1896 United States presidential election in Michigan

The 1896 United States presidential election in Michigan took place on November 3, 1896. All contemporary 45 states were part of the 1896 United States presidential election. Voters chose fourteen electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

1896 United States presidential election in Michigan

November 3, 1896
 
Nominee William McKinley William J. Bryan
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Ohio Nebraska
Running mate Garret Hobart Arthur Sewall
Electoral vote 14 0
Popular vote 293,336 237,166
Percentage 53.77% 43.47%

County Results

President before election

Grover Cleveland
Democratic

Elected President

William McKinley
Republican

Background

Ever since the formation of the Republican party, Michigan had been a Republican-leaning state due to the Lower Peninsula’s strong history of settlement by anti-slavery Yankees, who after the end of Reconstruction continued to see the need for solid Republican voting to oppose the solidly Democratic Confederate and Border States.[1] During the Third Party System, heavily Catholic and immigrant-settled Southeast Michigan would lean towards the Democratic Party, which was opposed to the moralistic pietism of Yankee Republicans.

In the 1892 election, aided by favorable demographic changes[2] and a legislative change allocating electors by congressional district, the Democratic Party managed to carry five of Michigan’s fourteen electoral votes, and also elect a Governor and a majority to the state legislature. However, the Panic of 1893 turned expectations or hopes of Michigan becoming a swing state rudely on its head, especially when incumbent President Cleveland stood firm, sending in troops to break the Pullman Strike. In the 1894 elections, only one Democrat maintained a seat in the state legislature,[3] a loss of seventy seats compared to the 1890 elections.

In the wake of this decline, Cleveland decided not to run for a third term, and endorsed the National Democratic Party ticket of John M. Palmer.[4] The Populist Party seized control of the Democratic Party and nominated former Nebraska Representative William Jennings Bryan.

Vote

During his campaign, Bryan travelled through Michigan in the latter stages of his October Midwestern tour. Polls late in that month, covering all but three of Michigan’s counties, showed Republican candidate William McKinley ahead of Bryan by almost three-to-one, which was an increase upon his margin in earlier polls.[5] Another poll a little later was also certain Michigan would vote for McKinley.[6]

Michigan ultimately voted for McKinley by a margin of 10.29 points, a much smaller margin that earlier polls, although a reduction was expected as some unpolled rural areas of the state had been believed to favour Bryan’s free silver policy.[6] His margin was an increase of five points upon what Benjamin Harrison had achieved over the state as a whole in 1892, though there were large variations. In the traditionally Democratic German Catholic areas, there was a large shift to McKinley due to Archbishop Ireland’s opposition to free silver,[7][8] In the heavily Methodist cabinet counties of Michiana, by contrast, Bryan gained subtantially and was the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Branch County, Calhoun County, Eaton County and Isabella County since Franklin Pierce in 1852.[9]

Results

1896 United States presidential election in Michigan[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William McKinley 293,336 53.77%
Democratic William Jennings Bryan 237,166 43.47%
National Democratic John M. Palmer 6,923 1.27%
Prohibition Joshua Levering 4,978 0.91%
National Prohibition Charles Bentley 1,816 0.33%
Write-ins 1,073 0.20%
Socialist Labor Charles Matchett 293 0.05%
Total votes 545,585 100%

