1890 Wyoming gubernatorial election

1890 Wyoming gubernatorial election

September 11, 1890 (1890-09-11)
Turnout	26.41% of Total Population
Nominee Francis E. Warren George W. Baxter Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 8,879 7,153 Percentage 55.38% 44.62%
County results Warren:      50–60%      60–70% No Data/Vote:
Governor before election Francis E. Warren Republican Elected Governor Francis E. Warren Republican

The 1890 Wyoming gubernatorial election was held on September 11, 1890, as the first gubernatorial election for the newly admitted state of Wyoming. Incumbent Territorial Governor Francis E. Warren ran for re-election as the Republican nominee against former Territorial Governor George W. Baxter, the Democratic nominee. Warren defeated Baxter by a decisive margin and became the first popularly elected Governor of Wyoming.

However, shortly after Warren's term began as governor, he was elected to the U.S. Senate by the newly constituted state legislature, and he resigned on November 24, 1890. Accordingly, Secretary of State Amos W. Barber became governor, and a special gubernatorial election was held in 1892.

Party conventions

Prior to the adoption of Wyoming's primary law in 1911, the political parties nominated their candidates for office by convention. Prior to the start of the Republican convention, incumbent Territorial Governor Francis E. Warren was seen as the likeliest, and the strongest, candidate.[1] The Republican Party ultimately nominated Warren, though his poor health at the time raised the possibility that he might need to be replaced on the ticket.[2]

Prior to the Democratic convention, speculation swirled around three names: former Territorial Governor George W. Baxter; banker T. B. Hicks; and Evanston businessman A. C. Beckwith.[1] Baxter was ultimately nominated by the Democratic convention by acclamation, queueing up a contest between two different territorial governors.[3]

General election

Results

1890 Wyoming gubernatorial election[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Francis E. Warren (inc.)	8,879	55.38%
	Democratic	George W. Baxter	7,153	44.62%
Majority			1,726	10.77%
Total votes			16,032	100.00%
	Republican hold

References

1. "Politics in Wyoming: Both Parties Will Hold Their First State Conventions in Cheyenne To-Day". Independent Record. Helena, Mont. August 11, 1890. p. 1. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
2. "The Forty-Third State: Francis E. Warren, Republican Nominee for Governor of Wyoming". Fort Worth Daily Gazette. Fort Worth, Tex. August 17, 1890. p. 3. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
3. "In the New State: The First Republican and Democratic Conventions Were Held The Same Day in Wyoming". Fort Worth Daily Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pa. August 12, 1890. p. 6. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
4. Erwin, Marie (1974). Trenholm, Virginia Cole (ed.). Wyoming Blue Book (PDF). Vol. 2. Cheyenne, Wyo.: Pioneer Printing & Stationery Co. pp. 534–35.