Indiana gubernatorial elections

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The Governor of Indiana is elected to a four-year term and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government.

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1816–1850

Under the original constitution of 1816, the state held gubernatorial elections every three years. The first election was held before statehood was approved, in August 1816. Until the constitution was replaced in 1851, elections were held in October, and winners took office in December. [1]

Indiana gubernatorial election, 1816 [2] [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic-Republican Jonathan Jennings 5,21157
Democratic-Republican Thomas Posey (incumbent territorial governor)3,93443
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1819 [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic-Republican Jonathan Jennings (incumbent)11,25684.9
Independent Christopher Harrison 2,00815.1
Independent Samuel Carr80 
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1822 [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic-Republican William Hendricks 18,340100
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1825 [6] [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Independent James B. Ray 13,14055.8
Whig Isaac Blackford 10,41844.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1828 [7] [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Independent James B. Ray (incumbent)15,13139.6
Whig Israel T. Branby12,25131.8
Democratic Harbin H. Moore 10,89828.6
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1831 [7] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Whig Noah Noble 25,31847.6
Democratic James G. Reed21,00239.5
Independent Milton Sapp6,89413
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1834 [7] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Whig Noah Noble (incumbent)27,76758.1
Democratic James G. Reed19,99441.9
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1837 [7] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Whig David Wallace 45,24055.6
Whig John Dumont36,19744.4
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1840 [7] [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Whig Samuel Bigger 62,93253.7
Democratic Tilghman Howard 54,27446.3
Liberty James Duncan30 
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1843 [7] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic James Whitcomb 60,78450.2
Whig Samuel Bigger (incumbent)58,72148.5
Liberty Elizur Demming1,6831.3
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1846 [7] [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic James Whitcomb (incumbent)64,10450.7
Whig Joseph G. Marshall60,13847.5
Liberty Stephen Stevens 2,3011.8
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1849 [7] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Joseph A. Wright 76,99652.3
Whig John A. Matson67,21845.6
Free Soil James H. Cravens 3,0762.1

1851–1971


In 1851, Indiana adopted its second and current constitution, which banned governors from serving consecutive terms and lengthened terms to four years. Elections since then have been held on Election Day in November during years divisible by four, concurrent with presidential elections. [1]

