1976Final results
1976 election for President in Iowa
President · Iowa
Gerald Ford (R) won with 49.5% of the vote, defeating Jimmy Carter (D) by 1.0 points.
Gerald FordRepublican · winner
49.5%632,864
Jimmy CarterDemocrat
48.5%619,931
Eugene ""gene"" McCarthyIndependent
1.6%20,057
Thomas J. AndersonOther party
0.2%3,041
Roger MacbrideLibertarian
0.1%1,454
Gus HallCommunist
0.0%551
Peter CamejoSocialist Workers
0.0%262
Lyndon, Larouche Jr.Other party
0.0%241
Frank ZeidlerOther party
0.0%233
Levin Julius ""jules""Other party
0.0%160
1,279,303 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1976
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The candidates
Gerald Ford (R)Jimmy Carter (D)
Also on the ballot: Eugene ""gene"" McCarthy (Independent), 1.6%; Thomas J. Anderson (Other party), 0.2%; Roger Macbride (Libertarian), 0.1%; Gus Hall (Communist), 0.0%; Peter Camejo (Socialist Workers), 0.0%; Lyndon, Larouche Jr. (Other party), 0.0%; Frank Zeidler (Other party), 0.0%; Levin Julius ""jules"" (Other party), 0.0%