1906 California gubernatorial election

The 1906 California gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1906. James Gillet won the 1906 election and became the governor of California.[1] This was the first election in which more votes were cast in Los Angeles County than in San Francisco, possibly as a result of the earthquake seven months earlier in San Francisco.[a]

1906 California gubernatorial election

← 1902 November 6, 1906 1910 →
 
Nominee James Gillett Theodore Arlington Bell
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 125,887 117,645
Percentage 40.35% 37.71%

 
Nominee William Langdon Austin Lewis
Party Independence Socialist
Popular vote 45,008 16,036
Percentage 14.43% 5.14%

County results
Gillett:      30-40%      40–50%      50–60%      70-80%
Bell:      30-40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70-80%
Langdon:      40–50%

Governor before election

George Pardee
Republican

Elected Governor

James Gillett
Republican

Background

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At the time of the election the governor of California was George Pardee. His term was relatively successful as he became a strong proponent of conservation, and provided assistance to the city of San Francisco, as it suffered through both the San Francisco plague of 1900–04, and the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. This along with his efficient use of the state's bureaucracy made Pardee a popular figure. Despite Pardee's popularity, many in the Republican Party and the lobbyists for the Southern Pacific Railroad despised him for his views against the Southern Pacific, at a time when the railroad company was very influential in state politics.[2][3] This hostility, plus theories that Republican voters were angry at his focus on issues in Northern California, and not Southern California, caused Pardee to lose the Republican nomination to James Gillett, at the Republican Party convention in Santa Cruz.[4][5]

Democratic primary

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The 1902 California gubernatorial election was a close election that saw Democratic candidate Franklin Knight Lane lose the popular vote by only several thousand votes; an impressive feat given the Republican Party's dominance in state politics. Despite this, Lane did not run for the party's nomination, instead becoming a Commissioner of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Candidates who were considering runs at the beginning of the race were Theodore A. Bell, Meredith P. Snyder, and James Phelan, the former mayor of San Francisco.[6] Bell had initially preferred running for his former congressional seat in California's 2nd congressional district, instead of running for governor.[7] At the Democratic convention in Sacramento the names presented for governor were James D. Phelan, Thomas O. Toland, Theodore A. Bell, and Daniel Cole, among others.[8] Theodore A. Bell would eventually be nominated by the Democratic party on September 12, 1906.[9] At the convention the Democratic party adopted several wide ranging policies including support for William Jennings Bryan, public ownership of utilities, support for antitrust legislation, maintaining the Chinese Exclusion Act, support for an 8 hour work day and women's suffrage.[10]

Third party campaigns

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The Independence Party began in 1906, largely led by William Randolph Hearst and his supporters. The party held its first state convention in Oakland on September 6, 1906. It was there that it nominated William Langdon for governor. The party's platform was similar to the Democratic platform, in that they called for the direct election of senators, increased irrigation for farmers, maintaining the Chinese Exclusion Act, food safety laws, and public ownership of utilities.[11]

The Socialist Party was active in California and held its convention in Oakland, California. It was there that the party nominated Austin Lewis for governor, and F.J. Wheat of Los Angeles for lieutenant governor.[12] Austin Lewis was a lecturer, writer and attorney who had law offices in both San Francisco and Oakland. He would become known for his work trying to prove the innocence of Tom Mooney and Warren K. Billings in the Preparedness Day Bombing.[13]Austin Lewis was a critic of both James Gillett and William Langdon, going so far as to say that "If you vote for Gillett your ballot counts one for the Southern Pacific railroad machine; If you vote for Hearst's puppet candidate you vote for nothing."[14]

