1928 United States presidential election in Indiana explained

See main article: 1928 United States presidential election.

Election Name:1928 United States presidential election in Indiana
Country:Indiana
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1924 United States presidential election in Indiana
Previous Year:1924
Next Election:1932 United States presidential election in Indiana
Next Year:1932
Election Date:November 6, 1928
Image1:Herbert Hoover - NARA - 532049.jpg
Nominee1:Herbert Hoover
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Home State1:California
Running Mate1:Charles Curtis
Electoral Vote1:15
Popular Vote1:848,290
Percentage1:59.68%
Nominee2:Al Smith
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Home State2:New York
Running Mate2:Joseph T. Robinson
Electoral Vote2:0
Popular Vote2:562,691
Percentage2:39.59%
Map Size:300px
President
Before Election:Calvin Coolidge
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Herbert Hoover
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 1928 United States presidential election in Indiana took place on November 6, 1928, as part of the 1928 United States presidential election which was held throughout all contemporary 48 states. Voters chose 15 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

Since the Civil War, partisan alliances in Indiana had been related to history of White settlement, with most of Southern Indiana and German-settled counties voting strongly Democratic, opposed to Yankee-settled Northern Indiana which voted Republican.[1] Some breakdown of these traditional loyalties took place in the 1920s due to German opposition to Woodrow Wilson’s World War I policies,[2] but these occurred to a lesser extent than in other Midwestern states because of the conservative dominance within Indiana’s Democratic Party.

1928, with most other Democrats standing out as they felt the party had no chance of winning due to the prosperous economy,[3] saw New York Governor Al Smith nominated almost by default. Many traditionally Democratic Upland Southerners recoiled at the nomination of Smith because he was a devout Catholic, opposed to Prohibition, and associated with the corruption of the Tammany Hall political machine. Smith’s decision to run with Arkansas Senator Joseph T. Robinson, a “dry” and Protestant, did not alleviate fears of what he would do in the White House.

The Republican nominee, former Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover of California, lost the GOP primary in Indiana,[4] but won the nomination nationally. The Democratic primary was held very late in the primary season and was won by Smith, who by then had already effectively wrapped up the nomination, despite the state originally casting its vote for favorite son Evans Woollen.[5]

In a state whose farmers' were suffering a financial crisis amidst national prosperity due to the loss of demand following the war, the Indiana Farm Bureau would not endorse either ticket.[6] However, Indiana's Senator James E. Watson said that Hoover would carry the state despite these obvious problems.[7]

After becoming certain to be nominated, it was thought by The Wall Street Journal that Smith would have to carry Indiana to have any chance of winning the Presidency.[8] However, as early as the beginning of July politicos said that prohibitionist and anti-Catholic forces in Indiana gave Smith no chance of carrying the state,[9] despite Smith saying he would enforce the law if elected.[10] At the end of August, pollsters were already suggesting that the latent opposition of the anti-Catholic Ku Klux Klan – which had all but ruled Indiana earlier in the 1920s – and the prohibitionist Anti-Saloon League in rural areas of Indiana would of itself make it impossible for Smith to carry the state.[11]

Hoover visited Indiana late in August as part of the Lake County Fair, focusing on the agricultural crisis and, alongside Iowa Senator Smith W. Brookhart, blaming the Democrats and the Federal Reserve System for the extant farm crisis.[12] Smith did not visit the state during the fall campaign, and polls throughout that season saw the state as safe for Hoover.[13] [14]

Ultimately Hoover carried the state by 20.09 percentage points, which was at the time the best Republican result ever achieved in Indiana, although it was beaten in 1956, 1972, 1984 and 2004.[15], this is nonetheless the last occasion when Indiana voted more Democratic than the modern “blue wall” states of California and Washington.

Results

1928 United States presidential election in Indiana[16]
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
RepublicanHerbert Hoover848,29059.68%15
DemocraticAlfred E. Smith562,69139.59%0
ProhibitionWilliam F. Varney5,4960.39%0
SocialistNorman Thomas3,871 0.27%0
Socialist LaborVerne L. Reynolds6450.05%0
WorkersWilliam Z. Foster321 0.02%0
Totals1,421,314100.00%15

