Harding, suffering scandal the past few years, did his best to communicate a new commitment to honest dealings during his tours throughout the country. He also reached out somewhat to the progressive members of his party on issues such as labor rights, but could not keep back a strong challenge from Senator La Folette running on the Progressive ticket. The Democrats, after a contentious convention, nominated John W. Davis as a compromise candidate. For his running mate they chose Senator John Kendrick, to balance the Eastern conservative Davis with a popular Western progressive, as well as to draw attention to the Teapot Dome Scandal which Kendrick had played a role in uncovering. The Democrats hit hard on Harding's record of scandal, but the combination of a division in the anti-incumbency vote, as well as the improvements in the economy over the previous four years, allowed Harding and Coolidge to win reelection.
President Warren G. Harding (R-OH)/ VP Calvin Coolidge (R-MA) 314 44.0%Fmr Amb. John W. Davis (D-WV)/ Sen. John B. Kendrick (D-WY) 192 36.9%Sen. Robert La Folette (R/P-WI)/ Sen. Burton K. Wheeler (D/P-MT) 25 18.5%
