1896 United States presidential election in Michigan

Last updated

1896 United States presidential election in Michigan
Flag of Michigan.svg
  1892 November 3, 1896 1900  
  William McKinley by Courtney Art Studio, 1896 (cropped).jpg William Jennings Bryan 2 (cropped).jpg
Nominee William McKinley William Jennings Bryan
Party Republican Populist
Alliance - Democratic
Home state Ohio Nebraska
Running mate Garret Hobart Thomas E. Watson
Electoral vote140
Popular vote293,336237,166
Percentage53.77%43.47%

Michigan Presidential Election Results 1896.svg
County Results

President before election

Grover Cleveland
Democratic

Elected President

William McKinley
Republican

The 1896 United States presidential election in Michigan took place on November 3, 1896. All contemporary 45 states were part of the 1896 United States presidential election. Voters chose 14 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

Contents

Ever since the formation of the Republican party, Michigan had been a Republican-leaning state due to the Lower Peninsula’s strong history of settlement by anti-slavery Yankees, who after the end of Reconstruction continued to see the need for solid Republican voting to oppose the solidly Democratic Confederate and Border States. [1] During the Third Party System, heavily Catholic and immigrant-settled Southeast Michigan would lean towards the Democratic Party, which was opposed to the moralistic pietism of Yankee Republicans.

In the 1892 election, aided by favorable demographic changes [2] and a legislative change allocating electors by congressional district, the Democratic Party managed to carry five of Michigan’s fourteen electoral votes, and also elect a Governor and a majority to the state legislature. However, the Panic of 1893 turned expectations or hopes of Michigan becoming a swing state rudely on its head, especially when incumbent President Cleveland stood firm, sending in troops to break the Pullman Strike. In the 1894 elections, only one Democrat maintained a seat in the state legislature, [3] a loss of seventy seats compared to the 1890 elections.

In the wake of this decline, Cleveland decided not to run for a third term, and endorsed the National Democratic Party ticket of John M. Palmer. [4] The Populist Party seized control of the Democratic Party and nominated former Nebraska Representative William Jennings Bryan. During his campaign, Bryan traveled through Michigan in the latter stages of his October Midwestern tour. Polls late in that month, covering all but three of Michigan’s counties, showed Republican candidate William McKinley ahead of Bryan by almost three-to-one, which was an increase upon his margin in earlier polls. [5] Another poll a little later was also certain Michigan would vote for McKinley. [6]

Michigan ultimately voted for McKinley by a margin of 10.3 points, a much smaller margin than earlier polls, although a reduction was expected as some unpolled rural areas of the state had been believed to favor Bryan’s free silver policy. [6] His margin was an increase of five points upon what Benjamin Harrison had achieved over the state as a whole in 1892, though there were large variations. In the traditionally Democratic German Catholic areas, there was a large shift to McKinley due to Archbishop Ireland’s opposition to free silver, [7] [8] In the heavily Methodist cabinet counties of Michiana, by contrast, Bryan gained substantially and was the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Branch County, Calhoun County, Eaton County and Isabella County since Franklin Pierce in 1852. [9]

Bryan would lose Michigan to McKinley again four years later and would later lose the state again in 1908 to William Howard Taft.

Results

1896 United States presidential election in Michigan [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William McKinley 293,336 53.77%
Populist William Jennings Bryan 237,16643.47%
National Democratic John M. Palmer 6,9231.27%
Prohibition Joshua Levering 4,9780.91%
National Prohibition Charles E. Bentley 1,8160.33%
Write-ins 1,0730.20%
Socialist Labor Charles H. Matchett 2930.05%
Total votes545,585 100%

