The Democratic candidate Winfield Scott Hancock of Pennsylvania challenged Garfield in the 1880 general election. Hancock had graduated from West Point and distinguished himself with his service in the Mexican, Seminole, and U.S. Civil War. He later served as military governor of Louisiana and Texas. Originally, it was thought that Samuel J. Tilden would be the Democratic Party’s nominee, given that many thought he had been cheated out of the previous presidential election. However, Tilden withdrew his name from consideration and Hancock emerged as the leading contender.