1910 Oregon gubernatorial election
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (April 2016) |
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The 1910 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1910 to elect the governor of the U.S. state of Oregon. The election matched incumbent Republican Jay Bowerman against Democratic challenger Oswald West.
After the resignations of George Chamberlain and Frank W. Benson, then President of the Oregon Senate Jay Bowerman took up the role as Governor. Bowerman sought election as governor in his own right on a platform advocating modernization of highways, economies in government administration, and tight control of state land management. He was defeated by his Democratic opponent, however, after being labeled an opponent of direct government for having been nominated by the Republican Party in assembly despite the fact that Oregonians had adopted a direct primary law prohibiting party nominating conventions.[1]
Oswald West, a former agent of State Land Board and then member of the Oregon Railroad Commission, won the Democratic primary on the back of his good reputation on both offices. As an agent of the State Land Board, he helped recover thousands of acres that had been fraudulently obtained with the help of corrupt officials. As an agent of the Railroad Commission, he was popular and had enough public clout to win the election.[2]
Two minor candidates, a Socialist and Prohibitionist, took about twelve percent of the vote between themselves.
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Oswald West | 54,853 | 46.61 | |
Republican | Jay Bowerman | 48,751 | 38.14 | |
Socialist | W. S. Richards | 8,040 | 6.83 | |
Prohibition | Abel Elsworth Eaton | 6,046 | 5.14 | |
Total votes | 117,690 | 100 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican |