1888 Connecticut gubernatorial election

The 1888 Connecticut gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1888. Republican nominee Morgan Bulkeley defeated Democratic nominee Luzon B. Morris with 47.94% of the vote.

This was the third (and last) consecutive gubernatorial election in which the Republican-controlled state legislature elected the candidate who received fewer votes. It was also the last such election to be determined by the state legislature. The law at the time specified that if no candidate received a majority, the state legislature would decide the election. Coincidentally, this election ran concurrent with the US Presidential election, in which Republican nominee Benjamin Harrison was elected president by the Electoral College, despite receiving fewer votes than incumbent Democrat Grover Cleveland.

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Morgan Bulkeley, Republican
• Luzon B. Morris, Democratic

Other candidates

• Hiram Camp, Prohibition
• F. A. Andrews, Labor

Results

Legislative election

As no candidate received a majority of the vote, the Connecticut General Assembly was required to decide the election, both Houses in convention choosing among the top two vote-getters, Bulkeley and Morris. The legislative election was held on January 10, 1889.

References