General election campaign

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Beginning in October the candidates began securing the nominations of their party and started campaigning to voters across the state. Early on Theodore Bell would engage in mudslinging, especially against William Langdon, who many at the time saw as a splinter campaign of the Democratic party.[15] On the campaign trail, Theodore Bell would criticize James Gillett and William Langdon. He stated that Langdon's campaign was "simply an adjunct of the campaign of James Gillett", and implied that Gillett was a pawn of the Southern Pacific Railroad due to his acceptance of rail passes and lack of action on bills that would hurt the company.[16] Bell also criticized William Randolph Hearst for his efforts to get himself elected Governor of New York, and his creation of the Independence League as many at the time including Bell thought this third party would take away votes from the Democratic party.[17] On October 10, 1906, a prominent Republican banker named W.L. Porterfield went across party lines and endorsed Theodore Bell, going so far as to promise a subscription of one million dollars towards a new railroad that would connect San Pedro to an Eastern railroad. This showcased the dissatisfaction within the California Republican Party, over the Southern Pacific Railroad's influence over it.[18][19]

 
Political Cartoon stating that James Gillett is independent of both Southern Pacific lobbyist Abe Ruef and labor leader Olaf Tveitmoe

Governor George Pardee endorsed James Gillett on September 28, 1906, addressing a fear of the State's Republican Party that Pardee might refuse to endorse Gillett or run a third-party campaign.[20] Gillett held a large campaign rally in Sacramento on October 5, 1906. Thousands rallied to support him as he and other Republican leaders gathered to speak about their platform and Gillett's record on issues such as labor.[21] Gillett continued to travel around the state after his major rally, giving talks in Marysville, Grass Valley,[22] and Stockton to the working class people of California. In the weeks before the election multiple newspapers across the state were already calling the election with Gillett as the victor.[23] Later in the campaign, James Gillett was endorsed by President Theodore Roosevelt, who stated in his endorsement, "In my opinion, the Republicans of California are fortunate in the nomination of Mr. Gillett...That if elected, his administration will be a credit to the State I have no doubt."[24] On November 5, 1906 the San Francisco Call called the election for Gillett once again, along with other newspapers throughout the state.[25]

General election results

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California gubernatorial election, 1906[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James Gillett 125,887 40.35% −7.71%
Democratic Theodore Arlington Bell 117,645 37.71% −9.51%
Independence William Langdon 45,008 14.43% +14.43%
Socialist Austin Lewis 16,036 5.14% +1.99%
Prohibition James H. Blanchard 7,355 2.36% +0.83%
Scattering 44 0.01%
Majority 8,242 2.64%
Total votes 311,975 100.00%
Republican hold Swing +1.80%

