The first election in which the D was left-wing and the R was right-wing

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

1980 is the correct answer, in modern terms.

Uh.... Like at least half of all elections before that? I mean if you're not gonna recognize 1896, then there are still about a million other freakin' examples. Just even frickin' 1972. McGovern's ideology doesn't now count as conservative or something. Hell, 1964 would be a bad answer but it'd at least cover a bit more ground than frickin' 1980.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I'm surprised nobody has suggested 1872 (although 1896 was the turning point between when it was an exception and the norm)

Why 1872?  Can Tilden be called left-wing, even in relation to Hayes?

We are talking in relation to the gold standard, Grant was conservative on it, Tilden was liberal on it.

I'm pretty sure Tilden was a "Bourbon" and both Hayes and Tilden were in favor of sound money. There were in fact very few differences between the candidates.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

1872 was the first election when the Democrats were more left-wing on economics. After 1896 an economically right-wing Democrat became the exception rather than the rule.

Although I'd say on social issues the Democrats were not more liberal until the 1950's.

The Republicans have always had a puritan streak of sorts, and the whole Bryan episode was much more a fluke than an overall indicator of where the Democratic party stood. Now, you can argue whether that puritan streak was a force for conservatism or progressivism, but it was there.