1878 Delaware gubernatorial election

The 1878 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1878. Incumbent Democratic Governor John P. Cochran was unable to seek re-election. Former State Senator John W. Hall ran as the Democratic nominee to succeed Cochran. The Republican Party, chastened by its long string of defeats, failed to run a statewide candidate. Instead, the Greenback Party stepped in, and Kensey Johns Stewart ran as the Greenback nominee. The absence of the Republican Party on the ballot caused turnout to crash, and Hall defeated Stewart by the largest margin in state history.[1]

1878 Delaware gubernatorial election

← 1874 November 5, 1878 1882 →
 
Nominee John W. Hall Kensey Johns Stewart
Party Democratic Greenback
Popular vote 10,730 2,835
Percentage 79.10% 20.90%

Governor before election

John P. Cochran
Democratic

Elected Governor

John W. Hall
Democratic

General election edit

Results edit

1878 Delaware gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John W. Hall 10,730 78.60% +26.01%
Greenback Kensey Johns Stewart 2,835 20.77%
Independent Christian Febiger 30 0.22%
Write-ins 57 0.42%
Majority 7,895 57.83% +52.65%
Turnout 13,652 100.00%
Democratic hold

References edit

  1. ^ Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware: From the Earliest Settlements to the Year 1907. Vol. 1. Lancaster, Pa.: Wickersham Company, Printers and Binders. pp. 228–229.
  2. ^ 1879 Senate Journal, pp. 93–95

Bibliography edit

  • Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
  • Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
  • Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.
  • Delaware Senate Journal, 77th General Assembly, 1st Reg. Sess. (1879).