1904 Indiana gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1904 United States gubernatorial elections.

1904 Indiana gubernatorial election

November 8, 1904 (1904-11-08)

Nominee Frank Hanly John W. Kern Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 359,362 274,998 Percentage 53.51% 40.95%

County results Hanly:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Kern:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Winfield T. Durbin Republican Elected Governor Frank Hanly Republican

The 1904 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1904, in all 92 counties in the state of Indiana. Frank Hanly was elected governor over his Democratic opponent, John W. Kern.

Nominations

Hanly, the former U.S. representative from Indiana's 9th congressional district, reentered politics in 1904 and won the Republican gubernatorial nomination. William L. Taylor, the former Indiana Attorney General from Indianapolis, also sought the Republican nomination, but was defeated. Democrats once again nominated John W. Kern, the former city solicitor of Indianapolis.

Campaign

The election was hard-fought by Hanly, who delivered excoriating speeches against the Democratic party which he referred to as "unholy", and "great only its ability to destroy." He called their election campaign "selfish" and said they ran it only so they could "obtain the flesh pot of office."

General election

1904 Indiana gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank Hanly	359,362	53.51
	Democratic	John W. Kern	274,998	40.95
	Prohibition	Felix T. McWhirter	22,690	3.38
	Socialist	Matthew Hallenberger	10,991	1.64
	Populist	Leroy Templeton	2,065	0.31
	Socialist Labor	E. J. Dillon	1,437	0.21
Total votes			671,543	100.00

Bibliography

• Gugin, Linda C.; St. Clair, James E, eds. (2006). The Governors of Indiana. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press.
• Storms, Daniel E. (1904). Biennial Report of Daniel E. Storms, Secretary of State of the State of Indiana [...]. Indianapolis.