1879 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

1879 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

←  1878 November 4, 1879 (1879-11-04) 1880  →

Nominee John Davis Long Benjamin Butler Party Republican Democratic Alliance Greenback Popular vote 122,751 109,149 Percentage 50.4% 44.8%

County results Long:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Butler:      50–60%

Governor before election Thomas Talbot Republican Elected Governor John Davis Long Republican

The 1879 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 4.

Republican nomination

Candidates

• John Davis Long, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
• Henry L. Pierce, former Mayor of Boston and U.S. Representative

Declined

• Thomas Talbot, incumbent Governor

Campaign

On June 20, Governor Talbot announced that he wished to retire at the end of his term and would decline the Republican nomination if offered. He formally withdrew on August 20. ^{[1] [2]}

Following Talbot's withdrawal, the field was divided between Lieutenant Governor John Davis Long and former Mayor of Boston Henry L. Pierce, with Pierce stronger in the cities. ^[2]

Long (or his supporters) felt he was guaranteed the nomination by agreement, having stepped aside for Talbot in 1878. However, this agreement quickly made way for the necessity of defeating Benjamin Butler, whom Republicans decried as a demagogue and communist. Supporters of Henry L. Pierce entered his name into consideration soon after Talbot's withdrawal in hopes that Long supporters would again concede to a stronger candidate, but they did not. Long and Pierce agreed on many issues, so the electability issue decided the campaign. Pierce's supporters argued that he would better appeal to liberals, independents, and Democrats, while Long had to rely on Stalwarts and prohibitionists. Though Long conceded to be as liberal as Pierce, Pierce supporters argued that his brief public record was insufficient to appeal to swing constituencies. ^[3]

Convention

1879 Massachusetts Republican Convention ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Davis Long	669	56.9%
	Republican	Henry L. Pierce	505	43.0%
	Republican	Charles Devens	1	0.1%
Total votes			1,175	100%

Long formally accepted the nomination at a ratification meeting on September 26. Pierce sent a letter endorsing Long. ^[5]

General election

Results

• John Quincy Adams II, former State Representative from Quincy and nominee for Governor (1867–71) (Democratic)
• Benjamin Butler, former U.S. Representative from Lowell (Greenback and Democratic)
• D.C. Eddy (Prohibition)
• John Davis Long, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts (Republican)

1879 Massachusetts gubernatorial election ^{[6] [7]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Davis Long	122,751	50.4%
	Democratic	Benjamin Butler	109,149	44.8%
	Independent Democrat	John Quincy Adams II	9,989	4.1%
	Prohibition	D.C. Eddy	1,645	0.7%
	Others	Others	108	nil
	Republican hold		Swing

See also

• 1879 Massachusetts legislature

References

1. "Massachusetts Governorship". The New York Times . June 20, 1879. p. 1. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
2. "The Massachusetts Canvass". The New York Times . August 20, 1879. p. 1. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
3. "The Republicans in Massachusetts". The New York Times . September 16, 1879. p. 4. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
4. "Stalwart Republicanism: The Nominations". The New York Times . September 17, 1879. p. 2. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
5. "Massachusetts Republicans". September 27, 1879. p. 5.
6. "1879 Massachusetts governor results".
7. Manual for the Use of the General Court, 1880. Boston, MA: Rand, Avery, & Co., Printers to the Commonwealth. 1880.