Indiana gubernatorial election, 1852 [7] [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Joseph A. Wright (incumbent)95,57655.4
Whig Nicholas McCarty73,64142.7
Free Soil James H. Cravens 3,3081.9
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1856 [7] [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ashbel P. Willard 117,98151.3
Republican Oliver P. Morton 112,13948.7
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1860 [7] [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Henry S. Lane 139,67551.8
Democratic Thomas Hendricks 129,96848.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1864 [7] [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Oliver P. Morton (incumbent)152,08453.7
Democratic Joseph E. McDonald 131,20146.3
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1868 [7] [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Conrad Baker (incumbent)171,57550.1
Democratic Thomas Hendricks 170,61449.9
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1872 [7] [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Thomas Hendricks 189,24250.1
Republican Thomas M. Browne 188,27649.9
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1876 [7] [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic James D. Williams 213,21949.1
Republican Benjamin Harrison 208,08047.9
Greenback Anson Woolcott ??
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1880 [7] [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Albert G. Porter 231,40549.2
Democratic Franklin Landers 224,45247.7
Greenback Richard Gregg14,8813.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1884 [7] [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Isaac P. Gray 245,14049.5
Republican William H. Calkins 237,74848.0
Greenback Hiram Z. Leonard8,3381.7
Prohibition Robert S. Dwiggins3,8680.8
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1888 [7] [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Alvin P. Hovey 281,75249.0
Democratic Courtland C. Matson 280,60348.8
Prohibition JS Hughes9,9202.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1892 [7] [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Claude Matthews 233,88147.5
Republican Ira J. Chase (incumbent)214,30246.2
Populist Leroy Templeton22,4013.5
Prohibition Aaron Wirth12,9601.1
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1896 [7] [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican James A. Mount 321,03247.7
Democratic Benjamin F. Shively 294,85547.0
Populist Thomas Wadsworth8,5251.4
Prohibition Leonard M. Christ2,9960.5
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1900 [7] [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Winfield T. Durbin 331,53150.5
Democratic John W. Kern 306,27246.7
Prohibition Charles N. Eckhart13,4532.1
Populist A.G. Burkhart1,5040.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1904 [7] [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Frank Hanly 359,36253.5
Democratic John Kern 274,99841.0
Prohibition McWhirter22,6903.4
Socialist Hallenberger10,9911.6
Populist Leroy Templeton2,6050.4
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1908 [7] [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Thomas R. Marshall 348,43949.5
Republican James E. Watson 338,26248.0
Prohibition Samuel W. Haynes15,9262.3
Populist F.J.S. Robinson9860.1
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1912 [7] [29] [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Samuel M. Ralston 275,35748.1
Progressive Albert J. Beveridge 166,12428.6
Republican Winfield T. Durbin 142,85026.7
Prohibition Leonard M. Christ22,3523.1
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1916 [7] [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican James P. Goodrich 337,83147.8
Democratic John A. M. Adair 325,06046.0
Prohibition William Hickman16,4012.3
Progressive Frank Hanly [31] 7,0671
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1920 [7] [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Warren T. McCray 683,25354.6
Democratic Carleton B. McCulloch515,25241.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1924 [7] [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Edward L. Jackson 654,78452.9
Democratic Carleton B. McCulloch572,30346.3
Prohibition 9,9470.8
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1928 [7] [34]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Harry G. Leslie 728,20351.3
Democratic Frank Dailey 683,54548.1
Prohibition 8,5170.6
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1932 [7] [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Paul V. McNutt 862,12755.0
Republican Raymond Springer 669,79742.8
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1936 [7] [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic M. Clifford Townsend 908,49455.4
Republican Raymond Springer 727,52644.3
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1940 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Henry F. Schricker 889,62049.9
Republican Glenn R. Hillis885,65749.7
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1944 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ralph F. Gates 849,34651.0
Democratic Samuel D. Jackson 802,76548.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1948 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Henry F. Schricker 884,99553.6
Republican Hobart Creighton745,89245.1
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1952 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George N. Craig 1,075,68555.7
Democratic John A. Watkins 841,98443.6
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1956 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Harold W. Handley 1,086,86855.6
Democratic Ralph Tucker 859,39344.0
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1960 [37]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Matthew E. Welsh 1,072,71750.39
Republican Crawford F. Parker 1,049,54049.30
Prohibition J. Ralston Miller 5,8920.28
Socialist Labor Herman Kronewitter 8160.04
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1964 [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Roger D. Branigin 1,164,62056.18
Republican Richard O. Ristine 901,34243.48
Prohibition Chester G. Bohannon 5,7710.28
Socialist Labor Gordon A. Long 1,1820.06
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1968 [39]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Edgar Whitcomb 1,080,27152.72
Democratic Robert L. Rock 965,81647.13
Prohibition Melvin E. Hawk 2,9850.15

1972–present


In 1972 a constitutional amendment allowing governors to serve two consecutive four-year terms was approved. [1]