Results by county

County William McKinley
Republican
William Jennings Bryan
Democratic
John M. Palmer
National Democratic
Joshua Levering
Prohibition
Various candidates
Other parties
Margin Total votes cast[11]
# % # % # % # % # % # %
Alcona 743 70.90% 275 26.24% 22 2.10% 6 0.57% 2 0.19% 468 44.66% 1,048
Alger 801 58.42% 539 39.31% 26 1.90% 5 0.36% 0 0.00% 262 19.11% 1,371
Allegan 5,810 57.85% 3,937 39.20% 149 1.48% 93 0.93% 54 0.54% 1,873 18.65% 10,043
Alpena 1,777 51.03% 1,665 47.82% 26 0.75% 13 0.37% 1 0.03% 112 3.22% 3,482
Antrim 1,886 58.05% 1,228 37.80% 58 1.79% 39 1.20% 38 1.17% 658 20.25% 3,249
Arenac 611 37.39% 997 61.02% 18 1.10% 0 0.00% 8 0.49% -386 -23.62% 1,634
Baraga 611 55.90% 459 41.99% 10 0.91% 11 1.01% 2 0.18% 152 13.91% 1,093
Barry 3,294 49.63% 3,157 47.57% 89 1.34% 51 0.77% 46 0.69% 137 2.06% 6,637
Bay 6,037 48.09% 6,296 50.16% 151 1.20% 63 0.50% 6 0.05% -259 -2.06% 12,553
Benzie 1,366 60.39% 803 35.50% 30 1.33% 53 2.34% 10 0.44% 563 24.89% 2,262
Berrien 6,672 56.12% 4,792 40.31% 272 2.29% 115 0.97% 37 0.31% 1,880 15.81% 11,888
Branch 3,596 46.58% 3,976 51.50% 74 0.96% 39 0.51% 35 0.45% -380 -4.92% 7,720
Calhoun 5,874 47.01% 6,202 49.64% 211 1.69% 177 1.42% 30 0.24% -328 -2.63% 12,494
Cass 3,034 49.05% 3,012 48.70% 59 0.95% 64 1.03% 16 0.26% 22 0.36% 6,185
Charlevoix 1,653 61.06% 978 36.13% 24 0.89% 38 1.40% 14 0.52% 675 24.94% 2,707
Cheboygan 1,576 48.79% 1,617 50.06% 16 0.50% 12 0.37% 9 0.28% -41 -1.27% 3,230
Chippewa 2,105 65.52% 1,001 31.15% 46 1.43% 58 1.81% 3 0.09% 1,104 34.36% 3,213
Clare 886 53.09% 723 43.32% 29 1.74% 12 0.72% 19 1.14% 163 9.77% 1,669
Clinton 3,480 48.95% 3,467 48.76% 65 0.91% 62 0.87% 36 0.51% 13 0.18% 7,110
Crawford 350 49.65% 350 49.65% 3 0.43% 2 0.28% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 705
Delta 2,774 67.81% 1,237 30.24% 65 1.59% 11 0.27% 4 0.10% 1,537 37.57% 4,091
Dickinson 2,608 80.59% 528 16.32% 56 1.73% 41 1.27% 3 0.09% 2,080 64.28% 3,236
Eaton 4,270 46.97% 4,631 50.95% 108 1.19% 63 0.69% 18 0.20% -361 -3.97% 9,090
Emmet 1,727 54.17% 1,337 41.94% 48 1.51% 69 2.16% 7 0.22% 390 12.23% 3,188
Genesee 5,638 52.00% 4,915 45.33% 102 0.94% 127 1.17% 61 0.56% 723 6.67% 10,843
Gladwin 748 67.09% 323 28.97% 28 2.51% 13 1.17% 3 0.27% 425 38.12% 1,115
Gogebic 1,982 67.53% 873 29.74% 48 1.64% 26 0.89% 6 0.20% 1,109 37.79% 2,935
Grand Traverse 2,533 57.20% 1,745 39.41% 71 1.60% 72 1.63% 7 0.16% 788 17.80% 4,428
Gratiot 3,380 44.97% 3,971 52.83% 72 0.96% 59 0.78% 34 0.45% -591 -7.86% 7,516
Hillsdale 4,564 52.12% 3,986 45.52% 91 1.04% 77 0.88% 38 0.43% 578 6.60% 8,756
Houghton 6,141 71.85% 1,996 23.35% 178 2.08% 225 2.63% 7 0.08% 4,145 48.50% 8,547
Huron 3,396 53.64% 2,808 44.35% 88 1.39% 30 0.47% 9 0.14% 588 9.29% 6,331
Ingham 4,958 45.43% 5,691 52.14% 82 0.75% 112 1.03% 71 0.65% -733 -6.72% 10,914
Ionia 4,593 48.35% 4,757 50.08% 65 0.68% 58 0.61% 26 0.27% -164 -1.73% 9,499
Iosco 1,470 60.25% 912 37.38% 38 1.56% 17 0.70% 3 0.12% 558 22.87% 2,440
Iron 1,048 79.70% 236 17.95% 24 1.83% 0 0.00% 7 0.53% 812 61.75% 1,315
Isabella 2,424 46.71% 2,679 51.63% 24 0.46% 40 0.77% 22 0.42% -255 -4.91% 5,189
Jackson 6,208 47.51% 6,498 49.73% 127 0.97% 145 1.11% 89 0.68% -290 -2.22% 13,067
Kalamazoo 5,891 51.16% 5,434 47.19% 83 0.72% 82 0.71% 25 0.22% 457 3.97% 11,515
Kalkaska 940 66.38% 422 29.80% 27 1.91% 18 1.27% 9 0.64% 518 36.58% 1,416
