the South. Grant received support from most Northerners and most business interests. Most Americans still found Grant popular. Most Americans were also convinced that Grant was not responsible for the corruption in his administration. Thus, Grant was re-elected, receiving an overwhelming majority of the votes. Grant's victory was one of the largest in American electoral history.

Greeley died on November 29th, 1872, before the electoral college could vote. As a result, his vote was split four ways.

Participation of Eligible Voters:71.3%

Democratic Convention
Republican Convention

 

State results in 1872

Electoral Results in 1872

Alabama Ulysses Grant 90,272 53.2 Horace Greeley 79,444 46.8 Charles O' Conor
Arkansas Ulysses Grant 41,373 52.2 Horace Greeley 37,927 47.8 Charles O' Conor
California Ulysses Grant 54,007 56.4 Horace Greeley 40,717 42.5 Charles O' Conor 1,061 1.1
Connecticut Ulysses Grant 50,307 52.4 Horace Greeley 45,685 47.6 Charles O' Conor -
Delaware Ulysses Grant 11,129 51.0 Horace Greeley 10,205 46.8 Charles O' Conor 488 2.2
Florida Ulysses Grant 17,763 53.5 Horace Greeley 15,427 46.5 Charles O' Conor -
Georgia Ulysses Grant 62,550 45.0 Horace Greeley 76,356 55.0 Charles O' Conor -
Illinois Ulysses Grant 241,936 56.3 Horace Greeley 184,884 43.0 Charles O' Conor 3,151 0.7
Indiana Ulysses Grant 186,147 53.2 Horace Greeley 163,632 46.8 Charles O' Conor -
Iowa Ulysses Grant 131,566 60.8 Horace Greeley 71,189 32.9 Charles O' Conor 2,221 1.0
Kansas Ulysses Grant 66,805 66.5 Horace Greeley 32,970 32.8 Charles O' Conor 156 0.2
Kentucky Ulysses Grant 88,766 46.4 Horace Greeley 99,995 52.3 Charles O' Conor 2,374 1.2
Louisiana Ulysses Grant 71,663 55.7 Horace Greeley 57,029 44.3 Charles O' Conor -
Maine Ulysses Grant 61,426 67.9 Horace Greeley 29,097 32.1 Charles O' Conor -
Maryland Ulysses Grant 66,760 49.7 Horace Greeley 67,687 50.3 Charles O' Conor -
Massachusetts Ulysses Grant 133,455 69.3 Horace Greeley 59,195 30.7 Charles O' Conor -
Michigan Ulysses Grant 138,768 62.6 Horace Greeley 78,651 35.5 Charles O' Conor 2,879 1.3
Minnesota Ulysses Grant 56,040 61.4 Horace Greeley 35,131 38.5 Charles O' Conor -
Mississippi Ulysses Grant 82,175 63.5 Horace Greeley 47,282 36.5 Charles O' Conor -
Missouri Ulysses Grant 119,196 43.7 Horace Greeley 151,434 55.5 Charles O' Conor 2,429 0.9
Nebraska Ulysses Grant 18,329 70.7 Horace Greeley 7,603 29.3 Charles O' Conor -
Nevada Ulysses Grant 8,413 57.4 Horace Greeley 6,236 42.6 Charles O' Conor -
New Hampshire Ulysses Grant 37,168 53.9 Horace Greeley 31,425 45.6 Charles O' Conor -
New Jersey Ulysses Grant 91,656 54.5 Horace Greeley 76,456 45.5 Charles O' Conor -
New York Ulysses Grant 440,738 53.2 Horace Greeley 387,282 46.8 Charles O' Conor -
North Carolina Ulysses Grant 94,772 57.4 Horace Greeley 70,130 42.5 Charles O' Conor 261 0.2
Ohio Ulysses Grant 281,852 53.2 Horace Greeley 244,320 46.1 Charles O' Conor 1,163 0.2
Oregon Ulysses Grant 11,818 58.8 Horace Greeley 7,742 38.5 Charles O' Conor 547 2.7
Pennsylvania Ulysses Grant 349,589 62.2 Horace Greeley 212,040 37.8 Charles O' Conor -
Rhode Island Ulysses Grant 13,665 71.9 Horace Greeley 5,329 28.1 Charles O' Conor -
South Carolina Ulysses Grant 72,290 75.7 Horace Greeley 22,699 23.8 Charles O' Conor 204 0.2
Tennessee Ulysses Grant 85,655 47.8 Horace Greeley 93,391 52.2 Charles O' Conor -
Texas Ulysses Grant 47,910 41.4 Horace Greeley 67,675 58.5 Charles O' Conor 115 0.1
Vermont Ulysses Grant 41,481 79.2 Horace Greeley 10,927 20.8 Charles O' Conor -
Virginia Ulysses Grant 93,463 '50.5 Horace Greeley 91,647 49.5 Charles O' Conor 85
West Virginia Ulysses Grant 32,320 51.7 Horace Greeley 29,532 47.3 Charles O' Conor 615 1.0
Wisconsin Ulysses Grant 105,012 54.6 Horace Greeley 86,390 44.9 Charles O' Conor 853 0.4