Rutherford B. Hayes Republican James A. Garfield Republican The 1880 United States presidential election in Colorado took place on November 2, 1880, as part of the 1880 United States presidential election.

Additionally, it was the only time a Democrat won any counties other than Las Animas, Bent, and Huerfano until 1896.

[1] Hancock's strength was part of a brief surge for Democrats in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific: Democrats captured California for the first time since 1856, Nevada for the first time ever, and fell only 1.63% short in Oregon.

This surge can largely be attributed to a letter attributed to Garfield, first printed in a New York newspaper named Truth, that declared Garfield was in favor of allowing Chinese immigration for its cheap labor.

Despite the fact that it was a blatant falsehood, it cost Republicans in the west where Chinese immigrants were often accused of stealing jobs from American laborers.