1808 Election (And Now for Something Completely Different)

[SPC]

After two contested elections, Thomas Jefferson finally obtained a decisive win over his perpetual rival John Adams. Events in the second Jefferson administration proceed very similarly to IRL, embargo, Burr treason trial, and all. Madison is campaigning largely on continuing Jefferson's policies, while Pinckney is taking up the token Federalist opposition. In an alternate universe we may have seen the Tertium Quids nominate a candidate, but given the current convergence with IRL that was not in the cards. Yes, this matchup may be boring, but it beats testing yet another iteration of Jefferson vs Adams a fourth time. Take your pick.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Madison.

[SPC]

James Madison 86
Charles Pinckney 84
George Clinton 6

George Clinton 86
Rufus King 84
James Madison 3
James Monroe 3

Although few expected the election to be close, given the record low turnout for what was expected to be a Madison landslide, the election ended up being tight enough for faithless electors from New York to once again throw a wrench into the plans of the Virginia dynasty. The election was thrown to the House of Representatives for the first time in history. While Republicans had a narrow majority of delegations at the time, Vice-President Clinton's nephew, New York City mayor DeWitt Clinton, entered negotiations on his own accord with the Federalists, brokering a deal whereby Clinton would be elected President and King would be elected Vice-President. As with the 1800 election, Republicans cried fraud and attempted to overturn the results of the perceived coup, but were unsuccessful.