Top 20 Disturbing Moments from US Elections

Top 20 Disturbing Moments from US Elections

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the twenty darkest and most insane moments in U.S. Presidential Election history.

#20: Racism & The Birther Attack (2008-2012)
The 2008 election was a pivotal moment for the United States, resulting in the election of the first Black president. The ugliness around the election, though, punctured any fantasies of a potentially post-racial America. Obama’s candidacy was met with racist and bigoted rhetoric. The election saw the rise of the Birther movement: ultra-conservative pundits peddled the conspiracy that Obama wasn't born in America and was actually a 'secret Muslim.’ His opponent, Senator John McCain, publicly rejected these conspiracies. Unfortunately, the narrative persisted throughout Obama's presidency, fueled by figures like Donald Trump. This climate of racial resentment and revanchism helped lay the groundwork for Trump’s rise in 2016, and his transformative influence on the GOP.

#19: The Great Depression “Scandal” (1972)
When George McGovern won the 1972 Democratic primary, anti-war progressives felt ascendant. To balance out the ticket, McGovern chose Senator Thomas Eagleton - a moderate Catholic from Missouri - as his running mate. Eagleton's candidacy lasted less than three weeks. Soon after his selection, it was revealed that Eagleton had suffered from depression earlier in his life. He was treated by doctors with electroshock therapy. The media fell into a feeding frenzy over concerns about his mental health and fitness for office. In an era where mental health issues were highly stigmatized, the media treated the story as a scandal. McGovern ultimately asked Eagleton to withdraw, fearing the controversy would derail the campaign. He would go on to lose in a landslide anyway.

#18: Ford Sunk by a Debate Gaffe (1976)
Despite Watergate, the American public wasn't necessarily ready to hand the White House to Democrats in 1976. The race between President Ford and challenger Jimmy Carter was very tight. Ford waged a surprisingly strong campaign but struggled to close the gap. His controversial pardon of Nixon enabled Carter's pitch as an outsider wanting to restore trust to resonate with the electorate. Still, Ford could have pulled it off until his chances were fatally dashed in their second debate. Ford made a huge gaffe, claiming erroneously that Eastern Europe was not under Soviet domination. This misstep reinforced concerns about Ford’s foreign policy expertise. The gaffe helped propel Carter to a narrow victory. He won with just 50.1% of the popular vote.

#17: Daisy & a Referendum on Civil Rights (1964)
The 1964 presidential election between Lyndon B. Johnson and Barry Goldwater was one marked by intense polarization similar to what we see today. Goldwater, a staunch conservative, opposed the Civil Rights Act, which passed only four months before election day. Civil rights became a defining issue, as Johnson framed the election as a battle between progress and regression. Johnson hammered this home with a powerful ad campaign, portraying Goldwater as dangerous and extreme. The most infamous of these was the “Daisy” ad. It aired only once, but has been talked about for decades since. It implied that Goldwater’s recklessness could lead to nuclear war. Though controversial, it underscored the election’s stakes. Johnson won in a landslide reflecting a clear rejection of Goldwater’s hardline platform.

#16: Swiftboating, & the Birth of Modern Fake News (2004)
John Kerry first became a public figure in the early 1970s. He was one of the most vocal Vietnam War vets to speak out against the war. That led to a career in public service, culminating in his candidacy for president in 2004. Unfortunately, a political group, The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, launched an ad campaign to destroy him. The “Swift Boat” ads falsely accused Kerry of lying about his military service and painted him as a traitor. The attack completely undermined Kerry's history of service - one of his greatest strengths. The ads circulated widely on right-wing media and severely damaged Kerry's credibility with veterans and swing voters. Despite being debunked by many sources, the campaign helped George W. Bush narrowly secure reelection.

#15: Multiple Assassination Attempts (2024)
The 2024 presidential election has been one of heightened political tension and rhetoric. Polls have indicated that some members of the electorate are just fine with the use of violence to achieve political results. During 2024, there were two assassination attempts on the life of former President Donald Trump. The first shot at him with a long rifle, grazing Trump's ear. The other was caught after laying in wait on a golf course for half a day. These attempts reflected the dark undercurrents of an increasingly divided nation, where extreme rhetoric and partisan hostility fuel violence.

#14: Two Sex Scandals & a Wild Inauguration (1828)
The election of 1828 was a rematch between president John Quincy Adams and Democratic rival Andrew Jackson. Their second election set a new, low standard for mudslinging. Adams, the former ambassador to Russia, was accused of pimping a young woman out to the Czar. Jackson’s wife, Rachel, was accused of bigamy, having married Jackson before finalizing her divorce. The rhetoric was heated and increasingly nasty. Unfortunately, Rachel’s heart gave out before Jackson could take office, dying right before Christmas. Jackson accused his detractors of her murder. When he was finally inaugurated, the party devolved into an angry mob. They were only and finally sated when lured away with liquor placed on the White House Lawn.

