1908 Nebraska gubernatorial election

1908 Nebraska gubernatorial election

November 3, 1908

Nominee Ashton C. Shallenberger George L. Sheldon Party Democratic Republican Alliance Populist Popular vote 132,960 125,976 Percentage 49.90% 47.28%

County results Shallenberger:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Sheldon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Tie:      40–50%

Governor before election George L. Sheldon Republican Elected Governor Ashton C. Shallenberger Democratic

The 1908 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1908.

Incumbent Republican Governor George L. Sheldon was defeated by Democratic nominee Ashton C. Shallenberger.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 1, 1908.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• George W. Berge, Fusion candidate for governor in 1904
• James Dahlman, Mayor of Omaha
• Ashton C. Shallenberger, Fusion candidate for governor in 1906

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ashton C. Shallenberger	12,526	38.45
	Democratic	James Dahlman	10,157	31.18
	Democratic	George W. Berge	9,894	30.37
Total votes			32,577	100.00

People's Independent primary

Candidates

• George W. Berge, Fusion candidate for governor in 1904
• Ashton C. Shallenberger, Fusion candidate for governor in 1906

Results

People's Independent primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Populist	George W. Berge	2,317	63.12
	Populist	Ashton C. Shallenberger	1,354	36.88
Total votes			3,671	100.00

Berge withdrew his candidacy in favor of Shallenberger.^[2][3]

Prohibition primary

Candidates

• Rev. Roy R. Teeter^[4]

Results

Prohibition primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Prohibition	Roy R. Teeter	711	100.00
Total votes			711	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• George L. Sheldon, incumbent Governor

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George L. Sheldon (incumbent)	50,282	100.00
Total votes			50,282	100.00

Socialist primary

Candidates

• C. H. Harbaugh
• J. W. Walker

Results

Socialist primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Socialist	C. H. Harbaugh	240	58.25
	Socialist	J. W. Walker	172	41.75
Total votes			412	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Ashton C. Shallenberger, Democratic and People's Independent
• George L. Sheldon, Republican

Other candidates

• Roy R. Teeter, Prohibition
• C. H. Harbaugh, Socialist

Results

1908 Nebraska gubernatorial election^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[a]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ashton C. Shallenberger	132,960	49.90%
	Republican	George L. Sheldon (incumbent)	125,976	47.28%
	Prohibition	Roy R. Teeter	4,464	1.67%
	Socialist	C. H. Harbaugh	3,069	1.15%
Majority			6,984	2.62%
Turnout			266,469
	Democratic gain from Republican

Notes

1. Some sources give Sheldon's vote as 125,967.^[11][12]

See also

• 1908 Nebraska lieutenant gubernatorial election

References

1. Nebraska Blue Book 1915, pp. 923–924.
2. "Berge is off the ticket". Omaha daily bee. Omaha, Neb. October 6, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
3. "Politics in Nebraska". Omaha daily bee. Omaha, Neb. October 28, 1908. p. 6. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
4. "The County in General". The Falls City tribune. Falls City, Neb. October 2, 1908. p. 8. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
5. Dubin, Michael J. (2010). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7864-4722-0.
6. Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Westport, CT: Meckler Books. pp. 186–187. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
7. Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S., eds. (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Vol. I. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, Inc. p. 360. ISBN 0-379-00665-0.
8. Sheldon, Addison E., ed. (December 1918). The Nebraska Blue Book and Historical Register 1918. Lincoln, Nebraska: Nebraska Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 483–484.
9. Olson, James C.; Naugle, Ronald C. (1997). History of Nebraska (3rd ed.). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. p. 274. ISBN 0-8032-3559-3.
10. Speich, Virginia (1972). "The Political Career of George L Sheldon, 1907-1909" (PDF). Nebraska History. 53. Nebraska State Historical Society: 339–379. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
11. "NE Governor, 1908". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
12. Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. p. 64. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.

Bibliography

• Sheldon, Addison E., ed. (1915). The Nebraska Blue Book and Historical Register 1915. Lincoln: State Journal Company.