1877 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

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1877 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
Flag of Wisconsin (1866-1913).png
  1875 November 6, 1877 1879  
  William E. Smith.jpg James A. Mallory.jpg EdwardPAllis.png
Nominee William E. Smith James A. Mallory Edward Phelps Allis
Party Republican Democratic Greenback
Popular vote78,75970,48626,216
Percentage44.22%39.57%14.72%

1877 Wisconsin gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Smith :     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     >90%
Taylor :     30-40%     40-50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Allis :     50–60%     80–90%

Governor before election

Harrison Ludington
Republican

Elected Governor

William E. Smith
Republican

The 1877 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1877. Under internal party pressure, incumbent Republican Governor Harrison Ludington, who had barely won the 1875 election, was pressured to not seek a second term. [1] Former State Assembly Speaker William E. Smith, a longtime figure in Wisconsin politics, was selected as the Republican nominee, [2] and Milwaukee County Municipal Judge Thomas A. Mallory won a protracted battle for the nomination at the Democratic convention. Smith and Mallory were joined in the general election by Greenback nominee Edward Phelps Allis. Ultimately, though the Republican vote share shrank relative to 1875, the Democratic vote share shrank more, and Smith won a larger victory than Ludington did, though only with a 44% plurality.

Contents

Nominations

Republican convention

The Republican convention was significantly less drawn-out than the Democratic convention, with most of the drama over the nomination occurring in the months before. Significant opposition developed in the Republican Party to the possible nomination of Governor Ludington for re-election, [1] and former State Assembly Speaker William E. Smith, Ludington's opponent for the nomination two years earlier, emerging as a leading candidate. Smith's supporters produced a letter written from Ludington to Smith during the 1875 Republican convention, which thanked Smith for withdrawing from the race and promised to step aside for Smith in 1877:

I only want to be Governor one term. That's all I ask. Two years from now, I shall not be in your way, or in any one else's, for the nomination. "Don't make it an absolute refusal," one of the members urged with fervor that almost disarmed me, and I think I made no reply.

Chippewa Herald [3]

Ultimately, under significant pressure from the state Republican establishment, Ludington announced that he would not seek a second term. [4] At the Republican convention in September, Smith took an early lead on the informal ballot of the delegates and then was nominated unanimously. [5]

Democratic convention

At the Democratic convention, several candidates entered the contest as apparent frontrunners: former State Senator Nicholas D. Fratt, Lieutenant Governor Charles D. Parker, State Senator Romanzo E. Davis, [6] and State Prison Commissioner H. N. Smith. [7] At the convention, a number of candidates were nominated, though some immediately made it clear that they would decline any nomination: [8]

The contest took five ballots to decide. On the first ballot, Fratt took an early lead, with Parker and Davis immediately behind him. After the first ballot, Smith withdrew. On the second ballot, Davis rocketed to first place, with Fratt's and Parker's support starting to decline. Mallory slowly began climbing on the second ballot. On the third ballot, Davis continued to climb, Fratt fell, and Mallory rose to third place over Parker. At this point, the Milwaukee contingent at the convention, eager to stop Parker, a Madisonian from earning the nomination, began to solidify around Mallory as a compromise candidate. On the fourth ballot, Mallory more than doubled his support, Davis continued to climb, and Fratt and Parker both plummeted; after this round of balloting had concluded, Fratt's name was withdrawn. Finally, on the fifth ballot, Mallory won the nomination over Davis handily. [8]

Results

1877 Democratic convention ballot [8]
Ballot12345
J. A. Mallory253243108146
N. D. Fratt686555180
C. D. Parker584141180
R. E. Davis4982999591
H. N. Smith2020950
J. A. Rice95630
L. B. Vilas910740
H. H. Gray94000
W. F. Vilas65410
J. R. Doolittle20000
A. Mitchell11300
N. Dewey10000

Results

1877 Wisconsin gubernatorial election [12] [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican William E. Smith 78,759 44.22% −5.85%
Democratic James A. Mallory70,48639.57%−10.00%
Greenback Edward P. Allis 26,21614.72%
Socialist Collin M. Campbell2,1761.22%
Prohibition J. C. Hall3990.22%−0.05%
Scattering860.05%
Majority8,2734.64%
Total votes178,122 100.00%
Republican hold Swing +4.18%

Results by county

Mallory was the first Democrat to ever carry Winnebago County. This was the first of 40 consecutive gubernatorial elections in which Oconto County backed the winning candidate, a streak that would last until 1958.

