1930 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

Last updated

1930 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg
  1926 November 4, 1930 (1930-11-04) 1934  
  Gifford Pinchot, 3-13-29 (cropped).jpg John M. Hemphill.jpg
Nominee Gifford Pinchot John M. Hemphill
Party Republican Democratic
Alliance Prohibition Liberal
Popular vote1,068,8741,010,204
Percentage50.77%47.98%

1930 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results

Pinchot:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

Contents

Hemphill:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

John Fisher
Republican

Elected Governor

Gifford Pinchot
Republican

The 1930 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election occurred on November 4, 1930. Incumbent Republican governor John Stuchell Fisher was not a candidate for re-election. Republican candidate and former governor Gifford Pinchot defeated Democratic candidate John M. Hemphill to win a second, non-consecutive term as Governor of Pennsylvania.

This was the only election from 1863 until 1950 in which the Democratic candidate carried the city and county of Philadelphia, which was controlled by a powerful Republican political machine during that time. Hemphill won the city in a landslide with the support of Philadelphia Republican boss William Scott Vare, who abandoned Pinchot over his refusal to certify Vare's election as United States Senator in 1926. [1] Hemphill won 226,811 votes on the Liberal Party line in Philadelphia, nearly twice the vote he received on the Democratic ticket. [2]

After Pinchot's election, Vare was ousted as party boss.

Background

1926 United States Senate election

In 1926, Gifford Pinchot (then Governor of Pennsylvania) and William Scott Vare (U.S. Representative and boss of the powerful Philadelphia political machine) both challenged incumbent United States Senator George W. Pepper in the Republican primary. Pepper carried nearly every county in the state, but Vare won the race narrowly, thanks to a 224,000 vote margin in Philadelphia County. [3] Vare went on to win the general election by a wider margin, again relying on a large margin from Philadelphia.

Pinchot, acting in his role as governor, declined to certify the results of Vare's election. After a year-long review of the contested election, the Senate voted 58–22 not to seat Vare on the grounds that he had fraudulently and extravagantly financed his campaign against Pepper. [4] During the lengthy investigation, Vare suffered a stroke brought on by stress. [5]

Republican primary

Candidates

Withdrew

Campaign

To avenge his defeat in 1926, Vare and Philadelphia leaders were able to recruit Francis Shunk Brown, the former state Attorney General, to run in the primary against Pinchot. The dominant issue in the campaign was the prohibition of alcohol and Volstead Act, which set the terms of its enforcement, and a third candidate, former Representative Thomas Wharton Phillips Jr., ran the second of three campaigns for governor on an aggressive anti-prohibition platform. Brown, though privately opposed to the Volstead Act, could not openly support its repeal given his ties to the Philadelphia machine and President Herbert Hoover. Instead, he called for a state referendum on the modification of the Act, a lukewarm position in contrast to that of Pinchot, an ardent prohibitionist. [7] However, Pinchot's previous term as Governor had been noted for a relatively permissive enforcement of prohibition laws, so some moderates were drawn to his campaign. [8] Republican National Committeeman W. W. Atterbury, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad and a Brown supporter, unsuccessfully worked to have Representative Phillips withdraw in an effort to unify the anti-prohibition campaign behind a single candidate. [9]

Shortly before the April 1 filing deadline, Samuel S. Lewis dropped out of the race. He had been running on an anti-machine ticket with interim Senator Joseph R. Grundy, who did not replace him. [6] A second candidate, Norristown judge J. Ambler Williams, who had run on a "bone-dry" prohibitionist platform, dropped out on April 7. [9]

Race also came into the campaign in April. Joseph D. Herben, who filed a last-minute campaign to run on a "Negro ticket," [6] was invited by the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters to an open discussion of Republican issues. Though Pinchot, Phillips, and Grundy agreed to participate, Brown declined, stating, "I refuse to discuss state politics on the same platform with a Negro." [10]

Results

1930 Republican Party gubernatorial primary [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Gifford Pinchot 632,719 41.23%
Republican Francis Shunk Brown612,62039.92%
Republican Thomas W. Phillips Jr.281,39918.34%
Republican Joseph D. Herben7,8960.51%
Write-in 230.00%
Total votes1,534,657 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1930 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Gifford Pinchot 1,068,874 50.77%
Democratic John M. Hemphill1,010,20447.98%
Socialist James H. Maurer 21,0361.00%
Communist Frank Mozer5,2670.25%
Write-in 640.00%
Total votes2,105,381 100.00%

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gifford Pinchot</span> American forester and politician (1865–1946)

Gifford Pinchot was an American forester and politician. He served as the fourth chief of the U.S. Division of Forestry, as the first head of the United States Forest Service, and as the 28th governor of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Republican Party for most of his life, though he joined the Progressive Party for a brief period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Scott Vare</span> American politician (1867-1934)

William Scott Vare was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district from 1912 to 1927. He also served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from the 1st Senatorial District from 1922 to 1923. He won election to the United States Senate for Pennsylvania in 1926 but was never seated and was eventually removed in 1929 due to allegations of corruption and voter fraud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George W. Pepper</span> American politician

George Wharton Pepper was an American lawyer, law professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Christian activist, and Republican politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate, and founded the law firm of Pepper Hamilton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1930 New York state election</span>

