 Hayes had announced early in his presidency that he would not seek another term , which meant that the contest for the Republican nomination in 1880 was open to all challengers — including Blaine . Blaine was among the early favorites for the nomination , as were former President Grant , Treasury Secretary John Sherman of Ohio , and Senator George F. Edmunds of Vermont . Although Grant did not actively promote his candidacy , his entry into the race re @-@ energized the Stalwarts and when the convention met in Chicago in June 1880 , they instantly polarized the delegates into Grant and anti @-@ Grant factions , with Blaine the most popular choice of the latter group . Blaine was nominated by James Frederick Joy of Michigan , but in contrast to Ingersoll 's exciting speech of 1876 , Joy 's lengthy oration was remembered only for its maladroitness . After the other candidates were nominated , the first ballot showed Grant leading with 304 votes and Blaine in second with 284 ; no other candidate had more than Sherman 's 93 , and none had the required majority of 379 . Sherman 's delegates could swing the nomination to either Grant or Blaine , but he refused to release them through twenty @-@ eight ballots in the hope that the anti @-@ Grant forces would desert Blaine and flock to him . Eventually , they did desert Blaine , but instead of Sherman they shifted their votes to Ohio Congressman James A. Garfield , and by the thirty @-@ sixth ballot he had 399 votes , enough for victory . 
