The 1880 United States presidential election in Colorado took place on November 2, 1880, as part of the 1880 United States presidential election. Voters chose three representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
Colorado voted for the Republican nominee, James A. Garfield, over the Democratic nominee, Winfield Scott Hancock. Garfield won the state by a margin of 5.23 points. Before Populist candidate James B. Weaver's 1892 victory transitioned the state into being Democratic-leaning, this was the closest a Democrat came to winning the state. Additionally, it was the only time a Democrat won any counties other than Las Animas, Bent, and Huerfano until 1896.
Hancock's strength was part of a brief surge for Democrats in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific: Democrats captured California for the first time since 1856, Nevada for the first time ever, and fell only 1.63% short in Oregon. This surge can largely be attributed to a letter attributed to Garfield, first printed in a New York newspaper named Truth, that declared Garfield was in favor of allowing Chinese immigration for its cheap labor. Despite the fact that it was a blatant falsehood, it cost Republicans in the west where Chinese immigrants were often accused of stealing jobs from American laborers.
Results
Results by county CountyJames Abram GarfieldGéoelections; Presidential election of 1880 Popular Vote (.xlsx file for €15)RepublicanWinfield Scott HancockDemocraticJames Baird WeaverGéoelections; Presidential election of 1880 Popular Vote for James B. Weaver (.xlsx file for €15)GreenbackVarious candidatesOther partiesMargin%#%#%#%#%# Routt 67.24% 39 32.76% 19 0.00% 0 34.48% 20 El Paso 65.36% 1,151 32.94% 580 1.70% 30 32.42% 571 Weld 56.26% 804 26.10% 373 17.56% 251 0.07% 1 30.16% 431 Clear Creek 60.02% 1,567 36.81% 961 3.18% 83 23.21% 606 Boulder 54.66% 1,313 33.14% 796 12.20% 293 21.52% 517 Larimer 53.26% 646 31.99% 388 14.67% 178 0.08% 1 21.27% 258 Gilpin 59.74% 1,236 38.91% 805 1.26% 26 0.10% 2 20.83% 431 Rio Grande 60.08% 298 39.92% 198 0.00% 0 20.16% 100 Grand 57.08% 121 41.04% 87 1.89% 4 16.04% 34 Saguache 57.19% 509 41.69% 371 0.45% 4 0.67% 6 15.51% 138 Custer 54.18% 1,297 44.32% 1,061 1.50% 36 9.86% 236 Arapahoe 53.36% 4,214 45.35% 3,582 1.29% 102 8.00% 632 Douglas 53.82% 331 45.85% 282 0.16% 1 0.16% 1 7.97% 49 Hinsdale 53.84% 421 46.16% 361 0.00% 0 7.67% 60 Park 52.60% 698 45.06% 598 2.34% 31 7.54% 100 Ouray 53.05% 479 46.29% 418 0.66% 6 6.76% 61 San Juan 52.71% 224 46.12% 196 1.18% 5 6.59% 28 Fremont 50.33% 606 44.02% 530 5.40% 65 0.25% 3 6.31% 76 Jefferson 49.55% 832 47.05% 790 3.39% 57 2.50% 42 Conejos 49.80% 608 50.04% 611 0.16% 2 -0.25% -3 Summit 48.81% 1,289 50.28% 1,328 0.91% 24 -1.48% -39 Pueblo 48.93% 824 51.07% 860 0.00% 0 -2.14% -36 Chaffee 48.50% 1,135 50.77% 1,188 0.73% 17 -2.26% -53 Gunnison 48.68% 1,012 50.99% 1,060 0.34% 7 -2.31% -48 Lake 46.70% 3,801 51.56% 4,197 1.74% 142 -4.86% -396 Elbert 46.68% 176 51.72% 195 1.59% 6 -5.04% -19 Costilla 46.84% 334 53.16% 379 0.00% 0 -6.31% -45 Huerfano 46.00% 466 52.52% 532 1.48% 15 -6.52% -66 La Plata 42.88% 259 57.12% 345 0.00% 0 -14.24% -86 Bent 41.23% 174 57.35% 242 1.42% 6 -16.11% -68 Las Animas 30.14% 586 67.59% 1,314 2.26% 44 -37.45% -728
See also United States presidential elections in Colorado
References