The Republicans nominated James A. Garfield , a Congressman from Ohio and a skillful politician . Hancock and the Democrats expected to carry the Solid South , but needed to add a few of the Northern states to their total to win the election . The practical differences between the parties were few , and the Republicans were reluctant to attack Hancock personally because of his heroic reputation . The one policy difference the Republicans were able to exploit was a statement in the Democratic platform endorsing " a tariff for revenue only " . Garfield 's campaigners used this statement to paint the Democrats as unsympathetic to the plight of industrial laborers , a group that would benefit by a high protective tariff . The tariff issue cut Democratic support in industrialized Northern states , which were essential in establishing a Democratic majority . In the end , the Democrats and Hancock failed to carry any of the Northern states they had targeted , with the exception of New Jersey . Hancock lost the election to Garfield . Garfield polled only 39,213 more votes than Hancock , the popular vote being 4,453,295 for Garfield and 4,414,082 for Hancock . The electoral count , however , had a much larger spread : Garfield polled 214 electoral votes and Hancock only 155
nominated
1880 Republican National Convention
Winfield Scott Hancock