From Corrupt Bargains to Hanging Chads: America's History of Contested Elections

The 2020 presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden stands as one of the most contentious in recent memory. President Trump refused to concede while making unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud. Yet disputed elections are not new in America's past. Several previous presidential races saw legal challenges, Electoral College controversies, and doubts cast on legitimacy.

1800 - Thomas Jefferson vs. John Adams

Jefferson defeated Adams, but there were procedural irregularities as Jefferson and Aaron Burr received the same number of Electoral College votes. The election was decided in Jefferson's favor after 36 ballots in the House of Representatives.

1824 - John Quincy Adams vs. Andrew Jackson

Jackson won the popular vote but did not gain enough Electoral College votes, sending the election to the House. Henry Clay threw his support behind Adams, who was appointed president despite lacking a plurality. Jackson decried a "corrupt bargain." Speaking of vitriol, Jackson, embittered by losing the race, started the Democratic Party with Martin Van Buren. In the election of 1828, the accusations and attacks were worthy of a modern-day election. Newspapers went crazy when it was discovered that Jackson’s wife had lived with the candidate before getting a divorce from her first husband. The Media hounded Mrs. Jackson literally to death. She died of a heart attack three months before his inauguration. Jackson went into the White House bitter and vengeful, determined to get even with those who caused his wife’s death.

1876 - Rutherford B. Hayes vs. Samuel Tilden

Multiple Southern states reported different Electoral College results, with accused of fraud by both parties. An impartial commission awarded the states to Hayes after cutting a deal to end Reconstruction. Tilden won the popular vote but acquiesced after the compromise. This election resulted in Federal troops leaving the South and the former slaves at the mercy of their former masters.

1960 - John F. Kennedy vs. Richard Nixon

Nixon did not contest the results, but there were allegations of fraud in Texas and Illinois. Kennedy won the Electoral College convincingly despite a very narrow popular vote margin. Many have suspected Chicago corruption tipped the state to Kennedy.

2000 - George W. Bush vs. Al Gore

The extremely tight race came down to Florida's results. Gore sought recounts in multiple counties, which Florida's Secretary of State rejected. A Supreme Court decision ultimately stopped recounts, allowing Bush's razor-thin lead to stand. Critics alleged unfair politicization.

2020 - Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump

Trump filed over 60 lawsuits seeking to overturn results on unproven voter and election fraud charges. All but one minor case were dismissed. Biden's decisive Electoral College and popular vote wins, along with Trump's failure to provide evidence, doomed efforts.

American elections have often proved tumultuous, but peaceful power transfers have always occurred - even amidst accusations of corruption and disenfranchisement. The will of voters and judicious conflict resolution have persevered to uphold democracy.

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