Louisiana's 8 electoral votes were among those disputed in the 1876 election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden.1 Unofficial returns listed by the Hayes Presidential Library show Tilden with 83,723 votes in Louisiana and Hayes with 77,174.2 According to the Miller Center, the Republican-controlled returning boards in Louisiana, Florida and South Carolina cited fraud, intimidation and violence and threw out enough Democratic votes for Hayes to win.3 The governor's race was disputed too: Democrat Francis T. Nicholls and Republican Stephen B. Packard both claimed a majority and set up governments.4
Congress received rival certificates, one signed by Governor William P. Kellogg and one by John McEnery as governor.5 Objections to the Kellogg electors said the canvass by J. Madison Wells and the other returning officers was void and that the Kellogg certificates were issued fraudulently.6 The Electoral Commission, following its Florida ruling, held that it could not go behind the official certificates, and decided that the Kellogg electors' votes were to be counted for Hayes.7 Eight commissioners signed the decision and seven did not.8 The House voted not to count the Kellogg votes, but because the two houses did not agree, the decision stood.9
According to 64 Parishes, Louisiana Democrats helped broker a deal that put Nicholls in office, withdrew federal troops from the state and delivered the presidency to Hayes.10 The Miller Center says it is doubtful that any deal went beyond what Hayes had promised in his letter of acceptance.11
The electoral votes of four states were disputed. Congress referred the matter to the Electoral Commission, which it established for the sole purpose of determining the winner of the election. The Electoral Commission gave the decision to Rutherford B. Hayes.
National Archives, Electoral College results for 1876, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.
Sources for each sentence
Each numbered entry quotes the words that support that sentence, as they appear on the linked page.
- Back to sentence 1
*The electoral votes of Florida, Louisiana, Oregon, and South Carolina were disputed.
archives.gov/electoral-college/1876 Kentucky 12 - 12 - 12 Louisiana* 8 8 - 8 - Maine 7
archives.gov/electoral-college/1876 - Back to sentence 2
Louisiana Tilden 83,723 / Hayes 77,174
rbhayes.org/hayes/frequently-asked-questions-on-the-1876-election What was the unofficial vote result in the three southern states in dispute?
rbhayes.org/hayes/frequently-asked-questions-on-the-1876-election - Back to sentence 3
Both parties claimed victory in those states, but Republican-controlled "returning" boards would determine the official electoral votes.
millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/disputed-election-1876 The returning boards in all three states argued that fraud, intimidation, and violence in certain districts invalidated votes, and they threw out enough Democratic votes for Hayes to win.
millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/disputed-election-1876 - Back to sentence 4
Francis T. Nicholls had opposed Republican carpetbagger Stephen B. Packard in the 1876 governor's race, and both parties claimed a majority of votes and established governments.
64parishes.org/entry/compromise-of-1877 - Back to sentence 5
presented objections in writing to the certificate of electors and votes certified by William P. Kellogg
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm filed objection to the certificate of electors certified by John McEnery, as governor of Louisiana
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm - Back to sentence 6
the pretended canvass of the returns of the election by J. Madison Wells and others as returning officers of said election was without jurisdiction and void
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm the Kellogg certificates were fraudulently issued in pursuance of a conspiracy to pervert the will of the people of Louisiana
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm - Back to sentence 7
the Electoral Commission followed the rule laid down in the case of Florida. It was held not to be competent to go behind the official certificates and papers
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm the votes of the Kellogg electors were the votes provided for by the Constitution and were lawfully to be counted for Hayes and Wheeler
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm - Back to sentence 8
It was signed by the eight concurring Commissioners, and no minority views were filed by the seven nonconcurring.
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm - Back to sentence 9
The decision of the House was that the votes of the Kellogg electors be not counted.
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm the two Houses not concurring, the Presiding Officer announced that the decision of the Electoral Commission would stand unreversed
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm - Back to sentence 10
helped broker a deal that put their man in office in Baton Rouge, pulled federal troops out of Louisiana, and delivered the presidency to the Republican Hayes.
64parishes.org/entry/compromise-of-1877 - Back to sentence 11
However, it is doubtful that Hayes, his supporters, and Democrats reached any sort of deal beyond what Hayes promised to do in his letter of acceptance.
millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/disputed-election-1876
Sources checked on October 3, 2026
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