Gubernatorial elections
United States elections · 1888 · held
State gubernatorial races held in this election year. Each governor is elected separately; there is no combined national percentage.
State races and results map
Each race has its own denominator. Missing counts are blank. The interactive map uses modern state outlines as navigation references.
Alabama — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Seay | Democratic | — | 77.60% | Elected |
| W. T. Ewing | Republican | — | 22.24% | — |
| J. C. Orr | Prohibition | — | 0.15% | — |
Re-elected, 77.60%
Sources & further reading
Arkansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Philip Eagle | Democratic | — | 54.09% | Elected |
| Charles M. Norwood | Union Labor | — | 45.91% | — |
Lost re-nomination, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
Colorado — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Adams Cooper | Republican | — | 53.87% | Elected |
| Thomas M. Patterson | Democratic | — | 42.67% | — |
| William C. Stover | Prohibition | — | 2.28% | — |
| Gilbert De La Matyr | Prohibition | — | 1.18% | — |
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Connecticut — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Bulkeley | Republican | — | 47.94% | Elected |
| Luzon B. Morris | Democratic | — | 48.86% | — |
| Hiram Camp | Prohibition | — | 3.01% | — |
| F. A. Andrews | Labor | — | 0.17% | — |
| Scattering 0.01% | Legislative election | — | — | — |
Retired, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Florida — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francis P. Fleming | Democratic | — | 60.32% | Elected |
| V. J. Shipman | Republican | — | 39.68% | — |
Term-limited, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
Georgia — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Brown Gordon | Democratic | — | 100.00% | Elected |
Re-elected, 100.00%
Sources & further reading
Illinois — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph W. Fifer | Republican | — | 50.50% | Elected |
| John M. Palmer | Democratic | — | 46.03% | — |
| David H. Harts | Prohibition | — | 2.59% | — |
| Willis W. Jones | Union Labor | — | 0.88% | — |
Retired, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Indiana — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvin Peterson Hovey | Republican | — | 49.03% | Elected |
| Courtland C. Matson | Democratic | — | 48.62% | — |
| Jasper Hughes | Prohibition | — | 1.85% | — |
| John B. Milroy | Union Labor | — | 0.50% | — |
Term-limited, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Kansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyman U. Humphrey | Republican | — | 54.70% | Elected |
| John Martin | Democratic | — | 32.51% | — |
| Peter Percival Elder | Union Labor | — | 10.84% | — |
| Jeremiah D. Botkin | Prohibition | — | 1.95% | — |
Retired, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Louisiana — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francis T. Nicholls | Democratic | — | 72.73% | Elected |
| Henry C. Warmoth | Republican | — | 27.27% | — |
Lost renomination, Democrat victory
Sources & further reading
Maine — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edwin C. Burleigh | Republican | — | 52.12% | Elected |
| William LeBaron Putnam | Democratic | — | 42.19% | — |
| Volney B. Cushing | Prohibition | — | 2.14% | — |
| William H. Simmons | Union Labor | — | 1.05% | — |
Lost re-nomination, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Massachusetts — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Ames | Republican | — | 52.71% | Elected |
| William E. Russell | Democratic | — | 44.53% | — |
| William H. Earle | Prohibition | — | 2.73% | — |
Re-elected, 52.71%
Sources & further reading
Michigan — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrus G. Luce | Republican | — | — | Elected |
| Wellington R. Burt | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Amherst B. Cheney | Prohibition | — | — | — |
| William Mills | Union Labor | — | — | — |
Re-elected, 49.20% Multiple rounds or non-comparable percentages are described in the source; percentages are not combined.
Sources & further reading
Minnesota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Rush Merriam | Republican | — | 51.28% | Elected |
| Eugene McLanahan Wilson | Democratic | — | 42.08% | — |
| Hugh G. Harrison | Prohibition | — | 6.50% | — |
| J. H. Paul | Labor | — | 0.15% | — |
Lost re-nomination, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Missouri — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David R. Francis | Democratic | — | 49.36% | Elected |
| Elbert E. Kimball | Republican | — | 46.81% | — |
| Ahira Manning | Union Labor | — | 2.98% | — |
| Frank M. Lowe | Prohibition | — | 0.85% | — |
Lost renomination, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
Nebraska — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Milton Thayer | Republican | — | 51.26% | Elected |
| John A. McShane | Democratic | — | 42.11% | — |
| George Bigelow | Prohibition | — | 4.69% | — |
| David Butler | Labor | — | 1.94% | — |
Re-elected, 51.26%
Sources & further reading
New Hampshire — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David H. Goodell | Republican | — | 49.45% | Elected |
| Charles H. Amsden | Democratic | — | 48.79% | — |
| Edgar L. Carr | Prohibition | — | 1.73% | — |
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
New York — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David B. Hill | Democratic | — | 49.44% | Elected |
| Warner Miller | Republican | — | 47.98% | — |
| W. Martin Jones | Prohibition | — | 2.30% | — |
| J. Edward Hall | Socialist Labor | — | 0.25% | — |
| Lewis E. Page | Union Labor | — | 0.02% | — |
| Nathan Wardner | United Labor | — | 0.00% | — |
Re-elected, 49.44%
Sources & further reading
North Carolina — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Gould Fowle | Democratic | — | 51.97% | Elected |
| Oliver H. Dockery | Republican | — | 46.93% | — |
| William T. Walker | Prohibition | — | 1.09% | — |
Term-limited, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
Rhode Island — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal C. Taft | Republican | — | 52.33% | Elected |
| George W. Gould | Prohibition | — | 3.34% | — |
Defeated, 44.29%
Sources & further reading
South Carolina — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Peter Richardson III | Democratic | — | 99.97% | Elected |
Re-elected, 99.97%
Sources & further reading
Tennessee — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Love Taylor | Democratic | — | 51.80% | Elected |
| Samuel W. Hawkins | Republican | — | 45.92% | — |
| J. C. Johnson | Prohibition | — | 2.28% | — |
Re-elected, 51.80%
Sources & further reading
Texas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Sullivan Ross | Democratic | — | 71.77% | Elected |
| Marion Martin | Fusion | — | 28.23% | — |
Re-elected, 71.77%
Sources & further reading
Vermont — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William P. Dillingham | Republican | — | 69.89% | Elected |
| Stephen C. Shurtleff | Democratic | — | 28.13% | — |
| Henry M. Seeley | Prohibition | — | 1.98% | — |
Retired, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
West Virginia — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Goff Jr. | Republican | — | — | Elected |
| Aretas B. Fleming | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Scattering 1.52% | Revised count, conducted by legislature | — | — | — |
| Nathan Goff Jr. | Republican | — | — | — |
Term-limited, Democratic victory following disputed election Multiple rounds or non-comparable percentages are described in the source; percentages are not combined.
Sources & further reading
Wisconsin — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William D. Hoard | Republican | — | 49.53% | Elected |
| James Morgan | Democratic | — | 43.82% | — |
| E. G. Durant | Prohibition | — | 4.05% | — |
| David Frank Powell | Labor | — | 2.59% | — |
Retired, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Results: final · partial coverage · Separate state governor races
This entry covers governor elections held in the election year, including available special contests, not off-year elections or every sitting governor. Candidate-specific ideology is used where sourced; election-era party ideology is the fallback. Historical indirect selections and unavailable counts are identified separately. Source summaries may omit minor candidates; blank values do not mean zero votes.