Kentucky voted for the Liberal Republican candidate, Horace Greeley, over Republican candidate, Ulysses S. Grant. Greeley won Kentucky by a margin of 5.88%. However, Greeley died prior to the Electoral College meeting, meaning for Kentucky's 12 electors could vote for the candidate of their choice: eight voted for Indiana Senator Thomas Hendricks, while four voted for Greeley's running mate, Benjamin Gratz Brown.[1]
This is the last time a Republican won two terms without ever carrying the state.
^ abGreeley died after the election, but prior to the Electoral College meeting, and was thus ineligible for the office of President. Greeley had won 12 pledged electors, of which all cast their votes for other Democrats.