Results by county

CountyWilliam McKinley
Republican
William Jennings Bryan
Democratic
John M. Palmer
National Democratic
Joshua Levering
Prohibition
Various candidates
Other parties
MarginTotal votes cast [11]
# %# %# %# %# %# %
Alcona 74370.90%27526.24%222.10%60.57%20.19%46844.66%1,048
Alger 80158.42%53939.31%261.90%50.36%00.00%26219.11%1,371
Allegan 5,81057.85%3,93739.20%1491.48%930.93%540.54%1,87318.65%10,043
Alpena 1,77751.03%1,66547.82%260.75%130.37%10.03%1123.22%3,482
Antrim 1,88658.05%1,22837.80%581.79%391.20%381.17%65820.25%3,249
Arenac 61137.39%99761.02%181.10%00.00%80.49%-386-23.62%1,634
Baraga 61155.90%45941.99%100.91%111.01%20.18%15213.91%1,093
Barry 3,29449.63%3,15747.57%891.34%510.77%460.69%1372.06%6,637
Bay 6,03748.09%6,29650.16%1511.20%630.50%60.05%-259-2.06%12,553
Benzie 1,36660.39%80335.50%301.33%532.34%100.44%56324.89%2,262
Berrien 6,67256.12%4,79240.31%2722.29%1150.97%370.31%1,88015.81%11,888
Branch 3,59646.58%3,97651.50%740.96%390.51%350.45%-380-4.92%7,720
Calhoun 5,87447.01%6,20249.64%2111.69%1771.42%300.24%-328-2.63%12,494
Cass 3,03449.05%3,01248.70%590.95%641.03%160.26%220.36%6,185
Charlevoix 1,65361.06%97836.13%240.89%381.40%140.52%67524.94%2,707
Cheboygan 1,57648.79%1,61750.06%160.50%120.37%90.28%-41-1.27%3,230
Chippewa 2,10565.52%1,00131.15%461.43%581.81%30.09%1,10434.36%3,213
Clare 88653.09%72343.32%291.74%120.72%191.14%1639.77%1,669
Clinton 3,48048.95%3,46748.76%650.91%620.87%360.51%130.18%7,110
Crawford 35049.65%35049.65%30.43%20.28%00.00%00.00%705
Delta 2,77467.81%1,23730.24%651.59%110.27%40.10%1,53737.57%4,091
Dickinson 2,60880.59%52816.32%561.73%411.27%30.09%2,08064.28%3,236
Eaton 4,27046.97%4,63150.95%1081.19%630.69%180.20%-361-3.97%9,090
Emmet 1,72754.17%1,33741.94%481.51%692.16%70.22%39012.23%3,188
Genesee 5,63852.00%4,91545.33%1020.94%1271.17%610.56%7236.67%10,843
Gladwin 74867.09%32328.97%282.51%131.17%30.27%42538.12%1,115
Gogebic 1,98267.53%87329.74%481.64%260.89%60.20%1,10937.79%2,935
Grand Traverse 2,53357.20%1,74539.41%711.60%721.63%70.16%78817.80%4,428
Gratiot 3,38044.97%3,97152.83%720.96%590.78%340.45%-591-7.86%7,516
Hillsdale 4,56452.12%3,98645.52%911.04%770.88%380.43%5786.60%8,756
Houghton 6,14171.85%1,99623.35%1782.08%2252.63%70.08%4,14548.50%8,547
Huron 3,39653.64%2,80844.35%881.39%300.47%90.14%5889.29%6,331
Ingham 4,95845.43%5,69152.14%820.75%1121.03%710.65%-733-6.72%10,914
Ionia 4,59348.35%4,75750.08%650.68%580.61%260.27%-164-1.73%9,499
Iosco 1,47060.25%91237.38%381.56%170.70%30.12%55822.87%2,440
Iron 1,04879.70%23617.95%241.83%00.00%70.53%81261.75%1,315
Isabella 2,42446.71%2,67951.63%240.46%400.77%220.42%-255-4.91%5,189
Jackson 6,20847.51%6,49849.73%1270.97%1451.11%890.68%-290-2.22%13,067
Kalamazoo 5,89151.16%5,43447.19%830.72%820.71%250.22%4573.97%11,515
Kalkaska 94066.38%42229.80%271.91%181.27%90.64%51836.58%1,416
Kent 17,05354.34%13,58243.28%3191.02%3951.26%350.11%3,47111.06%31,384
Keweenaw 41188.96%459.74%51.08%10.22%00.00%36679.22%462
Lake 88860.61%54737.34%201.37%80.55%20.14%34123.28%1,465
Lapeer 3,80953.63%3,06543.15%1051.48%1001.41%240.34%74410.47%7,103
Leelanau 1,40264.25%69031.62%532.43%331.51%40.18%71232.63%2,182
Lenawee 6,86350.89%6,30046.72%1431.06%1451.08%350.26%5634.17%13,486
Livingston 2,89347.69%2,99449.36%761.25%731.20%300.49%-101-1.67%6,066
Luce 35857.01%23637.58%162.55%172.71%10.16%12219.43%628
Mackinac 80648.73%80448.61%362.18%70.42%10.06%20.12%1,654
Macomb 4,15353.22%3,40043.57%1572.01%700.90%230.29%7539.65%7,803
Manistee 2,69750.65%2,48746.70%941.77%350.66%120.23%2103.94%5,325
Marquette 5,11170.11%1,98027.16%791.08%1001.37%200.27%3,13142.95%7,290
Mason 2,17756.27%1,58040.84%661.71%310.80%150.39%59715.43%3,869
Mecosta 2,88757.80%1,97539.54%731.46%480.96%120.24%91218.26%4,995
Menominee 3,10566.39%1,49932.05%471.00%210.45%50.11%1,60634.34%4,677
Midland 1,52448.83%1,50748.29%471.51%341.09%90.29%170.54%3,121
Missaukee 89955.15%68742.15%140.86%261.60%40.25%21213.01%1,630
Monroe 4,05348.13%4,20849.97%740.88%510.61%350.42%-155-1.84%8,421
Montcalm 4,52354.23%3,65143.78%881.06%600.72%180.22%87210.46%8,340
Montmorency 48158.73%33040.29%20.24%50.61%10.12%15118.44%819
Muskegon 4,68258.79%3,11039.05%831.04%700.88%190.24%1,57219.74%7,964
Newaygo 2,65056.53%1,94341.45%300.64%440.94%210.45%70715.08%4,688
Oakland 5,84646.01%5,27141.49%1821.43%1291.02%1,27710.05%5754.53%12,705
Oceana 2,53458.09%1,63737.53%611.40%1132.59%170.39%89720.56%4,362
Ogemaw 79356.64%56040.00%241.71%181.29%50.36%23316.64%1,400
Ontonagon 75762.77%41634.49%252.07%70.58%10.08%34128.28%1,206
Osceola 2,26862.90%1,17732.64%691.91%521.44%401.11%1,09130.26%3,606
Oscoda 30880.84%6316.54%92.36%10.26%00.00%24564.30%381
Otsego 85959.41%56038.73%140.97%100.69%30.21%29920.68%1,446
Ottawa 5,18858.05%3,55039.72%1141.28%640.72%210.23%1,63818.33%8,937
Presque Isle 76366.06%37132.12%100.87%100.87%10.09%39233.94%1,155
Roscommon 28265.43%14132.71%30.70%40.93%10.23%14132.71%431
Saginaw 8,36147.92%8,79250.39%1821.04%750.43%370.21%-431-2.47%17,447
Sanilac 3,63451.74%3,15644.93%901.28%911.30%530.75%4786.81%7,024
Schoolcraft 97362.86%54835.40%130.84%130.84%10.06%42527.45%1,548
Shiawassee 4,65450.50%4,30346.69%1391.51%850.92%350.38%3513.81%9,216
St. Clair 7,16056.86%5,13040.74%1611.28%970.77%450.36%2,03016.12%12,593
St. Joseph 3,18443.76%3,96854.54%510.70%600.82%130.18%-784-10.78%7,276
Tuscola 4,27753.10%3,56444.25%871.08%871.08%400.50%7138.85%8,055
Van Buren 4,51051.95%3,98245.87%931.07%730.84%240.28%5286.08%8,682
Washtenaw 5,67149.73%5,34846.90%2151.89%1100.96%590.52%3232.83%11,403
Wayne 36,40056.73%26,23140.89%9151.43%2580.40%3540.55%10,16915.85%64,158
Wexford 2,03658.27%1,35938.90%361.03%491.40%140.40%67719.38%3,494
Totals293,33853.76%237,20043.47%6,9231.27%4,9780.91%3,1820.58%56,13810.29%545,621

