1976: Ford wins

[MATTROSE94]

While Gerald Ford likely handles the challenges of the late 1970s better than IRL, the economy still would have been an issue, so Jimmy Carter likely makes a comeback in 1980 and wins handily against Bob Dole:

Former Governor Jimmy Carter (D-GA)/Senator Lloyd Bensten (D-TX): 421 EVs (55%)
Vice President Bob Dole (R-KS)/Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (R-IL): 117 EVs (43%)
Others: 0 EVs (2%)

The Senate is around 70-30 in favor of the Democrats and the House is around 300-135 in favor of the Democrats, giving President-elect Jimmy Carter a solid Congressional mandate. President Jimmy Carter is likely able to turn around the economy and get inflation under control by 1982, which will allow him to get reelected handily in 1984, possibly getting close to a 50 state sweep if he plays his cards right. The Democrats are also a lot more moderate in this scenario, which will allow them to stay in power longer than IRL.

[MATTROSE94]

While Ford instead of Carter as president probably would've made little difference for 1977-1981, the ripple effect through today (no Reagan revolution, etc) is hard to apprehend.

One of the most important "butterfly effect" elections I can think of, even if the presidential term in question wasn't all that consequential,

I agree that both parties would be very different today if Gerald Ford win in 1976. The Republicans would probably remain similar to how they were during the Eisenhower era on policies, whereas the Democrats likely would take the Christian Democratic route (especially if Jimmy Carter runs again and wins in 1980). The Democratic Party’s main base of support would probably be the South, Appalachia, and the Rust Belt, whereas the Republicans would remain strong in upper New England, states with high suburban populations, and in the Western states.