A one-term former governor and peanut farmer from Georgia, Jimmy Carter was hardly the front-runner heading into the 1976 presidential election. He tied for 12 th in early polling among a crowded ...

Republicans can find solace in the history the 1976 election, when approximately 17 Democrats, most current and former elected officials, competed to succeed President Gerald Ford.

Carter’s election was the last time Louisiana was bluer than New York, and the last time Arkansas was bluer than Massachusetts. West Virginia was the third-best state for Democrats in 1976.