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 County results Long: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Butler: 50–60% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The1879 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 4. Incumbent governor Thomas Talbot did not seek re-election to a second term in office; he was succeeded by lieutenant governorJohn Davis Long, who defeatedHenry L. Pierce for the Republican nomination andBenjamin Butler in the general election.
On June 20, Governor Talbot announced that he wished to retire at the end of his term and would decline the Republican nomination if offered. He formally withdrew on August 20.[1][2]
Following Talbot's withdrawal, the field was divided between lieutenant governorJohn Davis Long and former Boston mayorHenry L. Pierce, with Pierce stronger in the cities.[2]
Long's supporters felt he was guaranteed the nomination by an existing implicit agreement, having stepped aside for Talbot in 1878. However, this agreement quickly made way for the necessity of defeatingBenjamin Butler, whom Republicans decried as ademagogue and communist. Supporters ofHenry L. Pierce entered his name into consideration soon after Talbot's withdrawal in hopes that Long supporters would again concede to a stronger candidate, but they did not. Long and Pierce agreed on many issues, so the electability issue decided the campaign. Pierce's supporters argued that he would better appeal to liberals, independents, and Democrats, while Long had to rely onStalwarts and prohibitionists. Though Long conceded to be as liberal as Pierce, Pierce supporters argued that his brief public record was insufficient to appeal to swing constituencies.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Davis Long | 669 | 56.9% | |
| Republican | Henry L. Pierce | 505 | 43.0% | |
| Republican | Charles Devens | 1 | 0.1% | |
| Total votes | 1,175 | 100% | ||
Long formally accepted the nomination at a ratification meeting on September 26. Pierce sent a letter endorsing Long.[5]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Davis Long | 122,751 | 50.4% | ||
| Democratic | Benjamin Butler | 109,149 | 44.8% | ||
| Independent Democrat | John Quincy Adams II | 9,989 | 4.1% | ||
| Prohibition | D.C. Eddy | 1,645 | 0.7% | ||
| Others | Others | 108 | nil | ||
| Republicanhold | Swing | ||||
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