Who won Michigan in the 1856 presidential election?

Fremont (Republican) carried Michigan in 1856, winning its 6 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did Michigan have in 1856?

Michigan cast 6 electoral votes in the 1856 presidential election.

Did Michigan vote for the national winner in 1856?

No. Michigan backed Fremont, while James Buchanan won the presidency nationally.

Antebellum CrisisMI · 6 EV

1856

Michigan: Fremont carries 6 EV.

Michigan cast its 6 electoral votes for Fremont (Republican). National winner: James Buchanan (Democratic) — Michigan voted against the national winner this cycle.

Michigan in 1856

The 1856 contest saw Michigan line up behind Fremont, delivering 6 electoral votes to the Republican ticket. Nationally the result broke the other way — James Buchanan (Democratic) won the presidency, leaving Michigan among the states he did not carry.

Fremont's win closed out Michigan's 6-election run of voting Democratic. The region divided — Ohio and Wisconsin joined Michigan for the Republican ticket, while Indiana did not. Across the 51 presidential elections Michigan has taken part in, it has most often sided with the Republican party (28 times). The vote fell within the Antebellum Crisis — Slavery splits the parties.

In the national count, James Buchanan took 174 of the 296 electoral votes, against John C. Frémont's 114. James Buchanan led the national popular vote with 45.29% of the ballots cast.

The 1856 national map

Michigan full history →