County [12] [13] William E. Smith
Republican
James A. Mallory
Democratic
Edward P. Allis
Greenback
Collin M. Campbell
Socialist [14]
J. C. Hall
Prohibition [15]
Scattering
Write-in
MarginTotal votes cast
# %# %# %# %# %# %# %
Adams 58062.43%23325.08%11612.49%00.00%00.00%00.00%34737.35%929
Ashland 8634.54%16365.46%00.00%00.00%00.00%00.00%-77-30.92%249
Barron 45964.20%20328.39%537.41%00.00%00.00%00.00%25635.80%715
Bayfield 4052.63%3444.74%22.63%00.00%00.00%00.00%67.89%76
Brown 1,38733.38%1,74041.88%1,01524.43%00.00%130.31%00.00%-353-8.50%4,155
Buffalo 1,07554.82%81041.31%763.88%00.00%00.00%00.00%26513.51%1,961
Burnett 33693.33%246.67%00.00%00.00%00.00%00.00%31286.67%360
Calumet 45022.59%1,13056.73%38919.53%201.00%00.00%30.15%-680-34.14%1,992
Chippewa 67534.49%69335.41%58930.10%00.00%00.00%00.00%-18-0.92%1,957
Clark 44931.66%15310.79%81657.55%00.00%00.00%00.00%-367 [a] -25.89%1,418
Columbia 2,04854.19%1,59742.26%1183.12%20.05%140.37%00.00%45111.93%3,779
Crawford 80641.12%1,00851.43%1467.45%00.00%00.00%00.00%-202-10.31%1,960
Dane 3,61344.24%3,90347.80%6147.52%00.00%00.00%360.44%-290-3.55%8,166
Dodge 2,33333.14%4,26760.62%3815.41%10.01%570.81%00.00%-1,934-27.48%7,039
Door 47748.38%12612.78%38338.84%00.00%00.00%00.00%94 [b] 9.54%986
Douglas 2142.86%2857.14%00.00%00.00%00.00%00.00%-7-14.29%49
Dunn 1,17455.64%40719.29%41219.53%1095.17%80.38%00.00%762 [b] 36.11%2,110
Eau Claire 1,20846.28%80530.84%59722.87%00.00%00.00%00.00%40315.44%2,610
Fond du Lac 3,08639.14%3,41443.30%1,24915.84%150.19%1191.51%10.01%-328-4.16%7,884
Grant 2,62046.82%1,93834.63%1,03718.53%00.00%00.00%10.02%68212.19%5,596
Green 1,82356.02%84926.09%58017.82%10.03%00.00%10.03%97429.93%3,254
Green Lake 87943.15%89643.99%21510.55%00.00%472.31%00.00%-17-0.83%2,037
Iowa 1,46139.91%1,17532.10%1,02127.89%00.00%40.11%00.00%2867.81%3,661
Jackson 80246.74%39122.79%52130.36%00.00%20.12%00.00%281 [b] 16.38%1,716
Jefferson 1,91741.03%2,41851.76%2966.34%220.47%00.00%190.41%-501-10.72%4,672
Juneau 1,04543.63%88336.87%46319.33%00.00%30.13%10.04%1626.76%2,395
Kenosha 93849.47%90747.84%512.69%00.00%00.00%00.00%311.64%1,896
Kewaunee 24728.00%55863.27%202.27%576.46%00.00%00.00%-311-35.26%882
La Crosse 1,96852.35%1,11529.66%52413.94%1493.96%00.00%30.08%85322.69%3,759
Lafayette 1,40947.31%1,30043.65%2699.03%00.00%00.00%00.00%1093.66%2,978
Lincoln 2712.80%157.11%16980.09%00.00%00.00%00.00%-142 [a] -67.29%211
Manitowoc 1,36538.16%1,95154.54%982.74%1554.33%80.22%00.00%-586-16.38%3,577
Marathon 30116.69%75541.87%74641.38%10.06%00.00%00.00%-9 [c] -0.50%1,803
Marquette 44735.56%73058.07%766.05%00.00%40.32%00.00%-283-22.51%1,257
Milwaukee 5,84339.28%6,38842.94%1,2288.25%1,4079.46%100.07%00.00%-545-3.66%14,876
Monroe 1,10234.26%1,09634.07%1,01931.68%00.00%00.00%00.00%60.19%3,217
Oconto 1,05953.43%76438.55%1577.92%00.00%00.00%20.10%29514.88%1,982
Outagamie 77620.56%2,00553.11%99226.28%00.00%00.00%20.05%-1,013 [c] -26.83%3,775
Ozaukee 43721.08%1,57976.17%170.82%381.83%00.00%20.10%-1,142-55.09%2,073
Pepin 52163.85%17120.96%12315.07%00.00%00.00%10.12%35042.89%816
Pierce 1,52361.46%54521.99%40816.46%00.00%00.00%20.08%97839.47%2,478
Polk 91668.36%36327.09%604.48%00.00%00.00%10.07%55341.27%1,340
Portage 1,08039.47%91733.52%72826.61%30.11%80.29%00.00%1635.96%2,736
Racine 2,30453.30%1,90644.09%1122.59%00.00%00.00%10.02%3989.21%4,323
Richland 1,20145.58%72927.67%70526.76%00.00%00.00%00.00%47217.91%2,635
Rock 3,37558.39%1,62028.03%78113.51%00.00%40.07%00.00%1,75530.36%5,780
Sauk 1,82653.85%92227.19%57416.93%682.01%00.00%10.03%90426.66%3,391
Shawano 26927.28%60561.36%929.33%00.00%202.03%00.00%-336-34.08%986
Sheboygan 1,59838.66%1,73742.02%75018.14%481.16%00.00%10.02%-139-3.36%4,134
St. Croix 1,55949.63%1,48947.41%932.96%00.00%00.00%00.00%702.23%3,141
Taylor 19538.84%25450.60%5310.56%00.00%00.00%00.00%-59-11.75%502
Trempealeau 2,48372.52%73121.35%1765.14%00.00%340.99%00.00%1,75251.17%3,424
Vernon 1,67857.04%41614.14%84628.76%00.00%00.00%20.07%832 [b] 28.38%2,942
Walworth 2,91465.48%1,37430.88%1603.60%00.00%00.00%20.04%1,54034.61%4,450
Washington 99429.50%2,18764.92%1875.55%10.03%00.00%00.00%-1,193-35.41%3,369
Waukesha 2,48448.21%2,38846.35%2765.36%20.04%00.00%20.04%961.86%5,152
Waupaca 1,47345.41%99030.52%77223.80%00.00%80.25%10.03%48314.89%3,244
Waushara 1,28266.74%25713.38%37719.63%00.00%50.26%00.00%905 [b] 47.11%1,921
Winnebago 2,06832.82%2,23835.52%1,88729.95%771.22%310.49%00.00%-170-2.70%6,301
Wood 24723.64%19618.76%60157.51%00.00%00.00%10.10%-354 [a] -33.87%1,045
Total78,75944.22%70,48639.57%26,21614.72%2,1761.22%3990.22%860.05%8,2734.64%178,122

