The United States Liberal Republican Party was a political party formed in 1872 to oppose the administration of the then-current President, Ulysses S. Grant. The party's candidate in that year's presidential election was New York Times editor Horace Greeley. Following his nomination by the Liberal Republicans, Greeley was also nominated by the Democratic Party. By 1876, the Liberal Republican Party had ceased to exist. However, many political scientists believe that, by loosening the allegiance of liberal elements to the Republican Party, the Liberal Republicans made it possible for these elements to subsequently move to the Democratic Party.
