1914 Minnesota gubernatorial election

1914 Minnesota gubernatorial election
November 3, 1914
 
Nominee Winfield S. Hammond William E. Lee
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 156,304 143,730
Percentage 45.54% 41.87%
 
Nominee Willis G. Calderwood Thomas J. Lewis
Party Prohibition Socialist
Popular vote 18,582 17,225
Percentage 5.41% 5.02%
County results
Hammond:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Lee:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%
Lewis:      30–40%
Governor before election

Adolph Olson Eberhart
Republican

Elected Governor

Winfield Scott Hammond
Democratic

The 1914 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1914. Democratic Party of Minnesota candidate Winfield Scott Hammond defeated Republican Party of Minnesota challenger William E. Lee. Hammond would be the last governor from the Minnesota Democratic Party. The next party to defeat the Republicans would be the Farmer-Labor Party, and decades after that, the DFL.

Republican primary

Incumbent Governor Eberhart faced primary challenger William E. Lee, who had previously ran twice before, including an failed attempt to primary Eberhart in 1912. Lee attacked Eberhart on the organization of the State Fish and Game Commission, as it had more game wardens in cities than in rural areas. Eberhart also vetoed a financial appropriations bill Lee supported.[1]

The Republican primary was held on June 16, 1914.

Candidates

Nominated

Eliminated in primary

Results

Results by county:
Lee
  •      40–50%
  •      50–60%
  •      60–70%
  •      70–80%
Eberhart
  •      40–50%
  •      50–60%
  •      60–70%

Republicans conducted a ranked-choice primary, though second choices were not used, as Lee received over 50% in the first round.[3] The campaigns of both Lee and Eberhart announced their victory initially, however lee would take the lead.[4]

Republican Party of Minnesota primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William E. Lee 102,757 52.64%
Republican Adolph Olson Eberhart 86,340 44.23%
Republican Elwood L. Raab 6,105 3.13%
Total votes 195,202 100%

Democratic primary

Hammond was first named by Democratic National Committee member Fred B. Lynch as a potential candidate in February of 1914.[5] Hammond was in Washington, D.C. for the entire duration of the convention, so was at no point physically present.

Lawler had previously ran for governor multiple times, only winning the nomination during his first attempt in 1892. Being one of the most conservative Minnesota Democrats, he was not very popular even within his own party, even being formally denounced by them in 1898. Despite this, Lawler performed surprisingly well, overperforming massively.[4]

Candidates

Nominated

Eliminated in primary

Results

Results by county:
Hammond
  •      50–60%
  •      60–70%
  •      70–80%
  •      80–90%
  •      90–100%
Lawler
  •      50–60%
  •      60–70%
  •      70–80%
Minnesota Democratic gubernatorial primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Winfield Scott Hammond 21,852 51.09%
Democratic Daniel W. Lawler 20,923 48.91%
Total votes 42,775 100%

[3]

Candidates

Campaigns

Winfield Scott Hammond Political Partoon

Following his loss in the Republican primary, Eberhart refused to work with Lee's campaign. He stated he would still vote for Lee.[6]

Following his nomination, Hammond would return to Minnesota on August 1, 1914, to begin his campaigning.[7]

Lee, had previously accused members of his own party of corruption while running against Eberhart, declared that all who he had accused of corruption had "changed their views".[8] Former Minnesota Secretary of State Albert Berg, a Republican, called Lee a 'Party-Wrecker' and said he would support Hammond out of protest.[9]

Socialist Party candidate Thomas J. Lewis gave a speech in which he called American workers cowardly for their lack of continuing to demand more rights and better conditions.[10]

Prohibition Party candidate Willis G. Calderwood was expected to perform well. Calderwood focused mostly on campaigning in what would otherwise be safe Republican territory.[11] In early October, Lee attempted to convince the Prohibition party to withdraw their nomination of Calderwood and instead endorse him. The deal was not accepted.[12]

Both Lee and Hammond were Prohibitionists, and Lee accused Hammond of being pro-liquor, an attack Hammond responded to by declaring in a speech in Mankato "I am a temperance man". Hammond then attacked Lee, by bringing to attention that Lee had not been present during a previous vote in the state legislature on alcohol, accusing him of dodging the issue intentionally.[13]

Hammond received multiple endorsements, published on November 1st. These include from President Woodrow Wilson, Former Governor John Lind, and Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan.[14]

Results

1914 Gubernatorial Election, Minnesota
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Winfield Scott Hammond 156,304 45.54% +14.24%
Republican William E. Lee 143,730 41.87% +1.15%
Prohibition Willis G. Calderwood 18,582 5.41% −3.97%
Socialist Thomas J. Lewis 17,225 5.02% −3.07%
Industrial Labor Herbert Johnson 3,861 1.12% n/a
Progressive Hugh T. Halbert 3,553 1.04% −9.47%
Majority 12,574 3.66%
Turnout 343,255
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ "LEE SAYS GOVERNOR IS DODGING ISSUES". May 20, 1914.
  2. ^ "Raab's Action Great Surprise". The Kenyon News. April 30, 1914. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Schmahl, Julius A. (1915). Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1915.
  4. ^ a b "Probable Choice of G.O.P." June 17, 1914.
  5. ^ "HAMMOND URGED FOR GOVERNOR BY LYNCHG". February 14, 1914.
  6. ^ "EBERHART SAYS HE WILL NOT AID LEE IN CAMPAIGN". October 2, 1914.
  7. ^ "HAMMOND CAMPAIGN TO OPEN AUGUST 1". July 12, 1914.
  8. ^ "LEE ADMITS MEN HE ACCUSED ARE SUPPORTING HIM". October 6, 1914.
  9. ^ "ALBERT BERG CALLS LEE PARTY WRECKER". September 23, 1914.
  10. ^ "SOCIALISTS BLAME WAR ON CAPITALISM". September 8, 1914.
  11. ^ "APPEALS TO "DRYS" TO AID CALDERWOOD". September 24, 1914.
  12. ^ "LEE REFUSED TO ADOPT TWO DRY PLANKS,CHARGE". October 8, 1914.
  13. ^ "HAMMOND SAYS LEE CHARGES ARE FALSE". October 30, 1914.
  14. ^ "What Three Great Men Think of Winfield Scott Hammond". St. Paul Pioneer Press. November 1, 1914.


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