When was the last time the Republican nominee was arguably more left-leaning than the Democratic one

[RINO Tom]

1912 stands out.

There are WAY better arguments than this.  It literally entirely hinges on “Wilson is racist, racism is bad, racism is conservative.”

[Property Representative of the Harold Holt Swimming Centre]

1912 stands out.

There are WAY better arguments than this.  It literally entirely hinges on “Wilson is racist, racism is bad, racism is conservative.”

Wilson is a key figure (perhaps *the* key figure) in the Progressive Era.

[darklordoftech]

There have been House races in which the GOP nominee was to the left of the Democratic nominee (Larry McDonald’s elections and Phil Gramm’s elections when he was a Democrat come to mind), but I don’t think there’s ever been a Presidential election in which the GOP nominee was definitely to the left of the Democratic nominee.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

1912 stands out.

There are WAY better arguments than this.  It literally entirely hinges on “Wilson is racist, racism is bad, racism is conservative.”

Not only was Wilson a prominent progressive, he was the essential figure in the evolution of modern American liberalism and a bridge between the ideology of the old Bourbon Democrats and what he called "new freedom." Calling him to the right of Taft is laughable.

[TheReckoning]

There have been House races in which the GOP nominee was to the left of the Democratic nominee (Larry McDonald’s elections and Phil Gramm’s elections when he was a Democrat come to mind), but I don’t think there’s ever been a Presidential election in which the GOP nominee was definitely to the left of the Democratic nominee.

1976

[E-Dawg]

There have been House races in which the GOP nominee was to the left of the Democratic nominee (Larry McDonald’s elections and Phil Gramm’s elections when he was a Democrat come to mind), but I don’t think there’s ever been a Presidential election in which the GOP nominee was definitely to the left of the Democratic nominee.

1976

Character Growth

[Sumner 1868]

Probably 1904.

[ClassicElectionEnthusiast]

With 1976, you could possibly place Gerald Ford as either having the same positions if not just slightly to the left of Jimmy Carter on abortion (though that year saw the introduction of a Human Life Amendment to the Republican platform {presumably as an olive branch to the Reagan-led conservative wing} and the choice of a solidly pro-life running mate in Bob Dole)