1980: Jerry Brown vs. Ronald Reagan (Ford reelected)

[President Johnson]

Say Gerald Ford wins in 1976 and is term limited in 1980. He does better than Carter in managing foreign crisis and the economic downturn, but is just about even in approval rating. Ronald Reagan wins the Republican nomination after a bitter contest with Vice President Bob Dole, while Jerry Brown upsets a number of Democratic contenders and becomes the nominee of his party. How does the battle between the California governors turn out?

(If this was a normal 1980 and Brown beats Carter for the nomination or latter retires, Reagan would obviously win).

[Alben Barkley]

Any situation in which Ford wins in 1976 leads to a reverse 1980, i.e. a Democratic landslide. After 12 years in power including the Watergate scandal and now everything that went down between 1976 (when Ford probably barely won) and 1980, there is no way in hell the Republicans could possibly win again.

Jerry Brown mat not be the strongest nominee possible, but he still easily beats Reagan. Unlike in real 1980, the last thing the country would want is to double down on conservatism at this time.

[dw93]

Brown wins decisively, though not by a landslide, the GOP had too much or an electoral advantage at the time. He likely wins re election in 1984, but I could easily see a Republican winning in 1988 in this scenario.

[Agonized-Statism]

Fmr. Governor Ronald Reagan (R-CA) / Congressman Jack Kemp (R-NY)
Governor Jerry Brown (D-CA) / Senator John Glenn (D-OH) ✓

Brown wins, but it's hard to see him cracking into the South with the rise of the religious right.

[Sir Mohamed]

Reagan definitely isn't winning a 4th term for the GOP, and certainly not in 1980.



✓ Governor Jerry Brown (D-CA)/Senator Wendell Ford (D-KY): 343 EVs.; 52.2%
Former Governor Roland Reagan (R-CA)/Senator Richard Schweiker (R-PA): 195 EVs.; 45.1%

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

Brown would not have won; the country was not that culturally liberal at that time.  I think Brown MAY have started the realignment of the non-religious in places like the West Coast and New England.

[AlterEgo]

Brown would not have won; the country was not that culturally liberal at that time.  I think Brown MAY have started the realignment of the non-religious in places like the West Coast and New England.

Doesn't matter; 1976 was a poisoned chalice, especially if you're talking about 12 years of GOP control.