1892 Presidential Election
The United States presidential election of 1892 was held on November 8, 1892. Former President Grover Cleveland ran for re-election against the incumbent President Benjamin Harrison also running for re-election. Cleveland defeated Harrison, thus becoming the only person in US history to be elected to a second, non-consecutive presidential term. Cleveland, who had won the popular vote against Harrison in 1888, lost the electoral vote which cost him re-election. He won both the popular and electoral vote in the rematch election.
The campaign centered mainly on the issue of a sound currency. The new Populist Party, formed by groups from the Grange, the Farmers' Alliances, and the Knights of Labor, polled more than a million votes. But Cleveland won easily.
Cleveland also became the first Democrat to be nominated by his party three consecutive times, a distinction that would be equaled only by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 and then exceeded by him in 1944. Although William Jennings Bryan was nominated for a third time in 1908 it was not consecutive with his two other nominations in 1896 and 1900.
Source: Wikipedia
1892 Election Results
| Candidate | Party | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✓ | Grover Cleveland | Democratic | 277 | 5,556,918 | |
| Benjamin Harrison (I) | Republican | 145 | 5,176,108 | ||
| James B. Weaver | People's | 22 | 1,027,329 |
1892 Election Facts
- Welcome: Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming become states during this election cycle
- Grover Cleveland first (and only) President elected to a 2nd, non-consecutive term
- Oregon: Voters chose electors directly, with three pledged to Harrison (R) and one to Weaver (P) winning.
- California: Voters chose electors directly, with eight pledged to Cleveland (D) and one to Harrison (R) winning.
- Ohio: Voters chose electors directly, with 22 pledged to Harrison (R) and one to Cleveland (D) winning.
- Michigan: A district-based system was used, similar to ME/NE today. Nine districts voted for Harrison (R), 5 for Cleveland (D).
- North Dakota: Voters chose electors directly. The Democrats and Populists ran on a fusion ticket, which won two electoral votes that were cast one each for Weaver (P) and Cleveland (D). Harrison (R) won the third electoral vote.
- Issues of the Day: Farming Issues, Homestead Steel Strike
