Who were the main candidates in the 1976 presidential election?

The main candidates in the 1976 presidential election were Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. This election was significant as it marked the first time a former Southern governor was elected president since before the Civil War. Jimmy Carter, a Democrat from Georgia, ran on a platform that emphasized ethics in government, reform, and humanitarian values, resonating with voters who were disillusioned by the Watergate scandal and its aftermath. Gerald Ford, the incumbent president and a Republican, had assumed the presidency after Richard Nixon's resignation. Ford campaigned on a platform that stressed continuity and stability, attempting to heal the divisions in the country.

Carter's appeal largely stemmed from his outsider status and his promise to restore faith in the presidency, while Ford struggled with the legacy of Nixon's administration. The election resulted in Carter winning a closely contested race, which underscored a shift in American politics during the post-Watergate era.