Kent 17,053 54.34% 13,582 43.28% 319 1.02% 395 1.26% 35 0.11% 3,471 11.06% 31,384
Keweenaw 411 88.96% 45 9.74% 5 1.08% 1 0.22% 0 0.00% 366 79.22% 462
Lake 888 60.61% 547 37.34% 20 1.37% 8 0.55% 2 0.14% 341 23.28% 1,465
Lapeer 3,809 53.63% 3,065 43.15% 105 1.48% 100 1.41% 24 0.34% 744 10.47% 7,103
Leelanau 1,402 64.25% 690 31.62% 53 2.43% 33 1.51% 4 0.18% 712 32.63% 2,182
Lenawee 6,863 50.89% 6,300 46.72% 143 1.06% 145 1.08% 35 0.26% 563 4.17% 13,486
Livingston 2,893 47.69% 2,994 49.36% 76 1.25% 73 1.20% 30 0.49% -101 -1.67% 6,066
Luce 358 57.01% 236 37.58% 16 2.55% 17 2.71% 1 0.16% 122 19.43% 628
Mackinac 806 48.73% 804 48.61% 36 2.18% 7 0.42% 1 0.06% 2 0.12% 1,654
Macomb 4,153 53.22% 3,400 43.57% 157 2.01% 70 0.90% 23 0.29% 753 9.65% 7,803
Manistee 2,697 50.65% 2,487 46.70% 94 1.77% 35 0.66% 12 0.23% 210 3.94% 5,325
Marquette 5,111 70.11% 1,980 27.16% 79 1.08% 100 1.37% 20 0.27% 3,131 42.95% 7,290
Mason 2,177 56.27% 1,580 40.84% 66 1.71% 31 0.80% 15 0.39% 597 15.43% 3,869
Mecosta 2,887 57.80% 1,975 39.54% 73 1.46% 48 0.96% 12 0.24% 912 18.26% 4,995
Menominee 3,105 66.39% 1,499 32.05% 47 1.00% 21 0.45% 5 0.11% 1,606 34.34% 4,677
Midland 1,524 48.83% 1,507 48.29% 47 1.51% 34 1.09% 9 0.29% 17 0.54% 3,121
Missaukee 899 55.15% 687 42.15% 14 0.86% 26 1.60% 4 0.25% 212 13.01% 1,630
Monroe 4,053 48.13% 4,208 49.97% 74 0.88% 51 0.61% 35 0.42% -155 -1.84% 8,421
Montcalm 4,523 54.23% 3,651 43.78% 88 1.06% 60 0.72% 18 0.22% 872 10.46% 8,340
Montmorency 481 58.73% 330 40.29% 2 0.24% 5 0.61% 1 0.12% 151 18.44% 819
Muskegon 4,682 58.79% 3,110 39.05% 83 1.04% 70 0.88% 19 0.24% 1,572 19.74% 7,964
Newaygo 2,650 56.53% 1,943 41.45% 30 0.64% 44 0.94% 21 0.45% 707 15.08% 4,688
Oakland 5,846 46.01% 5,271 41.49% 182 1.43% 129 1.02% 1,277 10.05% 575 4.53% 12,705
Oceana 2,534 58.09% 1,637 37.53% 61 1.40% 113 2.59% 17 0.39% 897 20.56% 4,362
Ogemaw 793 56.64% 560 40.00% 24 1.71% 18 1.29% 5 0.36% 233 16.64% 1,400
Ontonagon 757 62.77% 416 34.49% 25 2.07% 7 0.58% 1 0.08% 341 28.28% 1,206
Osceola 2,268 62.90% 1,177 32.64% 69 1.91% 52 1.44% 40 1.11% 1,091 30.26% 3,606
Oscoda 308 80.84% 63 16.54% 9 2.36% 1 0.26% 0 0.00% 245 64.30% 381
Otsego 859 59.41% 560 38.73% 14 0.97% 10 0.69% 3 0.21% 299 20.68% 1,446
Ottawa 5,188 58.05% 3,550 39.72% 114 1.28% 64 0.72% 21 0.23% 1,638 18.33% 8,937
Presque Isle 763 66.06% 371 32.12% 10 0.87% 10 0.87% 1 0.09% 392 33.94% 1,155
Roscommon 282 65.43% 141 32.71% 3 0.70% 4 0.93% 1 0.23% 141 32.71% 431
Saginaw 8,361 47.92% 8,792 50.39% 182 1.04% 75 0.43% 37 0.21% -431 -2.47% 17,447
Sanilac 3,634 51.74% 3,156 44.93% 90 1.28% 91 1.30% 53 0.75% 478 6.81% 7,024
Schoolcraft 973 62.86% 548 35.40% 13 0.84% 13 0.84% 1 0.06% 425 27.45% 1,548
Shiawassee 4,654 50.50% 4,303 46.69% 139 1.51% 85 0.92% 35 0.38% 351 3.81% 9,216
St. Clair 7,160 56.86% 5,130 40.74% 161 1.28% 97 0.77% 45 0.36% 2,030 16.12% 12,593
St. Joseph 3,184 43.76% 3,968 54.54% 51 0.70% 60 0.82% 13 0.18% -784 -10.78% 7,276
Tuscola 4,277 53.10% 3,564 44.25% 87 1.08% 87 1.08% 40 0.50% 713 8.85% 8,055
Van Buren 4,510 51.95% 3,982 45.87% 93 1.07% 73 0.84% 24 0.28% 528 6.08% 8,682
Washtenaw 5,671 49.73% 5,348 46.90% 215 1.89% 110 0.96% 59 0.52% 323 2.83% 11,403
Wayne 36,400 56.73% 26,231 40.89% 915 1.43% 258 0.40% 354 0.55% 10,169 15.85% 64,158
Wexford 2,036 58.27% 1,359 38.90% 36 1.03% 49 1.40% 14 0.40% 677 19.38% 3,494
Totals293,33853.76%237,20043.47%6,9231.27%4,9780.91%3,1820.58%56,13810.29%545,621