Results by county

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County James N. Gillett
Republican
Theodore A. Bell
Democratic
William H. Langdon
Independence
Austin Lewis
Socialist
James H. Blanchard
Prohibition
Scattering
Write-in
Margin Total votes cast[26]
# % # % # % # % # % # % # %
Alameda 11,029 39.66% 6,561 23.59% 7,735 27.82% 1,922 6.91% 561 2.02% 0 0.00% 3,294[b] 11.84% 27,808
Alpine 52 76.47% 14 20.59% 2 2.94% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 38 55.88% 68
Amador 889 38.35% 1,181 50.95% 211 9.10% 22 0.95% 15 0.65% 0 0.00% -292 -12.60% 2,318
Butte 2,057 37.91% 2,753 50.74% 289 5.33% 246 4.53% 80 1.47% 1 0.02% -696 -12.83% 5,426
Calaveras 1,159 44.66% 922 35.53% 402 15.49% 97 3.74% 12 0.46% 3 0.12% 237 9.13% 2,595
Colusa 375 20.76% 1,303 72.15% 64 3.54% 46 2.55% 18 1.00% 0 0.00% -928 -51.38% 1,806
Contra Costa 2,158 41.70% 1,693 32.71% 1,001 19.34% 286 5.53% 35 0.68% 2 0.04% 465 8.99% 5,175
Del Norte 383 49.36% 302 38.92% 37 4.77% 48 6.19% 6 0.77% 0 0.00% 81 10.44% 776
El Dorado 831 36.18% 1,245 54.20% 99 4.31% 103 4.48% 19 0.83% 0 0.00% -414 -18.02% 2,297
Fresno 4,082 41.55% 4,642 47.25% 376 3.83% 441 4.49% 281 2.86% 2 0.02% -560 -5.70% 9,824
Glenn 375 25.92% 992 68.56% 59 4.08% 8 0.55% 13 0.90% 0 0.00% -617 -42.64% 1,447
Humboldt 3,633 56.30% 2,420 37.50% 94 1.46% 242 3.75% 64 0.99% 0 0.00% 1,213 18.80% 6,453
Inyo 284 30.67% 190 20.52% 387 41.79% 39 4.21% 26 2.81% 0 0.00% -103 -11.12% 926
Kern 1,484 34.78% 1,878 44.01% 502 11.76% 368 8.62% 35 0.82% 0 0.00% -394 -9.23% 4,267
Kings 1,056 46.89% 967 42.94% 94 4.17% 86 3.82% 49 2.18% 0 0.00% 89 3.95% 2,252
Lake 492 34.12% 743 51.53% 121 8.39% 65 4.51% 21 1.46% 0 0.00% -251 -17.41% 1,442
Lassen 391 40.90% 484 50.63% 52 5.44% 26 2.72% 3 0.31% 0 0.00% -93 -9.73% 956
Los Angeles 20,936 43.86% 12,937 27.10% 8,360 17.51% 3,047 6.38% 2,452 5.14% 5 0.01% 7,999 16.76% 47,737
Madera 626 38.01% 781 47.42% 155 9.41% 60 3.64% 25 1.52% 0 0.00% -155 -9.41% 1,647
Marin 1,760 46.17% 1,247 32.71% 705 18.49% 84 2.20% 16 0.42% 0 0.00% 513 13.46% 3,812
Mariposa 322 32.23% 454 45.45% 179 17.92% 33 3.30% 11 1.10% 0 0.00% -132 -13.21% 999
Mendocino 2,114 45.24% 2,028 43.40% 307 6.57% 185 3.96% 38 0.81% 1 0.02% 86 1.84% 4,673
Merced 792 34.71% 1,116 48.90% 261 11.44% 79 3.46% 34 1.49% 0 0.00% -324 -14.20% 2,282
Modoc 486 40.91% 658 55.39% 22 1.85% 10 0.84% 9 0.76% 3 0.25% -172 -14.48% 1,188
Mono 193 47.65% 169 41.73% 26 6.42% 17 4.20% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 24 5.93% 405
Monterey 1,755 40.43% 1,560 35.94% 768 17.69% 97 2.23% 161 3.71% 0 0.00% 195 4.49% 4,341
Napa 1,303 32.06% 2,480 61.02% 140 3.44% 77 1.89% 63 1.55% 1 0.02% -1,177 -28.96% 4,064
Nevada 1,239 34.12% 1,983 54.61% 255 7.02% 104 2.86% 50 1.38% 0 0.00% -744 -20.49% 3,631
