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

[Wikipedia delenda est]

Oh great, another one of these threads...the Republicans were inarguably to the left of the reactionary Democrats in the 1850s, 60s, and 70s, and arguably so until the 1930s, but we should keep that debate in the "historical continuity" thread (where I've just made a long new post!). By election, I'd say in 1904 Teddy was to the left of Parker and in 1924 both candidates were so conservative it was hard to tell, so I'd choose one of those two.

[Wikipedia delenda est]

1956

Exceptionally bad take.  Even if you insist on putting civil rights on a left/right scale as you clearly do, there are a plethora of other issues to consider.

This is clearly the only reasonable way to view the issue. The real question is why you are so insistent on putting 19th century issues of religion/morality on a 21st century spectrum.

[Wikipedia delenda est]

It's not like Eisenhower was particularly progressive on civil rights anyway. He privately opposed Brown and did little to expand voting rights. Even dragged his feet during the Little Rock Crisis to the extent that Louis Armstrong of all people was saying he had "no guts" and was "two-faced"!

Stevenson certainly would have done more on civil rights had he been elected.

I guess that’s why Adam Clayton Powell bucked his own party and endorsed Eisenhower in 1956. Personally, based on what each candidate said about civil rights during the campaigns of 1952 and 1956, I can only conclude that Stevenson was far more cowardly on the issue than Eisenhower.

[Wikipedia delenda est]

Oh great, another one of these threads...the Republicans were inarguably to the left of the reactionary Democrats in the 1850s, 60s, and 70s, and arguably so until the 1930s, but we should keep that debate in the "historical continuity" thread (where I've just made a long new post!). By election, I'd say in 1904 Teddy was to the left of Parker and in 1924 both candidates were so conservative it was hard to tell, so I'd choose one of those two.

William Jennings Bryan, noted conservative

William McKinley, noted liberal

Neither of those men were major political figures in those decades.