1896 South Carolina gubernatorial election

1896 South Carolina gubernatorial election

November 3, 1896

Nominee William Haselden Ellerbe Sampson Pope Party Democratic Reorganized Republican Popular vote 59,424 4,432 Percentage 89.1% 6.6%

County Results 95+% won by Ellerbe 90%-94% won by Ellerbe

Governorbefore election John Gary Evans Democratic ElectedGovernor William Haselden Ellerbe Democratic

The1896 South Carolina gubernatorial electionwas held on November 3, 1896 to select thegovernorof the state ofSouth Carolina.William Haselden Ellerbewon theDemocraticprimary and easily won the general election to become the86th governorof South Carolina.

Democratic primary

A newSouth Carolina Constitutionwas promulgated in 1895 under the direction ofPitchfork Ben Tillmanand itdisenfranchisedthe remainingblackswho were eligible to vote. With the removal of blacks from the electorate, theSouth Carolina Democratic Partyfelt safe to have its statewide ticket selected from aprimary election.Thus, the 1896 election in South Carolina was the first that featured the use of a primary election by a party to select its nominees of statewide office for the general election.

GovernorJohn Gary Evansdeclined to seek a second term and instead sought election to theU.S. Senate.Three candidates entered the Democratic primary andWilliam Haselden Ellerbefrom the start was the heavy favorite to win. He had been a candidate in theprevious gubernatorial election,but lost to Evans after Tillman shifted his support from Ellerbe to Evans. This time Tillman fully backed Ellerbe and the other candidates never generated any traction with the voters of the state. The primary was held on August 26 and Ellerbe coasted to victory while the voters were chiefly interested in the battle between Evans andJoseph H. Earlefor the open Senate seat.

Democratic Primary
Candidate	Votes	%
William Haselden Ellerbe	55,313	77.1
John R. Harrison	14,278	19.9
G. Walton Whitman	2,186	3.0

Republican split

Sampson Pope had been anindependentcandidate in theprevious gubernatorial electionand gained an impressive 30% of the vote in a state completely run by the Democratic party machine. Upset at the new state constitution promulgated in 1895 and the lack of opposition by thestate Republicans,Pope established a new party called the "Reorganized Republicans". It was composed chiefly of white men and requested recognition as the official South Carolina Republican Party from theRepublican National Committee.Pope was considered to be alily-white Republican.

However, the official state party did not want to lose its official status because of the potentialspoils systemto be gained by the election ofWilliam McKinleyfor president in1896.They called for a state convention on September 17 inColumbiato nominate a statewide ticket. Sampson Pope likewise called for a convention of his Reorganized Republicans at the same time hoping that the two factions would merge orfusefor the general election. The old guard Republicans refused any merger and would only accept complete subordination forcing the Reorganized Republicans to also nominate a slate of statewide candidates.

General election

The general election was held on November 3, 1896 and William Haselden Ellerbe was easily elected asgovernor of South Carolinaagainst the two Republican candidates.Turnoutincreased for this election over theprevious electionbecause it was a contested election and there also was apresidential electionon the ballot.

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1896

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William Haselden Ellerbe(incumbent)	59,424	89.1	+19.5
	Reorganized Republican	Sampson Pope	4,432	6.6	-23.8
	Republican	R.M. Wallace	2,780	4.2	+4.2
	No party	Write-Ins	41	0.1	+0.1
Majority			54,992	82.5	+43.3
Turnout			66,677
	Democratichold

See also

• Governor of South Carolina
• List of governors of South Carolina
• South Carolina gubernatorial elections

References

• Simkins, Francis Butler (1964).The Tillman movement in South Carolina.Duke University Press. pp. 229–230.
• "They Love Purity, not Pap".The News and Courier.October 11, 1896. p. 1.
• "The Chances of the Primary".The News and Courier.August 29, 1898. p. 2.
• "Statement of Votes Given for State Officers."Reports and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina at the Regular Session Commencing January 12, 1897.Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1897, p. 15.
• Jordan, Frank E.The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962.pp. 18–19.

External links

• SCIway Biography of Governor William Haselden Ellerbe

Preceded by 1894

South Carolina gubernatorial elections

Succeeded by 1898