1904 New Jersey gubernatorial election

Summary

The 1904 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1904. Republican nominee Edward C. Stokes defeated Democratic nominee Charles C. Black with 53.50% of the vote.

1904 New Jersey gubernatorial election

← 1901 November 8, 1904 1907 →
 
Nominee Edward C. Stokes Charles C. Black
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 231,363 179,719
Percentage 53.5% 41.6%

County results
Stokes:      50-60%      60-70%
Black:      50–60%

Governor before election

Franklin Murphy
Republican

Elected Governor

Edward C. Stokes
Republican

Republican nomination edit

Candidates edit

Convention edit

At the state party convention in Trenton on September 20, no opponent emerged to Senator Edward Stokes, and he was nominated enthusiastically without opposition.[1]

Democratic nomination edit

Candidates edit

Not nominated edit

  • Alvah A. Clark, former U.S. Representative from Somerville[2]
  • James van Cleef, mayor of New Brunswick[2]
  • Johnston Cornish, State Senator for Warren County[2]
  • David S. Crater, Monmouth County Surrogate[2]

Convention edit

Various county parties promoted their favorite sons for the nomination, though the front-runner from the start was Charles C. Black, the candidate of Hudson County. Black had the support of Senator James Smith Jr., Robert Davis, and Allan McDermott. Black, a member of the State Tax Board, was also seen as a leading representative of the Democratic campaign for an equal tax.[2][4]

Ultimately, only two favorite son candidates were nominated against Black: Frank S. Katzenbach of Mercer County and Thomas M. Ferrell of Gloucester. They were soundly defeated at the party convention on September 15 in Trenton.[3]

1904 Democratic state convention[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles C. Black 945 88.32%
Democratic Thomas M. Ferrell 75 7.01%
Democratic Frank S. Katzenbach 50 4.67%
Total votes 1,070 100.00%

General election edit

Candidates edit

  • Charles C. Black, member of the State Tax Board (Democratic)
  • George P. Herrschaft (Socialist Labor)
  • George A. Honnecker (Populist)
  • Henry R. Kearns (Socialist)
  • James Parker (Prohibition)
  • Edward C. Stokes, former State Senator for Cumberland County and candidate for U.S. Senator in 1902 (Republican)

Results edit

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1904[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Edward C. Stokes 231,363 53.50%   2.62
Democratic Charles C. Black 179,719 41.56%   4.58
Socialist Henry R. Kearns 8,858 2.05%   1.08
Prohibition James Parker 6,687 1.55%   0.06
Populist George A. Honnecker 3,285 0.76% N/A
Socialist Labor George P. Herrschaft 2,526 0.58%   0.05
Majority
Total votes 432,438 100.00%
Republican hold Swing

References edit

  1. ^ "STOKES ON EQUAL TAX". Passaic Daily News. September 21, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Perth Amboy Evening News 06 Aug 1904, page 1". Perth Amboy Evening News. August 6, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e "The Democratic State Convention". Gloucester County Democrat. September 22, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  4. ^ "Black Slated for Governor, 'Tis Said". The Courier-News. June 25, 1904. p. 8. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  5. ^ Kalb, Deborah (December 24, 2015). Guide to U.S. Elections. CQ Press. ISBN 9781483380353. Retrieved January 25, 2016.