1906 North Dakota gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1906 North Dakota gubernatorial election
Country:North Dakota
Type:Presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1904 North Dakota gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1904
Next Election:1908 North Dakota gubernatorial election
Next Year:1908
Election Date:November 6, 1906
Nominee1:John Burke
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:34,424
Percentage1:53.2%
Nominee2:Elmore Y. Sarles
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:29,309
Percentage2:45.3%
Governor
Before Election:Elmore Y. Sarles
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:John Burke
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 1906 North Dakota gubernatorial election, sometimes called 'The Revolution of 1906' was held on November 6, 1906.[1] This election marked a major shift in North Dakota politics as the incumbent, Republican Elmore Sarles, was defeated by a 53.20% majority vote for Democrat John Burke, who had garnered bipartisan support across the state of constituents tired of Sarles' administration, which was supported by the Republican political machine run by politician Alexander McKenzie.[2]

Background

Incumbent Elmore Sarles had been a businessman prior to his election as the ninth governor of North Dakota in 1904, taking office in 1905. During his tenure in office, Sarles was frequently criticized for taking positions favoring big businesses, and for publicly drinking while the state constitution had enacted prohibition since its admission into the United States. Furthermore, Sarles was supported by a Republican political machine headed by Alexander McKenzie, who had been known for being a confidant of many top officials, and who had personally selected many candidates who later won state offices.

In the lead-up to the 1906 election, many newspapers began to publish articles and editorials railing against 'McKenzieism', and the Democrat candidate, John Burke, who had initially not wanted to run, used this as a campaign point, becoming very active, and winning over many Progressive Republicans who had been looking to oust the influence of McKenzie and Sarles.[3]

General election results

Results by county

CountyBurkeSarlesDowVotes Total
VotesVotesVotes
Barnes1,348923462,317
Benson1,06239181,461
Billings422953340
Bottineau1,6721,150842,906
Burleigh489983171,489
Cass1,8842,056583,998
Cavalier1,5741,043272,644
Dickey330676181,024
Eddy38736510762
Emmons2746009883
Foster6172605882
Grand Forks3,0201,050394,109
Griggs73623815989
Kidder1682947469
LaMoure471687191,177
Logan595108577
McHenry1,0141,072422,128
McIntosh194263448
McKenzie21133612559
McLean3641,636402,040
Mercer143252341
Morton3951,646242,065
Nelson849664161,529
Oliver1132442359
Pembina1,60791152,523
Pierce973368301,371
Ramsey1,537476222,035
Ransom488900181,406
Richland1,436993172,446
Rolette1,020369441,433
Sargent515713321,260
Stark2824927781
Steele5792186803
Stutsman1,1771,061142,252
Towner1,192404101,606
Traill1,072534241,630
Walsh2,239814353,088
Ward1,9471,9241384,009
Wells679584211,284
Williams569678411,288
Total34,42429,30997864,711

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Section 4: The Revolution of 1906 . 23 October 2022 . www.ndstudies.gov . State Historical Society of North Dakota.
  2. Book: History of North Dakota . . 2017 . . 255–275 . en . 13: The Progressive Movement . UND Scholarly Commons.
  3. Web site: 7 November 1906 . Burke and Fisk Carry State . 23 October 2022 . Bismarck Daily Tribune . 1 . Newspaper.

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