1903 Chicago mayoral election

Incumbent mayor Carter Harrison Jr. was renominated by the Democratic Party.[4] Few others seemed interested in seeking the nomination.[4]

While there had been factional disputes within the party, most of the Democratic Party united behind Harrison as a nominee. A key exception to this was Harrison's once-ally Robert "Bobby" Burke, who remained opposed to Harrison.[4]

Harrison easily won the primaries to select delegates for the city's nominating convention, with his supporters being heavily selected as delegates.[4] A pro-Harrison delegate nominee even beat former Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Thomas Gahan, who had been seeking to run as a delegate aligned with then-Harrison rival Robert "Bobby" Burke.[4]

Without an opponent, Harrison was renominated at the convention by acclamation.[4] The convention, however, was noted as having been a rather unenthusiastic affair, appearing to signal more tepid or reluctant support of Harrison by his party.[4]

Businessman Greame Stewart won the Republican nomination.[5] He had previously served as a member of the Executive Committee of the 1900 Republican National Convention.[6] From 1882 through 1890 he was a member of the Chicago Board of Education, serving as the board's president from 1889 through 1890.[7]

With an exceptional reputation for honesty and public service, Stewart had long been considered a potential candidate for mayor of Chicago.[4]

In February, Stewart won the a 2-1 margin of victory in the Republican primaries over his most significant opponent, John Maynard Harlan.[4]

At the Republican convention, Stewart was nominated by acclamation.[4]

The United Labor Party first nominated Clarence Darrow, who declined. The party subsequently nominated Daniel L. Cruise.[8]

Beginning at the start of 1903, there was a strong push among members of the Chicago Federation of Labor and others to draft Darrow as an independent candidate for mayor.[4] After an active and organized effort to draft him, which even included a nominating convention-style pro-Darrow mass meeting held at the Auditorium Theatre on February 16, and active consideration of a prospective run on his part, it appeared in late February that Darrow might be preparing to enter the race.[4] However, on February 24, he made the surprise announcement that he would not be running.[4]

The United Labor Party, which had been formed in hopes of nominating Darrow, and had offered him their nomination, moved on after Darrow declined and nominated Daniel L. Cruise.[4][8]

The Prohibition Party nominated Thomas L. Haines.

The Socialist Party nominated Charles L. Breckon.

The Socialist Labor Party nominated Henry Sale.

The result was considered to be a close one.[4][8]

While they lost the mayoralty, in the coinciding elections, Republicans were able to win the races for City Attorney and City Clerk (having won the latter race by a mere several hundred vote margin).[4]

In the coinciding Chicago City Council election, Republicans won a weakened majority. The City Council went from having 39 Republicans, 30 Democrats, and one independent before the 1903 election, to having 35 Republicans, 33 Democrats, and one independent afterwards.[9]

Democrat Ernest Hummel also won the coinciding election for City Treasurer.[9]

Stewart had overwhelmingly won the vote in first precinct of the twenty-first ward, where both he and Harrison resided.[9] Harrison had won this precinct in the previous election.[9]

Harrison received 64.38% of the Polish-American vote, while Stewart received 31.51%.[10]