#13: Roosevelt's Assassination Attempt (1912)
After serving two terms as president, Teddy Roosevelt had a wild post-presidency. He went on a protracted African Safari, a tour of Europe, and even flew in an early Wright Brothers’ plane. When he returned to the States, he began to stir up trouble within his Republican Party. Distressed by the power of both the Supreme Court and corporate oligarchs, he spread a progressive message. He eventually decided to run for a third term under a new banner: The Progressive Party. In 1912, Roosevelt was at an event in Milwaukee preparing to give a speech. There, a disgruntled saloonkeeper shot him from just a few feet away. Roosevelt then proceeded to give his entire lengthy speech with the bullet still lodged in his chest.

#12: A Generational Candidate Destroyed by Monkey Business (1988)
Gary Hart, senator from Colorado, was considered by many to be a brilliant, forward-thinking, once-in-a-generation political mind. He preached modernizing American foreign policy, and foresaw a future where non-state terrorists were the biggest threat to the U.S. Unfortunately, the country was denied his expertise thanks to a lurid sex scandal. Rumors about extramarital affairs swirled around him. He was livid when pressed by reporters, believing that the issues were more important than his personal life. He dared the media to dig up any evidence themselves. They did, in less than 72 hours. They published a photo of Hart with model Donna Rice aboard a yacht named "Monkey Business." With his credibility shot, Hart had to drop out of the race.

#11: Running From Prison (1920)
Eugene V. Debs ran for president in the 1920 election as the Socialist Party candidate. What made this - his fifth - candidacy extraordinary was that he campaigned from prison. Debs had long been a fierce advocate for workers’ rights, socialism, and pacifism. By 1920, he was serving a ten-year sentence under the Espionage Act for his outspoken opposition to U.S. involvement in World War I. He'd fought the conviction all the way to the Supreme Court and lost in 1919. Despite his imprisonment, his message resonated with a significant portion of the electorate. His slogan, “From Atlanta prison to the White House,” symbolized his defiance. Debs earned over 900,000 votes - around 3.4%. President Harding commuted Debs' sentence a year later.

#10: Eating Dogs & Cats (2024)
The second presidential debate of 2024 saw Donald Trump contend with the new Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris. During the debate, Trump falsely claimed that Haitian migrants were "eating dogs and cats" in Springfield, Ohio. The statement sparked outrage and disbelief across the country. His campaign, led by running mate J.D. Vance, doubled and tripled down on this lie in the weeks that followed. The disinformation campaign had real consequences, fueling anti-immigrant hatred and causing fear and division across the country. Haitian migrants faced increased threats and harassment. Established Springfield residents, too, had to deal with bomb threats and lockdowns at local schools and hospitals. Officials - including the town's Republican mayor and the state's Republican governor - begged the candidates to stop.

#9: A Candidate's Death (1872)
The 1872 presidential election was one of the most bizarre in U.S. history. Incumbent President Ulysses S. Grant ran against Horace Greeley, a newspaper editor and founder of the New York Tribune. Greeley had earned the nomination of both the Liberal Republican and Democratic parties. The mudslinging was at a fever pitch, and Greeley's running mate, Gratz Brown, was often drunk during his public appearances. Greeley's wife died weeks before the election. When he lost, the failed candidate was soon ousted from his position at the Tribune and fell into a horrific depression. Just weeks after Election Day, Greeley died in a sanitarium before the Electoral College could cast its votes. They were ultimately divvied up amongst several other candidates.

#8: A Terror Campaign Against Poll Workers (2020-2024)
After his loss in 2020, Donald Trump pushed the Big Lie, claiming that the election had been ‘stolen’. That call to arms endangered poll and election workers across the nation. Notably, poll workers Shaye Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, faced intense scrutiny and abuse after being falsely accused of manipulating votes in Georgia. The personal threats got so bad that they were forced into hiding. This intimidation has created an environment where election workers fear for their safety. More alarmingly, the MAGA wing of the Republican Party has been strategically placing election deniers in key state and local positions. Seemingly poised to undermine the electoral process, these deniers are preparing to gum up the works in 2024, hoping to force the election to the House of Representatives.