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1892 United States presidential election</span> 27th quadrennial U.S. presidential election

    The 1892 United States presidential election was the 27th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 8, 1892. In the fourth rematch in American history, the Democratic nominee, former president Grover Cleveland, defeated the Republican incumbent, President Benjamin Harrison. Cleveland's victory made him the first and, to date, the only person in American history to be elected to a non-consecutive second presidential term. It was also the first of two occasions that incumbents were defeated in consecutive elections—the second being Gerald Ford's loss to Jimmy Carter in 1976, followed by Carter's loss to Ronald Reagan in 1980.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1896 United States presidential election</span> 28th quadrennial U.S. presidential election

    The 1896 United States presidential election was the 28th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 3, 1896. Former Governor William McKinley, the Republican nominee, defeated former Representative William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic nominee. The 1896 campaign, which took place during an economic depression known as the Panic of 1893, was a political realignment that ended the old Third Party System and began the Fourth Party System.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1892 United States elections</span>

    The 1892 United States elections was held on November 8, electing member to the 53rd United States Congress, taking place during the Third Party System. Democrats retained the House and won control of the presidency and the Senate. Following the election, Democrats controlled the presidency and a majority in both chambers of Congress for the first time since the 1858 elections.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1896 United States presidential election in Wisconsin</span>

