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In 1860, sectional tensions in the United States were at an all-time high. The Democratic party split on two, the Southern Democrats nominating Vice-president John C Breckinridge and Oregon Governor Joseph Lane while the mainstream Democrats nominated Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas and Governor Herschel Vespasian Johnson of Georgia. The Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin and the Constitutional Union Party, led by John Bell and Edward Everett, also contested.

In the North, Douglas campaigned bitterly against Lincoln, especially in New York and Illinois,[1], despite the huge Republican advantage there. In the South, it was primarily a contest between Bell and Breckinridge, though Douglas managed to win Missouri.

President James Buchanan supported Breckinridge's campaign, which gave Breckinridge an advantage. Lincoln ran a front-porch campaign while his supporters boosted support for him.

Election results:
Abraham Lincoln 142 electoral votes 39.5% of the popular vote
Stephen Douglas 51 electoral votes 29.7% of the popular vote
John C Breckenridge 72 electoral votes 18.2% of the popular vote
John Bell 39 electoral votes 12.6% of the popular vote

No candidate had won the needed 152 electoral votes. Therefore, the election would go to the House. Only the top three candidates would participate, meaning the contest was between Douglas, Lincoln and Breckinridge.

The House deadlocked. All the Southern representatives voted for Breckinridge and President Buchanan worked to ensure Breckinridge would become President. However, neither candidate reached the two-thirds majority, though Lincoln attained a majority with 126 House votes. The South threatened secession if the House chose Lincoln.

After the fifteenth ballot, Douglas moved to make himself the compromise candidate.
Douglas won 55 House votes. However, Douglas was attacked as he promised not to accept election by House.

"And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a president whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President."

The Senate had to choose between the top-two running mates, Hamlin and Lane. On the first ballot, Lane and Hamlin both won 32 votes with 2 abstaining. Vice-President Breckinridge cast a vote for Lane, breaking the tie and giving Lane 33 votes. The Senate selected Joseph Lane as Vice-President of the United States.

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Joseph Lane


With the House of Representatives in a continued deadlock and tensions mounting on both sides, on 4 March, 1861, Joseph Lane was inaugurated President of the United States.

[1]In OTL, Douglas campaigned in the South more though he knew he couldn't win there. The PoD is Douglas does better in the North and that he wins New York.

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