1928 Massachusetts gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	1928 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Country:	Massachusetts
Flag Year:	1908
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	No
Previous Election:	1926 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	1926
Next Election:	1930 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Next Year:	1930
Image1:	Frank G Allen.png
Nominee1:	Frank G. Allen
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	769,372
Percentage1:	50.06%
Nominee2:	Charles H. Cole
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	750,137
Percentage2:	48.81%
Map Size:	250px
Governor
Before Election:	Alvan T. Fuller
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Frank G. Allen
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

The 1928 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1928.

Incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor Frank G. Allen was elected to a two-year term, defeating Democrat Charles H. Cole.

The 1928 election represents a major turning point in Massachusetts political history. Al Smith's victory in the state's presidential contest and the competitive gubernatorial election marked a departure from decades of Republican dominance.

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

• Frank G. Allen, Lieutenant Governor
• Frank A. Goodwin, Registrar of Motor Vehicles

Results

Lieutenant Governor Frank Allen was nominated over Frank A. Goodwin.

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

• George A. Bacon, former Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party
• Charles L. Burrill, former Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts (1915–1920)
• Pehr G. Holmes, member of the Massachusetts Executive Council and former Mayor of Worcester (1917–1920)
• John C. Hull, Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 1925
• Robert M. Leach, former U.S. Representative from Taunton (1924–1925)
• Wycliffe C. Marshall
• John H. Sherburne
• William S. Youngman, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts since 1925

Results

Treasurer William S. Youngman won the highly competitive primary election by 21,099 votes over Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives John C. Hull.

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

• Brig. Gen. Charles H. Cole, former Adjutant General of Massachusetts and Commissioner of the Boston Fire and Police Departments
• John J. Cummings, candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1922 and 1924

Results

Brigadier General Charles Cole easily defeated John J. Cummings for the Democratic nomination.

Lt. Governor

Candidates

• John F. Malley, resident of Chestnut Hill
• Charles S. Murphy, resident of Worcester

Results

General election

Candidates

• Frank G. Allen, incumbent Governor (Republican)
• Chester W. Bixby, founding member of the Communist Party of the United States of America (Workers)
• Brig. Gen. Charles H. Cole, former Adjutant General of Massachusetts and Commissioner of the Boston Fire and Police Departments (Democratic)
• Washington Cook, brother of Alonzo B. Cook and independent candidate for United States Senate in 1922 and 1926 (Vigorous Prohibition Enforcement)
• Mary Donovan Hapgood, Secretary of the Sacco-Vanzetti Defense Committee (Socialist)
• Edith Hamilton MacFadden, author (Independent Citizen)
• Stephen Surridge (Socialist Labor)

MacFadden became the first female candidate for Governor in the history of Massachusetts. She ran on a platform of reducing tax exemptions. She is the mother of actor Hamilton MacFadden. She stated that she found "no opposition to a woman aspiring to the executive position of Governor."^[1]

Results

See also

• 1927–1928 Massachusetts legislature

Bibliography

Book: Election Statistics, 1928 . Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth . 1926 . Boston, MA . .

Notes and References

1. News: Candidate Calls Tax Exemption Crying Evil . 25 August 2019 . The Boston Globe . 31 July 1928.