Orange 2,566 47.38% 1,629 30.08% 544 10.04% 318 5.87% 359 6.63% 0 0.00% 937 17.30% 5,416
Placer 1,255 38.87% 1,729 53.55% 125 3.87% 50 1.55% 68 2.11% 2 0.06% -474 -14.68% 3,229
Plumas 473 44.37% 493 46.25% 73 6.85% 17 1.59% 9 0.84% 1 0.09% -20 -1.88% 1,066
Riverside 2,093 48.74% 1,156 26.92% 393 9.15% 377 8.78% 273 6.36% 2 0.05% 937 21.82% 4,294
Sacramento 3,345 30.54% 7,074 64.58% 147 1.34% 328 2.99% 59 0.54% 1 0.01% -3,729 -34.04% 10,954
San Benito 582 38.80% 635 42.33% 200 13.33% 33 2.20% 50 3.33% 0 0.00% -53 -3.53% 1,500
San Bernardino 3,165 45.34% 2,080 29.80% 936 13.41% 420 6.02% 379 5.43% 0 0.00% 1,085 15.54% 6,980
San Diego 3,621 46.42% 2,524[c] 32.36% 504 6.46% 974 12.49% 174 2.23% 3 0.04% 1,097 14.06% 7,800
San Francisco 12,903 34.56% 11,650 31.20% 10,523 28.19% 2,103 5.63% 156 0.42% 0 0.00% 1,253 3.36% 37,335
San Joaquin 3,160 42.33% 3,474 46.53% 512 6.86% 204 2.73% 116 1.55% 0 0.00% -314 -4.21% 7,466
San Luis Obispo 1,574 39.32% 1,683 42.04% 392 9.79% 251 6.27% 101 2.52% 2 0.05% -109 -2.72% 4,003
San Mateo 1,690 50.57% 863 25.82% 679 20.32% 91 2.72% 18 0.54% 1 0.03% 827 24.75% 3,342
Santa Barbara 1,794 41.49% 1,323 30.60% 920 21.28% 214 4.95% 69 1.60% 4 0.09% 471 10.89% 4,324
Santa Clara 5,714 45.98% 3,805 30.62% 1,978 15.92% 490 3.94% 437 3.52% 4 0.03% 1,909 15.36% 12,428
Santa Cruz 1,696 37.17% 1,760 38.57% 635 13.92% 261 5.72% 209 4.58% 2 0.04% -64 -1.40% 4,563
Shasta 1,425 39.05% 1,468 40.23% 308 8.44% 372 10.19% 76 2.08% 0 0.00% -43 -1.18% 3,649
Sierra 459 39.95% 592 51.52% 58 5.05% 38 3.31% 2 0.17% 0 0.00% -133 -11.58% 1,149
Siskiyou 1,406 40.59% 1,718 49.60% 216 6.24% 108 3.12% 16 0.46% 0 0.00% -312 -9.01% 3,464
Solano 2,061 36.63% 2,918 51.86% 369 6.56% 213 3.79% 66 1.17% 0 0.00% -857 -15.23% 5,627
Sonoma 3,687 41.07% 4,346 48.41% 632 7.04% 200 2.23% 112 1.25% 0 0.00% -659 -7.34% 8,977
Stanislaus 1,197 39.12% 1,350 44.12% 253 8.27% 62 2.03% 197 6.44% 1 0.03% -153 -5.00% 3,060
Sutter 679 43.06% 807 51.17% 40 2.54% 35 2.22% 15 0.95% 1 0.06% -128 -8.12% 1,577
Tehama 877 35.36% 1,281 51.65% 117 4.72% 163 6.57% 42 1.69% 0 0.00% -404 -16.29% 2,480
Trinity 517 47.09% 402 36.61% 100 9.11% 77 7.01% 2 0.18% 0 0.00% 115 10.47% 1,098
Tulare 1,513 30.45% 2,654 53.41% 325 6.54% 377 7.59% 99 1.99% 1 0.02% -1,141 -22.96% 4,969
Tuolumne 732 32.16% 780 34.27% 616 27.07% 104 4.57% 43 1.89% 1 0.04% -48 -2.11% 2,276
Ventura 1,449 47.14% 875 28.46% 549 17.86% 152 4.94% 49 1.59% 0 0.00% 574 18.67% 3,074
Yolo 1,305 39.45% 1,782 53.87% 59 1.78% 109 3.30% 53 1.60% 0 0.00% -477 -14.42% 3,308
Yuba 693 35.50% 1,091 55.89% 102 5.23% 57 2.92% 9 0.46% 0 0.00% -398 -20.39% 1,952
Total 125,887 40.35% 117,645 37.71% 45,008 14.43% 16,036 5.14% 7,355 2.36% 44 0.01% 8,242 2.64% 311,975

