In 1820, James Monroe (Democratic-Republican) won 231 of 232 electoral votes, defeating John Quincy Adams by 230 EV during the Era of Good Feelings era. In 1936, Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic) won 523 of 531, defeating Alf Landon by 515 EV during the New Deal Coalition era. Turnout: 10.1% vs 61%.
vs
1820
Era of Good Feelings
James Monroe
Democratic-Republican
Electoral votes
231 of 232
EV margin
230
Popular vote
—
Turnout
10.1%
Runner-up
John Quincy Adams (D-R)
Monroe ran virtually unopposed as the only significant candidate, winning all but one electoral vote in the height of the 'Era of Good Feelings.' Elector William Plumer of New Hampshire cast his presidential ballot for John Quincy Adams, reportedly either in protest or to preserve Washington's record as the only unanimously elected president. Three other electors died before voting. This was the last election before the Democratic-Republican Party fractured into competing factions.
1936
New Deal Coalition
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Democratic
Electoral votes
523 of 531
EV margin
515
Popular vote
60.8%
Turnout
61.0%
Runner-up
Alf Landon (Rep)
Roosevelt won the greatest Electoral College landslide of the 20th century, carrying 46 of 48 states against Kansas Governor Alf Landon. FDR's New Deal coalition was at its peak, with massive support from labor, ethnic communities, and the poor. The Literary Digest's infamous poll had wrongly predicted a Landon victory, based on a biased sample of telephone and automobile owners (the affluent), leading to the poll's demise and the rise of scientific polling. Only Maine and Vermont voted for Landon.