This marks one of four occasions where a newly elected president entered office with a divided legislature, occurring again in 1860, 1884, and 1980.

The 1876 presidential election was heavily contested, and saw the highest turnout of voting age population in American history, 81.8%.

In Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina, each party reported its candidate had won the state amid various allegations of electoral fraud and intimidation of voters.

At the same time, in Oregon, one elector was declared illegal (as an "elected or appointed official") and replaced.

Since this election was held prior to ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment, these seats were chosen by the state legislatures.