1870 Nebraska gubernatorial election

1870 Nebraska gubernatorial election

October 11, 1870

Nominee David Butler John H. Croxton Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 11,126 8,648 Percentage 56.3% 43.7%

County results Butler:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100% Croxton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% No Data/Votes:

Governor before election David Butler Republican Elected Governor David Butler Republican

The 1870 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on October 11, 1870.^[a] Two-term incumbent Governor of Nebraska David Butler, the Republican nominee, was seeking a third term as governor. He was opposed by Democratic nominee John H. Croxton, a lawyer from Nebraska City.^[3]

General election

Candidates

• David Butler, Republican candidate, incumbent Governor of Nebraska^[3]
• John H. Croxton, Democratic candidate, lawyer and former city attorney of Nebraska City^[4]

Results

Nebraska gubernatorial election, 1870^[3]^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	David Butler	11,126	56.27%
	Democratic	John H. Croxton	8,648	43.73%
Total votes			19,774	100.0%
	Republican hold

Aftermath

Shortly after David Butler took office for his third term in 1871, eleven articles of impeachment were filed against him by the Nebraska Legislature. Eventually Butler was removed from office on June 2, 1871, and William H. James took over as acting Governor.^[6]

Notes

1. The Nebraska Constitution of 1866 specified in Article III, Section 1, that the governor and all executive officers were to be elected on the second Tuesday in October.^[1][2]

References

1. "Nebraska Constitution of 1866, Article III, Section 1". 1866. The Executive Department shall consist of a Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor and Treasurer, who shall be chosen by the electors of the State on the second Tuesday of October....
2. "A Defense of Mr. Tipton". Brownville Daily Democrat. October 4, 1870. Retrieved June 21, 2023. Let the verdict at the polls on the 11th of October answer the question.
3. Addison E. Sheldon, ed. (December 1918). The Nebraska Blue Book and Historical Register. Nebraska Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 439. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
4. "How Are You Honesty? John H. Croxton, Stand Up!". Nebraska Herald. October 6, 1870. Retrieved May 13, 2023. John H. Croxton was the city attorney and the law partner of S. H. Calhoun, the Mayor [of Nebraska City]
5. Harrison Johnson (1880). History of Nebraska. Henry Gibson Herald Printing House. p. 52.
6. "Gov. David C. Butler". National Governors Association. January 3, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2022.