    The 1896 United States presidential election in Wisconsin was held on November 3, 1896, as part of the 1896 United States presidential election. State voters chose 12 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1900 United States presidential election in Wisconsin</span>

    The 1900 United States presidential election in Wisconsin was held on November 6, 1900 as part of the 1900 United States presidential election. State voters chose 12 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election in Connecticut</span>

    The 1912 United States presidential election in Connecticut took place on November 5, 1912, as part of the 1912 United States presidential election which was held throughout all contemporary 48 states. Voters chose seven representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1900 United States presidential election in Florida</span>

    The 1900 United States presidential election in Florida was held on November 6, 1900. Florida voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for President and Vice-President.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1908 United States presidential election in Ohio</span>

    The 1908 United States presidential election in Ohio was held on November 3, 1908 as part of the 1908 United States presidential election. State voters chose 23 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1896 United States presidential election in Ohio</span>

    The 1896 United States presidential election in Ohio was held on November 3, 1896 as part of the 1896 United States presidential election. State voters chose 23 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1896 United States presidential election in Georgia</span>

    The 1896 United States presidential election in Georgia took place on November 3, 1896, as part of the wider United States presidential election. Voters chose 13 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1896 United States presidential election in Washington (state)</span>

    The 1896 United States presidential election in Washington took place on November 3, 1896. All contemporary 45 states were part of the 1896 United States presidential election. State voters chose four electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1896 United States presidential election in Kentucky</span>

    The 1896 United States presidential election in Kentucky took place on November 3, 1896. All contemporary 45 states were part of the 1896 United States presidential election. Voters chose 13 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1896 United States presidential election in North Dakota</span>

    The 1896 United States presidential election in North Dakota took place on November 3, 1896. All contemporary 45 states were part of the 1896 United States presidential election. Voters chose three electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1896 United States presidential election in Mississippi</span>

    The 1896 United States presidential election in Mississippi took place on November 3, 1896. All contemporary 45 states were part of the 1896 United States presidential election. Voters chose nine electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1896 United States presidential election in Iowa</span>

    The 1896 United States presidential election in Iowa took place on November 3, 1896. All contemporary 45 states were part of the 1896 United States presidential election. Voters chose 13 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1900 United States presidential election in Michigan</span>

    The 1900 United States presidential election in Michigan took place on November 6, 1900, as part of the 1900 United States presidential election. Voters chose 14 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1908 United States presidential election in Michigan</span>

    The 1908 United States presidential election in Michigan took place on November 3, 1908, as part of the 1908 United States presidential election. Voters chose 14 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1900 United States presidential election in Kentucky</span>

    The 1900 United States presidential election in Kentucky took place on November 6, 1900. All contemporary 45 states were part of the 1900 United States presidential election. Voters chose 13 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1908 United States presidential election in Washington (state)</span>

    The 1908 United States presidential election in Washington took place on November 3, 1908. All contemporary 46 states were part of the 1908 United States presidential election. Voters chose five electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1908 United States presidential election in Oregon</span>

    The 1908 United States presidential election in Oregon took place on November 3, 1908. All contemporary 46 states were part of the 1908 United States presidential election. State voters chose four electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

    References

    1. English, Gustavus P.; Proceedings of the Ninth Republican National Convention (1888), p. 234
    2. Kleppner, Paul; The Third Electoral System, 1853-1892: Parties, Votes and Political Cultures, pp. 198-207 ISBN   0807813281
    3. ‘Swamped! The Democrats Drowned Out by a Tremendous Republican Tidal Wave’; The L'Anse Sentinel, November 10, 1894, p. 1
    4. Graff, Henry F.; Grover Cleveland, pp. 128-129 ISBN   0-8050-6923-2
    5. ‘Steadily Gaining: The Chicago Record’s Postal Card Election’; Los Angeles Evening Express , October 23, 1896, p. 8
    6. 1 2 ‘McKinley’s Cheering Prospects’; The Philadelphia Inquirer , October 25, 1896, p. 18
    7. Kleppner, Paul (1970). The cross of culture: a social analysis of midwestern politics, 1850-1900. Free Press. pp. 323-335
    8. Harpine, William D.; From the Front Porch to the Front Page: McKinley and Bryan in the 1896 Presidential Campaign, pp. 166-167 ISBN   9781585444502
    9. Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, p. 31 ISBN   0786422173
    10. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; Presidential General Election Results – Michigan
    11. Géoelections; Popular Vote at the Presidential Election for 1896 (.xlsx file for €30 including full minor party figures)