Notes

    References

    1. English, Gustavus P.; Proceedings of the Ninth Republican National Convention (1888), p. 234
    2. Kleppner, Paul; The Third Electoral System, 1853-1892: Parties, Votes and Political Cultures, pp. 198-207 ISBN 0807813281
    3. ‘Swamped! The Democrats Drowned Out by a Tremendous Republican Tidal Wave’; The L'Anse Sentinel, November 10, 1894, p. 1
    4. Graff, Henry F.; Grover Cleveland, pp. 128-129 ISBN 0-8050-6923-2
    5. ‘Steadily Gaining: The Chicago Record’s Postal Card Election’; Los Angeles Evening Express, October 23, 1896, p. 8
    6. ‘McKinley’s Cheering Prospects’; The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 25, 1896, p. 18
    7. Kleppner, Paul (1970). The cross of culture: a social analysis of midwestern politics, 1850-1900. Free Press. pp. 323-335
    8. Harpine, William D.; From the Front Porch to the Front Page: McKinley and Bryan in the 1896 Presidential Campaign, pp. 166-167 ISBN 9781585444502
    9. Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, p. 31 ISBN 0786422173
    10. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; Presidential General Election Results – Michigan
    11. Géoelections; Popular Vote at the Presidential Election for 1896 (.xlsx file for €30 including full minor party figures)
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