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 County results Cutler: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Moyle: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Utah |
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The 1904 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1904. Republican nominee John Christopher Cutler defeated Democratic nominee James Moyle with 49.97% of the vote.
Persuaded against running for a senate seat by state Republican Party leadership, incumbent governor Heber Wells decided to run for a third term as governor. However, a party revolt had spawned against him by a group called the "Federal Bunch." The Bunch was powerful group of Republicans, named as such because of patronage appointments many of them received, who were led by Utah Senator Reed Smoot, elected by the Utah legislature in 1902. John C. Cutler, a Salt Lake County Clerk and an officer of several banks and companies, was apart of this group, and won their backing to challenge Wells in the primary. [1] The party split into Cutler and Wells camps, and on the first convention ballot on August 25th, Cutler secured 214 delegates compared to Wells's 196. [2] A third candidate, James T. Hammond, had won 52 delegates, but then withdrew his name in support for Wells. Nevertheless, several of Hammonds delegates went to Cutler, pushing him over the needed 231 with 239, to Wells's 221 delegates, making him the nominee. [3]
In the Democratic convention, James Moyle, who ran for governor at the top of the ticket in 1900 and lost, was seen as the unmistakable favorite, and won the first ballot with 393 delegates. [4]
A new anti-Mormon political party formed in September 1904, created from angry Thomas Kerns supporters after Reed Smoot convinced the Utah legislature to oust him as senator in favor of George Sutherland. [5] With a main policy of eliminating LDS influence in Utah politics, the new party ran William M. Ferry Jr, a Civil War veteran and a local politician in Michigan and Utah, for governor. [6] [7]
As in the previous gubernatorial election, the race centered on polices regarding tariffs, trusts, international politics, and labor, but LDS influence in state politics also took center stage.
On labor, Cutler was routinely criticized for allegations of employing women and children in "sweatshops" that were apart of his businesses, something in which he denied. [8] [9] [10] Republicans defended their position on labor by stating that Cutler was a friend of labor, and that they were the only ones that passed legislation that hurt trusts. [10] [11]
As the United States formally took control of the Panama Canal in 1903, state Republicans praised Roosevelt's actions, as well as US rule in the Philippines. [11] [12]
Both parties praised previous governor Heber Wells. The Ogden Morning Examiner reported that Democratic congressional candidate Orlando W. Powers gave a tribute to the former governor at a rally, saying "He paid a fine tribute to the present Republican governor, Heber M. Well, but spoke disparagingly of the present nominee, John C. Cutler." [13] However, Wells actively campaigned on behalf of Cutler and the state Republican party, despite being out voted in the primary. At a rally, Wells commended Cutler, saying "I shall feel it an honor to leave such a man as my successor. He will make you a good governor. He is a level headed business man and will give you a business like administration of state affairs." [14]
State Republicans benefited from the strain of anti-Mormonism generated from anger at Republican Senator Smoot, and refuted claims that non-Mormons had been discriminated against. [15] One claimed LDS Bishop even told Mormon Democrats to vote for Cutler, saying "If you vote for Brother Cutler.. you are carrying out the wishes of God revealed by wireless telegraphy to President Smith and down the line by way of Brother Smoot, Brother Spry and Bishop Winker, direct to you. Thus you get your politics straight from heaven without any trouble of thinking it out for yourself. Could anything be easier than that?" [16] The state Democrats, on the other hand, ran on a planform of "political peace in Utah," and often accused the state Republican party of mudslinging regarding religious prejustice. [17] [18] Moyle himself commented during a speech on the "lies" and "discord" Republicans made. [19]
State Republicans closed off their campaign at the Salt Lake Theater, with a large crowd in attendance. However, it was noted that Cutler or any other state candidate was not mentioned, with the speeches focused on praising the Roosevelt administration. [20] Democrats closed their campaign in Park City at the Dewey Theater, were Moyle received praise from speaker Zach Lamar Cobb of Texas. [21]
Cutler would go onto win the election with nearly 50% of the vote, compared to Moyle's 37.40% of the vote. American Party candidate William Ferry would take 7.82%. Cutler's victory would be 2 points less than Wells's victory in 1900, however, Moyle underperformed compared to his run in 1900, down 10.5 points from 48%. Cutler's victory would actually be on the low end compared to other Republican's in the state, such as President Roosevelt's win with 61.41%, and Attorney General Breeden, who was the leader on the Republican ticket beside judges and the president. So, while Moyle underperformed compared to his last election, he still lead the highest percentage for any other democrats on the ticket, including presidential nominee Alton B. Parker, who only won 32.86% of the vote. [22]
Major party candidates
Other candidates
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Christopher Cutler | 50,837 | 49.97% | ||
| Democratic | James Moyle | 38,047 | 37.40% | ||
| Independent | William Montague Ferry Jr. | 7,959 | 7.82% | ||
| Socialist | Joseph A. Kauffman | 4,892 | 4.81% | ||
| Majority | 12,790 | ||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
Cutler's first term would see legislation and passed that founded Utah's juvenile court system, promoted investment in local industry, and established a registration of births and deaths by the state. He also advocated for the construction of a capital building, but the legislature refused to appropriate funds for the project. The legislature would also deny Cutler's request for an institution to care for handicapped individuals. [24] Cutler would run for another term, but after losing support from Reed Smoot and the "Federal Bunch," he would decided to drop out and endorse William Spry, chairman of the Republican State Committee in 1904, and a former member of the Utah House of Representatives, in fears of splitting the party. [25] [24] [26] [27]
Reed Smoot was an American politician, businessman, and apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A Republican who was first elected to the U.S. Senate by the Utah State Legislature in 1902, he served from 1903 to 1933. Smoot is primarily remembered as the co-sponsor of the 1930 Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act, which increased almost 900 American import duties. Criticized at the time as having "intensified nationalism all over the world" by Thomas Lamont of J.P. Morgan & Co., Smoot–Hawley is widely regarded as one of the catalysts for the worsening Great Depression.
