1928 Democratic Party presidential primaries

Last updated
1928 Democratic Party presidential primaries
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg
  1924 March 6 to May 18, 1928 1932  

1,098 delegates to the 1928 Democratic National Convention
732 (two-thirds) votes needed to win
  Unsuccessful 1928.jpg Hull-Cordell-LOC.jpg Sen. Walter F. George (cropped).jpg
Candidate Al Smith Cordell Hull Walter F. George
Home state New York Tennessee Georgia
Delegate count724.6771.8352.5
Contests won3633
Popular vote559,265
Percentage41.66%

First ballot of the 1928 Democratic National Convention.svg
First place by convention roll call
     Smith     Hull     George     Various

Previous Democratic nominee

John W. Davis

Democratic nominee

Al Smith

From March 6 to May 18, 1928, voters of the Democratic Party elected delegates to the 1928 Democratic National Convention, for the purpose of choosing the party's nominee for president in the 1928 election. [1]

Contents

In sharp contrast to the three previous open nominations, the delegate selections were all-but-conclusive in favor of New York governor Al Smith, who entered the convention only a few votes short of the required two-thirds majority; he won on the first ballot after several delegates shifted to him. Smith was the first Catholic nominated by a major party for President of the United States and the first non-incumbent Democrat to win his party's nomination on the first ballot since 1908.

Despite his easy nomination, his failure to carry most Southern states was a sign of things to come; Smith lost the general election to Herbert Hoover in a landslide, with many Southern voters defecting to the Republican Party over their opposition to Smith's Catholic faith.

Candidates

Nominee

CandidateMost recent positionHome stateCampaignPopular voteContests wonRunning mate
Al Smith AlfredSmith.png 42nd Governor of New York
(1919–20, 1923–28)
Flag-map of New York.svg
New York
(CampaignPositions)
Secured nomination:
June 26-28, 1928
559,265
(41.7%)
[ data unknown/missing ] Joseph Taylor Robinson

Withdrew during convention

CandidateMost recent positionHome stateCampaignPopular voteContests won
Walter F. George Sen. Walter F. George (cropped).jpg U.S. Senator from Georgia
(1922–1957)
Flag-map of Georgia (U.S. state).svg
Georgia
AL, FL, GA
Cordell Hull Hull-Cordell-LOC.jpg U.S. Representative from Tennessee
(1907–21, 1923–31)
Flag-map of Tennessee.svg
Tennessee
NC, TN, VA
James A. Reed James Alexander Reed.jpg U.S. Senator from Missouri
(1911–1929)
Flag-map of Missouri.svg
Missouri
207,455
(15.5%)
[ data unknown/missing ]
Thomas J. Walsh Thomas J. Walsh cph.3c02581.jpg U.S. Senator from Montana
(1913–1933)
Flag-map of Montana.svg
Montana
101,305
(7.6%)
[ data unknown/missing ]

Favorite sons

The following candidates ran only in their home state's primary or caucus for the purpose of controlling its delegate slate at the convention and did not appear to be considered national candidates by the media.

Primaries

Al
Smith
James
Reed
Evans
Woollen
Thomas
Walsh
Gilbert
Hitchcock
Atlee
Pomerene
Victor
Donahey
UncommittedOthers
March 6 South Dakota
(Caucus)
51.56%
(43,876)
--48.44%
(41,213)
-----
March 13 New Hampshire
(Primary)
100.00%
(9,716)
--------
March 20 North Dakota
(Primary)
100.00%
(10,822)
--------
April 2 Michigan
(Primary)
98.27%
(77,276)
0.41%
(324)
-1.32%
(1,034)
-----
April 3 Wisconsin
(Primary)
23.88%
(W) (19,781)
73.76%
(61,097)
-0.65%
(W) (541)
----1.70%
(W) (1,410)
April 10 Illinois
(Primary)
90.77%
(W) (44,212)
7.77%
(W) (3,786)
-0.45%
(W) (221)
----1.01%
(W) (490)
Nebraska
(Primary)
8.53%
(W) (4,755)
---91.48%
(W) (51,019)
----
April 24 Ohio
(Primary)
64.89%
(42,365)
----21.38%
(13,957)
12.15%
(7,935)
--
April 28 Massachusetts
(Primary)
98.11%
(W) (38,081)
--0.65%
(W) (254)
----1.23%
(W) (478)
May 1 California
(Primary)
55.74%
(134,471)
24.87%
(60,004)
-19.39%
(46,770)
-----
May 7 Indiana
(Primary)
--100.00%
(146,934)
------
May 8 Alabama
(Primary)
-------100.00%
(138,957)
-
May 15 New Jersey
(Primary)
99.03%
(28,506)
0.31%
(W) (88)
------0.66%
(W) (190)
May 18 Oregon
(Primary)
48.51%
(17,444)
17.69%
(6,360)
-31.35%
(11,272)
-----
May 22 South Dakota
(Primary)
100.00%
(6,221)
--------
May 29 West Virginia
(Primary)
50.05%
(81,739)
46.41%
(75,796)
------31.35%
(11,272)
June 5 Florida
(Primary)
-------100.00%
(108,167)
-
Legend:  1st place
(popular vote)
2nd place
(popular vote)
3rd place
(popular vote)
Candidate has Withdrawn
or Ceased Campaigning
(W) - Votes are Write-In

See also

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References

  1. Kalb, Deborah (2016-02-19). Guide to U.S. Elections - Google Books. ISBN   9781483380353 . Retrieved 2016-02-19.