#7: A Racist & Rigged Election (1876)
The election of 1876 was one of the most racist and disputed elections in American history. Republican Rutherford B. Hayes faced Democrat Samuel J. Tilden in a contest tainted by allegations of voter fraud and intimidation. As Reconstruction came to an end, white supremacists like the Ku Klux Klan sought to annihilate Black voting rights. Widespread use of violence, murder, and terrorism drastically suppressed the Black vote. "Redemption" campaigns among white Democrats sought to manipulate vote tallies and restore white Democratic control. In the face of resurgent white power, Rutherford B. Hayes engaged in a controversial compromise. He became president in exchange for withdrawing federal troops from the South. This decision effectively abandoned Black citizens, leading to decades of Jim Crow laws and systemic racism.

#6: SCOTUS Picks a President (2000)
The 2000 presidential contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore came down to a razor-thin margin in Florida; a recount was initiated due to disputed ballots. Frantically trying to beat constitutionally mandated deadlines, the campaigns fought in court. The case quickly reached the Supreme Court, culminating in the monumental Bush v. Gore decision. On December 12, the Court ruled 5-4 to halt the Florida recount, citing dubious equal protection concerns. This decision effectively awarded Florida's electoral votes to Bush. He won the presidency despite losing the nationwide popular vote. For his part - seeking to ameliorate tensions - Gore quickly conceded. Still, the ruling was incredibly controversial. To this day, legal experts question the validity of the decision, bemoaning judicial influence in electoral politics.

#5: Tumultuous Primaries (1968)
1968 was one of the most transformative years in modern history. Protests against the Vietnam War erupted after the Tet Offensive ramped up operations; Prague Spring challenged Soviet control in Czechoslovakia; Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed. Amid this turmoil, the Democratic primary became a chaotic spectacle. Senator Robert F. Kennedy entered the race, inspiring hope for change. Incumbent Lyndon Johnson dropped out. Then, Kennedy was assassinated shortly after winning the California primary. Following his death, the political landscape shifted dramatically. Hubert Humphrey, the establishment candidate, gained traction despite not winning any primary elections. The Democratic National Convention in Chicago became the site of massive, angry demonstrations. Anti-war protests erupted outside and were violently put down by the police.

#4: Russian Interference (2016)
Russia engaged in a multi-pronged assault on American democracy during the 2016 presidential election. According to U.S. intelligence, their aim was to increase division, encourage mistrust of the democratic process, and to hurt Hillary Clinton’s campaign, while benefiting Trump’s. Russia’s military intelligence hacked and leaked thousands of Clinton's emails. The Mueller Report concluded that while there was insufficient evidence to establish "collusion," there were numerous contacts between individuals linked to Russia and Trump campaign staff, who were aware of Russia’s efforts. Several misled or lied to investigators about these contacts. Additionally, the Cambridge Analytica Scandal revealed how data analytics were used to micro-target voters. Russia reportedly manipulated social media algorithms to sow discord and spread disinformation, amplifying divisive narratives.

#3: The "Corrupt Bargain" (1824)
The four-way race in the election of 1824 all but guaranteed none could win the presidency outright. John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford, and Speaker of the House Henry Clay fought for domination. Andrew Jackson won the popular vote and secured the most electoral votes, but did not achieve a majority. The election was ultimately decided in the House of Representatives. Henry Clay chose to endorse Adams, whipping the votes in Adams' favor. After Adams was inaugurated, he appointed Clay as his Secretary of State. Jackson called the deal a "corrupt bargain." This backroom deal enraged Jackson's supporters and set the stage for a bitter rematch four years later.

#2: “Stand Back and Stand By” (2020)
Trump's instructions to the Proud Boys during a 2020 presidential debate became a rallying cry for extremist groups. Following his loss, Trump attempted to interfere with state election outcomes by pressuring officials to overturn results. They refused. He lobbied the Department of Justice to support his unfounded claims of widespread fraud. They, too, refused. So Trump asked his supporters to attend a rally on January 6th. When the day arrived, he urged them to march on the Capitol and “fight like hell.” This rhetoric galvanized a violent mob, including far-right militias, that breached the Capitol, aiming to disrupt the certification of the electoral college results. Five people died, and four officers took their own lives in the months that followed.

#1: The Election Couldn’t Prevent Civil War (1860)
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 established the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and allowed the territories to decide for themselves whether to permit slavery. Instead of easing tensions as intended, this legislation ignited violent conflict and laid the groundwork for the Civil War. The subsequent debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas established Lincoln's national prominence. He eloquently articulated the moral and political implications of slavery, appealing to a growing abolitionist sentiment. Though he lost his Senate race, his newfound popularity earned him the Republican nomination for president. He ran as a moderate, aiming to contain slavery rather than abolishing it outright. The South still saw him as a threat to the 'peculiar institution.' War broke out mere months after Lincoln took office.


Those who ignore the past are destined to repeat it. Do you know of contentious moments from past elections that can teach us how to be more excellent to one another? Let us know in the comments below!