Indiana gubernatorial election, 1972 [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Otis R. Bowen 1,203,90356.77
Democratic Matthew E. Welsh 900,48942.46
American Independent Berryman S. Hurley 8,5250.40
Peace and Freedom Finley N. Campbell 6,2780.30
Socialist Labor John Marion Morris 1,6520.08
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1976 [41]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Otis Bowen (incumbent)1,236,55556.85
Democratic Larry A. Conrad 927,24342.63
American Daniel P. Talbot 9,8500.45
U.S. Labor Samuel L. Washington 1,6760.08
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1980 [42]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Robert D. Orr 1,257,38357.72
Democratic John Hillenbrand 913,11641.92
American Cletis Artist 7,9040.36
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1984 [43]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Robert D. Orr (Incumbent)1,146,49752.16
Democratic Wayne Townsend 1,036,92247.18
American Rockland Snyder 7,4550.34
Libertarian James A. Ridenour 7,1140.32
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1988 [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Evan Bayh 1,138,57453.2
Republican John Mutz 1,002,20746.8
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1992
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Evan Bayh (incumbent)1,382,15162.0
Republican Linley Pearson822,53336.9
New Alliance Mary Barton24,3781.1
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1996
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Frank O'Bannon 1,087,12851.52
Republican Stephen Goldsmith 986,98246.78
Libertarian Steve Dillon35,8051.70
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2000
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Frank O'Bannon (incumbent)1,232,52556.56
Republican David M. McIntosh 908,28541.68
Libertarian Andrew Horning 38,4581.76
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2004 [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mitch Daniels 1,302,91253.2
Democratic Joe Kernan (incumbent)1,113,90045.5
Libertarian Kenn Gividen31,6641.3
Majority189,012 [46]
Turnout 2,448,47657
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2008 [47]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mitch Daniels (incumbent)1,563,88557.8
Democratic Jill Long Thompson 1,082,46340.1
Libertarian Andy Horning 57,3762.1
Majority481,422 [46]
Turnout 2,703,75162
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2012
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Pence 1,275,42449.49
Democratic John R. Gregg 1,200,01646.56
Libertarian Rupert Boneham 101,8683.95
Turnout 2,703,75157.81
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2016
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Eric Holcomb 1,397,39651.4
Democratic John R. Gregg 1,235,50345.4
Libertarian Rex Bell87,0253.20
Turnout 2,807,67658
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Eric Holcomb (incumbent)1,706,72756.5
Democratic Woody Myers 968,09432.1
Libertarian Donald Rainwater 345,56711.4
Turnout 3,068,62565

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Gugin, pp. 1–2
  2. Woollen, p. 33
  3. Election return summary for all Indiana gubernatorial elections can be found in: Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections. CQ Press. 2001. p. 1119. ISBN   1-56802-602-1.
  4. Gugin , p. 51
  5. Gugin, p. 55
  6. Gugin, p. 62
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Congressional Quarterly, p. 406
  8. Gugin, p. 66
  9. 1 2 Gugin, p. 72
  10. Cady, Charles W (1846). The Indiana annual register and pocket manual for the year 1845. E. Chamberlain.
  11. Gugin, p. 90
  12. Gugin, p. 98
  13. Gugin, p. 100
  14. Gugin, p. 116
  15. Gugin, p. 119
  16. Esarey, Logan (1922). A History of Indiana. Harcourt, Brace and company. p. 187.
  17. Gugin, p. 137
  18. Gugin, p. 147
  19. Gugin, p. 158
  20. Gugin, p. 163
  21. Gugin, p. 170
  22. 1 2 Gugin, p. 187
  23. Gugin, p. 194
  24. Gugin, p. 206
  25. Gugin, p. 212
  26. Gugin, p. 218
  27. Gugin, p. 227
  28. Gugin, p. 236
  29. 1 2 Gugin, p. 252
  30. New International Encyclopedia. Dodd, Mead. 1915. p.  95.
  31. After accepting the Progressive nomination for governor, Hanly accepted the Prohibition Party nomination for President.
  32. Gugin, p. 264
  33. Gugin, p. 276
  34. Gugin, p. 284
  35. Gugin, p. 292
  36. Gugin, p. 330
  37. "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 08, 1960".
  38. "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 03, 1964".
  39. "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 05, 1968".
  40. "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 07, 1972".
  41. "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976".
  42. "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 04, 1980".
  43. "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 06, 1984".
  44. "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 08, 1988".
  45. "Indiana General Election November 2, 2004, Statewide". Indiana Secretary of State. 2004-11-02. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  46. 1 2 Number of votes the candidate won by
  47. "Indiana General Election November 4, 2008, Statewide". Indiana Secretary of State. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-11-07.

Bibliography