Charles William Penrose was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1904 to 1911. Penrose was also a member of the First Presidency, serving as a counselor to church presidents Joseph F. Smith and Heber J. Grant from 1911 until his death.
Frank Jenne Cannon was the first United States Senator from Utah, who served from 1896 to 1899.
The Utah Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Utah. The party describes itself as a big tent party.
John Christopher Cutler was an American politician and the second governor of the State of Utah. He served as governor from 1905 to 1909.
Heber Manning Wells was an American politician and banker who served as the first governor of the State of Utah. Utah gained statehood on January 4, 1896; Wells served as governor from January 6, 1896, until January 2, 1905.
James Henry Moyle was a prominent American politician in Utah and noted as "one of Utah's most distinguished citizens and one of the Nations' able and devoted servants."
William Montague Ferry Jr. was a Michigan and Utah politician, an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and a member of the Ferry Family.
The 2012 United States presidential election in Utah took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Utah voters chose six electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan.
Curtis Oda is an American politician and a former Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives. He represented District 14 from January 2005 through January 2017.
Stuart C. Reid is a former American politician and a Republican member of the Utah State Senate representing District 18 from 2011 to 2015.
The 2020 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the governor of Utah. Incumbent Republican governor Gary Herbert declined running for re-election to a third full term.
The 2020 United States presidential election in Utah was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Utah voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump, and running mate Vice President Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his running mate California Senator Kamala Harris. Utah had six electoral votes in the Electoral College.
The 1988 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1988. Republican nominee and incumbent governor Norman H. Bangerter defeated Democratic nominee Ted Wilson and independent Merrill Cook with 40.13% of the vote. As of 2023, this is the closest a Democrat has come to winning the governorship in Utah since Scott M. Matheson left office in 1985.
The 1984 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Republican nominee Norman H. Bangerter defeated Democratic nominee Wayne Owens with 55.87% of the vote, becoming Utah's first Republican governor in 20 years.
The 1912 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1912. Incumbent Republican William Spry defeated Democratic nominee John Franklin Tolton with 38.17% of the vote against his 32.36% in a four way race, with Progressive nominee Nephi L. Morris winning 21.16% of the vote, and Socialist nominee Homer P. Burt winning 7.89% of the vote.
The 1908 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1908. Republican nominee William Spry defeated Democratic nominee Jesse William Knight with 47.45% of the vote.
The 1900 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1900. Incumbent Republican Heber Manning Wells defeated Democratic nominee James Moyle with 51.98% of the vote.
The 1895 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1895. It was the first gubernatorial election in the state of Utah and it was held before it became a state on the 4th of January, 1896, to set up the machinery for the new state. Republican Heber Manning Wells defeated Democratic nominee John Thomas Caine with 50.32% of the vote. Wells' first term was to run for five years, until the next general election in 1900. Also, Populist Henry W. Lawrence ran but only won 4.95% of the vote.
The 2024 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the governor of Utah, concurrently with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Governor Spencer Cox won re-election to a second term, defeating Democratic nominee, state Representative Brian King and Republican state Representative Phil Lyman, who ran as a write-in candidate after being defeated in the Republican primary. Primary elections took place on June 25, 2024. This was the smallest percent of the vote by a winning republican since the 1992 election, which also saw a major independent candidate. Cox's 24.43% margin of victory was also the smallest since 2004.