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

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Counties that flipped from Republican to Independence

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Notes

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  1. ^ Los Angeles County would ultimately overtake San Francisco in population during the decade of the 1900s, so this was likely to occur at some point around 1910 anyway.
  2. ^ Margin over Langdon
  3. ^ Includes 55 votes from the Union Labor ticket

References

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  1. ^ Kalb, Deborah, ed. (2010). Guide to U.S. Elections. Washington, DC: CQ Press. p. 1603. ISBN 978-1-60426-536-1.
  2. ^ "Gov. George Cooper Pardee". National Governors Association. January 3, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "James Gillett 1907–1911". Governors Gallery. California State Library. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "HOW AND WHY GILLETT WON THE NOMINATION An Analysis of the Conditions and Causes that Led to the Victory of Humboldt's Favorite Son". No. 235 Vol.XLIII. Humboldt Times. October 4, 1906. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Brady, Steve. "The Direct Primary A Critical Step for California Progressivism". San Francisco State University. San Francisco State University. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ "SAN FRANCISCO POLITICAL GOSSIP. Gillett'a Candidacy Booming-—Ex-Governor Gage Becoming Active—Democrats Who May Enter the Running". No. 180 Volume 110. Sacramento Daily Union. February 19, 1906. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  7. ^ "LAUNCH NAME OF DIGGS FOR GOVERNOR THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY DEMOCRATS TO START BOOM AT A BANQUET". Colusa Daily Sun. August 16, 1906. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "DIGGS, PHELAN. BELL, COLE, ALVORD, TOLAND These Are the Men the Democrats Talk of for Governor—Still No Slate in Sight". Sacramento Daily Union. September 10, 1906. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "DEMOCRATS WILL NOMINATE BELL FOR GOVERNOR TODAY Diggs Took All Strings from the Napa Man and Left Him Free to Announce His Candidacy. DIGGS STILL A CANDIDATE Suggested Planks For a Platform presented to and Discussed by the Resolutions Committee. PHELAN WILLING TO ACCEPT". Sacramento Daily Union. September 12, 1906. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  10. ^ "DEMOCRATS SELECT BELL AND TOLAND Adopt Platform of Great Length and Scope Repudiate Hearst's League and Cheer for Bryan". San Diego Union and Daily Bee. September 13, 1906. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  11. ^ "INDEPENDENCE LEAGUE First State Convention Opens at Oakland and Nominates William Langdon of San Francisco for Governor". Sacramento Daily Union. September 7, 1906. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  12. ^ "Page 3 Advertisements Column 5". No. 94, Vol. XXXIX. Morning Tribune. September 6, 1906. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  13. ^ "Guide to the Austin Lewis Papers, 1913-1944". Online Archive of California. Bancroft Library. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  14. ^ "SOCIALIST SAYS VOTE FOR GILLETT COUNTS ONE FOR SOUTHERN PACIFIC". Los Angeles Herald. October 14, 1906. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  15. ^ "BELL PLANNING A MUDSLINGING LIGHT Powerful Democrats Admit That Bell's Speech Accepting the Nomination Was Decidedly Demagogic". Marysville Daily Appeal. September 16, 1906. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  16. ^ "COW BELLS SOUND IN REDLANDS". No. 136 Vol. 100. San Francisco Call. October 14, 1906. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  17. ^ "BELL SAYS HEARST IS NO DEMOCRAT". San Francisco Call. September 25, 1906. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  18. ^ "PROMISE RAILROAD IF BELL IS ELECTED". Los Angeles Herald. October 11, 1906. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  19. ^ "PLEDGES SUPPORT TO BELL". Los Angeles Herald. October 11, 1906. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  20. ^ "GOVERNOR PARDEE IS FOR GILLETT". Sacramento Daily Union. September 28, 1906. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  21. ^ "JAMES N. GILLETT ROYALLY RECEIVED • STRONG WORDS SPOKEN BY REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR. Issues of the Campaign Are Plainly Enunciated by the Standard-Bearer of the Republican Party. HE HAS EVER STOOD THE FRIEND OF LABOR Great Crowds Gather at the Old Pavilion to Listen to Republican Doctrine by Republican Candidates". Sacramento Daily Union. October 6, 1906. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  22. ^ "GILLETT TALKS TO MINING MEN". San Francisco Call. October 7, 1906. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  23. ^ "Results 121 to 140 of 1,811 for Gillett". California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  24. ^ "Roosevelt Endorses Gillett". Marin Journal. November 1, 1906. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  25. ^ "Gillett Is Assured a Sweeping Victory". San Francisco Call. November 6, 1906. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  26. ^ a b California Secretary of State. Statement of the Vote of California at the General Election, Held November 6, 1906. Sacramento, California: State Printing Office. p. 2. Retrieved July 18, 2024.