The 1930 New York state election was held on November 4, 1930, to elect the governor, the lieutenant governor, the state comptroller, the attorney general and a judge of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 1994 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. The incumbent governor, Bob Casey, Sr. (Democrat), was barred from seeking a third term by the state constitution. The Republican Party nominated Congressman Tom Ridge, while the Democrats nominated Mark Singel, Casey's lieutenant governor. Ridge went on to win the race with 45% of the vote. Singel finished with 39%, and Constitution Party candidate Peg Luksik finished third, garnering 12% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1914 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania</span>

The 1914 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 3, 1914. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Boies Penrose won re-election against Gifford Pinchot and A. Mitchell Palmer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1930 United States Senate election in Massachusetts</span>

The United States Senate election of 1930 in Massachusetts was held on November 4, 1930. Incumbent Republican Senator Frederick H. Gillett did not run for re-election. In the open race to succeed him, Democratic Mayor of Fitchburg Marcus A. Coolidge defeated former U.S. Senator William M. Butler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Davis Wilson</span> American politician

Samuel Davis Wilson was an American politician; he served as the 86th Mayor of Philadelphia from 1936 until his death in 1939.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1950 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 1950 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 7. For the twenty-second time in twenty-five elections, the Republican candidate was victorious, but by a much smaller than usual margin. Superior Court Judge John S. Fine defeated Democrat Richardson Dilworth, the City Controller of Philadelphia. This election marked the last time until 2022 that a political party would win three consecutive gubernatorial elections in Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Arista Mackey</span> American football player, coach, lawyer, and politician (1869–1938)

Harry Arista Mackey was an American college football player and coach, lawyer, and politician. He served as the mayor of Philadelphia from 1928 to 1932.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1926 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania</span>

The 1926 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 2, 1926. Incumbent Republican George W. Pepper, who was appointed following the death of Boies Penrose, was defeated for re-nomination by William Scott Vare. Vare won the election, defeating Democratic opponent William Bauchop Wilson. He was not permitted to assume office, however, until an investigation was conducted into possible election fraud and corruption. Vare was ultimately unseated in December 1929 by the Senate, following charges of corruption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1926 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 1926 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election occurred on November 2, 1926. Incumbent Republican governor Gifford Pinchot was not a candidate for re-election. Republican candidate John Fisher defeated Democratic candidate Eugene C. Bonniwell to become Governor of Pennsylvania. Edward E. Beidleman, Thomas Wharton Phillips Jr., and John K. Tener unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1934 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 1934 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election occurred on November 6, 1934. Incumbent Republican governor Gifford Pinchot was not a candidate for re-election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Shunk Brown</span> American lawyer

Francis Shunk Brown was an American lawyer from Pennsylvania who served one term as Pennsylvania Attorney General from 1915 to 1919 and ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for Governor in 1930.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1925 New Jersey gubernatorial election</span>

The 1925 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1925. Democratic Jersey City Commissioner A. Harry Moore defeated Republican State Senator Arthur Whitney with 51.87% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1928 United States Senate election in New Jersey</span>

The United States Senate election of 1928 in New Jersey was held on November 6, 1928. Incumbent Democratic Senator Edward I. Edwards ran for re-election to a second term in office, but was defeated by Hamilton Fish Kean in a landslide. This was the third of four straight elections to this seat in which the incumbents were defeated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1930 Wisconsin gubernatorial election</span>

The 1930 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1930. Primary elections were held on September 16, 1930. Incumbent Republican Governor Walter J. Kohler Sr. was defeated in the Republican primary. Republican nominee Philip La Follette defeated Democratic nominee Charles E. Hammersley with 64.76% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John M. Hemphill</span>

John M. Hemphill was an American politician best known for being the Democratic candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania during the 1930 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election.

References

  1. "U.S. Senate: The Election Case of William B. Wilson vs. William S. Vare of Pennsylvania (1929)". www.senate.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  2. "Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election Returns 1930". Wilkes University. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  3. "Our Campaigns - PA US Senate - R Primary Race - May 18, 1926".
  4. Weigley, Russell Frank (1982). Philadelphia: A 300 Year History . New York - London: WW Norton & Company. p.  584. ISBN   0-393-01610-2 . Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  5. Keels, Thomas H. "Contractor Bosses (1880s to 1930s)". www.philadelphiaencylopedia.org. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "1400 Candidates File Petitions: Receive Papers of 552 Persons on Final Day; Many Contests" . The Harrisburg Evening News . April 1, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  7. McLarnon, John Morrison (2003). Ruling Suburbia: John J. McClure and the Republican Machine in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. p. 102. ISBN   0-87413-814-0 . Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  8. Carlisle Bargeron (October 30, 1930). "Pennsylvania is in Turmoil over Pinchot". Washington Post. p. 1. ProQuest   150054446.
  9. 1 2 "WILLIAMS, DRY, QUITS PENNSYLVANIA RACE; Republican Who Sought Gubernatorial Nomination Leaves Field to Three Others". The New York Times . April 7, 1930. p. 3. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  10. "Pa. Candidate Balks at Negro Opponent". Baltimore Afro-American. April 19, 1930. p. A1. ProQuest   530886221.
  11. "Senatorial Campaign Expenditures, 1930: New Jersey. North Carolina. Pennsylvania, PTS. 1-3. Tennessee". September 27, 2023.
  12. "Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election Returns 1930". Wilkes University. Retrieved December 20, 2012.