1886 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election

1886 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election
November 2, 1886
 
Nominee Thomas Benton Wheeler Lock McDaniel S. G. Mullins
Party Democratic Republican Prohibition
Popular vote 231,950 66,536 15,392
Percentage 73.87% 21.19% 4.90%
Lieutenant Governor before election

Barnett Gibbs
Democratic

 Elected Lieutenant Governor

Thomas Benton Wheeler
Democratic

The 1886 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1886, in order to elect the lieutenant governor of Texas. Democratic candidate Thomas Benton Wheeler defeated Republican candidate Lock McDaniel and Prohibition candidate S. G. Mullins.

General election

The incumbent lieutenant governor Democrat Barnett Gibbs declined to run for reelection, choosing instead to run for a congressional seat against Olin Wellborn.[a] At the Democratic party covention several candidates were put forward to replace him. Ultimately, Thomas B. Wheeler secured the nomination.

The Greenback party which had seen success in the state as one of the main opposition parties against the Democrats had lost support and failed to call a convention to nominate any candidates, effectively ending the party's existence in Texas.[1]

The prohibition of alcohol was becoming a major political issue in the state and, after failing to secure a plank in the Democratic party platform calling for a vote on the issue, the Prohibition Party nominated its first slate of statewide candidates.[2][3][4]

At the time, Texas was a part of the "Solid South" and the Democratic party was overwhelmingly favored in state elections. On November 2, 1886, Wheeler won the election by an overwhelming margin continuing the Democratic Party's control of the State. He was sworn in as the 16th lieutenant governor of Texas on January 19, 1887.

Candidates

  • Bryan T. Barry, (Democratic) (withdrawn)[5]
  • Franklin Lewis Johnston, state senator, lawyer, former state representative, sergeant in the 11th Texas Infantry(Democratic)[6][5]
  • John M. Claiborne, (Democratic) (withdrawn)[5]
  • Thomas Benton Wheeler, judge of the 12th Judicial District, former mayor of Austin (1872–1877) (Democrat)[7][5]
  • Lodowick "Lock" McDaniel, former Grimes County judge (Republican)[8][9][10]
  • S. G. Mullins (Prohibition)[11]

Results

Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1882[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Thomas Benton Wheeler 231,950 73.87 Decrease 8.29
Republican Lock McDaniel 66,536 21.19 Increase 3.35
Prohibition S. G. Mullins 15,392 4.90 N/A
Write-in 136 0.04 N/A
Total votes 314,014 100.00
Democratic hold

Notes

  1. ↑ During a deadlocked convention, Gibbs would withdraw his candidacy in favor of Jo Abbott.

References

  1. ↑ Gunn, Jack (1952). "The Greenback Movement in Texas: A Historical Overview". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
  2. ↑ Kerr, K. Austin (1952). "The Prohibition Movement in Texas: A Historical Overview". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
  3. ↑ "Hon. E. L. Dohoney, The Prohibition Candidate for Governor---Synopsis of his Speech at Paris". San Marcos Free Press. October 14, 1886. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Winkler, Ernest William (September 20, 1916). Platforms of Political Parties in Texas (PDF). University of Texas. pp. 234–247.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Our Next Governor". San Antonio Daily Express. August 13, 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-06-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Miller, Aragorn Storm (2008). "Franklin Lewis Johnston: Confederate Soldier and Texas Politician". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  7. ↑ "A Long Fight For Lieutenant-Governor Without Result". Fort Worth Daily Gazette. August 13, 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-04-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Opposition To Ross". San Antonio Daily Express. August 27, 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-04-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Over The State: Navasota". The Galveston Daily News. December 3, 1883. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-04-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Southern District of Texas | The History Of The District". www.justice.gov. April 30, 2015. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  11. ↑ "The Prohibition Ticket". The Galveston Daily News. September 9, 1886. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-04-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Journal of the Texas House of Representatives" (PDF). January 15, 1887. pp. 46–49. Retrieved 2026-04-17.


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