The 1800 election was a showdown between the country’s first two political parties: the Federalists, led by Adams; and the Democratic Republicans, captained by Jefferson.

In many ways, the election of 1800 between Federalist President John Adams and Republican Vice President Thomas Jefferson — resembled 2020.

Sharp has written extensively about the political history of the early Republic, including the book “The Deadlocked Election of 1800 : Jefferson, Burr, and the Union in the Balance ...