Who won West Virginia in the 1872 presidential election?

Greeley (Democratic) carried West Virginia in 1872, winning its 5 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did West Virginia have in 1872?

West Virginia cast 5 electoral votes in the 1872 presidential election.

Did West Virginia vote for the national winner in 1872?

No. West Virginia backed Greeley, while Ulysses S. Grant won the presidency nationally.

ReconstructionWV · 5 EV

1872

West Virginia: Greeley carries 5 EV.

West Virginia cast its 5 electoral votes for Greeley (Democratic). National winner: Ulysses S. Grant (Republican) — West Virginia voted against the national winner this cycle.

What happened in West Virginia, 1872

In 1872, West Virginia awarded its 5 electoral votes to Greeley of the Democratic party. The presidency went elsewhere: Ulysses S. Grant (Republican) won nationally, while West Virginia had backed a different ticket.

The result flipped West Virginia away from the Republican ticket it had backed in each of the previous 2 cycles. The region divided — Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky joined West Virginia for the Democratic ticket, while Ohio and Pennsylvania did not. Over its 41 recorded presidential cycles, West Virginia has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 22 times in all. The vote fell within the Reconstruction — Republican rule and contested returns.

Nationally, Ulysses S. Grant finished with 286 of the 352 electoral votes to Thomas A. Hendricks's 42. Ulysses S. Grant led the national popular vote with 55.58% of the ballots cast.

The 1872 national map

West Virginia full history →