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Republican to Greenback

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Greenback

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Allis's margin over Smith
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Smith's margin over Allis
  3. 1 2 Mallory's margin over Allis

References

  1. 1 2 Nesbit 1985, p. 576.
  2. Nesbit 1985, p. 576-77.
  3. "Ought to Live Up to the Agreement". Chippewa Herald. Chippewa, Wis. June 22, 1877. p. 1. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  4. "Gov. Ludington Declines a Re-Nomination". Fox Lake Representative. Fox Lake, Wis. July 6, 1877. p. 1. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  5. "Hon. Wm. E. Smith Nominated for Governor". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wis. September 11, 1877. p. 1. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  6. "The Candidates for Governor". Green Bay Advocate. Green Bay, Wis. June 23, 1877. p. 2. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  7. "The Governorship". Appleton Crescent. Appleton, Wis. June 23, 1877. p. 1. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "A list of Lambs: Who were Prepared for Political Slaughter". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wis. September 27, 1877. p. 1. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  9. "The Democratic Nominations". Wisconsin State Register. Portage, Wis. September 29, 1877. p. 2. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  10. "A Few Questions Answered". Wood Count Reporter. Grand Rapids, Wis. September 2, 1875. p. 4. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  11. "Mitchell, Alexander 1817-1887". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  12. 1 2 Tabular Statement of the votes polled for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, State Superintendent and on the proposed amendments to the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin, at a general election held in the several towns, wards and election precincts in the several counties in said state, on the Tuesday next succeeding the first Monday, being the sixth day of November, A.D. 1877
  13. 1 2 Wisconsin Secretary of State (1878). "The Vote for State Officers, 1877". The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin. Madison, Wisconsin: David Atwood, Printer and Stereotyper. pp. 404–405.
  14. "The County Election". The Manitowoc Tribune. Manitowoc, Wisconsin. November 8, 1877. p. 3. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  15. "Prohibition Ticket". The Kenosha Telegraph. Kenosha, Wisconsin. August 9, 1877. p. 4. Retrieved August 22, 2024.

Bibliography