Results by county

County! colspan="2"
Herbert Clark Hoover[17]
Republican
Alfred Emmanuel Smith
Democratic
William Frederick Varney
Prohibition
Norman Mattoon Thomas
Socialist
Various candidates
Other parties
MarginTotal votes cast
data-sort-type="number"data-sort-type="number"%data-sort-type="number"data-sort-type="number"%data-sort-type="number"data-sort-type="number"%data-sort-type="number"data-sort-type="number"%data-sort-type="number"data-sort-type="number"%data-sort-type="number"data-sort-type="number"%
Adams4,04549.70%4,06649.96%220.27%60.07%00.00%-21-0.26%8,139
Allen34,23456.38%26,29243.30%870.14%640.11%430.07%7,94213.08%60,720
Bartholomew6,78857.76%4,88141.53%390.33%400.34%40.03%1,90716.23%11,752
Benton3,36058.37%2,36841.14%180.31%70.12%30.05%99217.23%5,756
Blackford3,88259.35%2,57639.38%310.47%470.72%50.08%1,30619.97%6,541
Boone6,55658.81%4,50040.37%730.65%150.13%30.03%2,05618.44%11,147
Brown95948.51%99950.53%130.66%30.15%30.15%-40-2.02%1,977
Carroll4,78059.54%3,18239.64%640.80%20.02%00.00%1,59819.91%8,028
Cass10,52261.31%6,52238.00%680.40%460.27%50.03%4,00023.31%17,163
Clark8,05656.39%6,19343.35%280.20%80.06%00.00%1,86313.04%14,285
Clay7,10356.19%5,35842.39%600.47%1110.88%90.07%1,74513.80%12,641
Clinton7,60655.89%5,89543.31%950.70%130.10%10.01%1,71112.57%13,610
Crawford2,67257.39%1,93341.52%330.71%170.37%10.02%73915.87%4,656
Daviess7,11656.73%5,32442.45%240.19%740.59%50.04%1,79214.29%12,543
Dearborn6,33458.49%4,45941.18%220.20%120.11%20.02%1,87517.31%10,829
Decatur5,40058.40%3,79141.00%360.39%150.16%40.04%1,60917.40%9,246
DeKalb7,37364.04%4,07735.41%520.45%120.10%00.00%3,29628.63%11,514
Delaware19,10268.79%8,53230.72%720.26%540.19%100.04%10,57038.06%27,770
Dubois3,30135.18%6,04464.41%150.16%170.18%70.07%-2,743-29.23%9,384
Elkhart20,87674.76%6,90024.71%710.25%620.22%150.05%13,97650.05%27,924
Fayette5,87462.63%3,45536.84%290.31%180.19%30.03%2,41925.79%9,379
Floyd10,47158.49%7,32740.93%510.28%420.23%110.06%3,14417.56%17,902
Fountain4,96055.60%3,89443.65%430.48%230.26%10.01%1,06611.95%8,921
Franklin3,42647.19%3,81752.58%110.15%50.07%10.01%-391-5.39%7,260
Fulton4,62761.09%2,88138.04%620.82%40.05%00.00%1,74623.05%7,574
Gibson8,13757.07%5,88241.25%1230.86%990.69%180.13%2,25515.81%14,259
Grant14,65965.98%7,27332.74%1230.55%1460.66%150.07%7,38633.25%22,216
Greene8,26257.81%5,76140.31%700.49%1721.20%260.18%2,50117.50%14,291
Hamilton7,69067.60%3,61131.75%700.62%40.04%00.00%4,07935.86%11,375
Hancock4,78856.49%3,62642.78%510.60%100.12%10.01%1,16213.71%8,476
Harrison4,44054.43%3,66444.91%390.48%110.13%40.05%7769.51%8,158
Hendricks5,95464.79%3,18134.61%400.44%130.14%20.02%2,77330.17%9,190
Henry10,50268.53%4,55429.72%2241.46%410.27%30.02%5,94838.81%15,324
Howard12,63266.89%5,93031.40%2051.09%1060.56%120.06%6,70235.49%18,885
Huntington8,32358.88%5,67840.17%850.60%420.30%80.06%2,64518.71%14,136
Jackson5,15149.78%5,13049.58%480.46%150.14%30.03%210.20%10,347
Jasper3,70065.65%1,91533.98%190.34%10.02%10.02%1,78531.67%5,636
Jay5,99855.31%4,75943.89%740.68%90.08%40.04%1,23911.43%10,844
Jefferson5,29557.24%3,90642.22%400.43%80.09%20.02%1,38915.01%9,251
Jennings3,70560.76%2,36938.85%200.33%30.05%10.02%1,33621.91%6,098
Johnson5,51354.30%4,54844.80%760.75%140.14%10.01%9659.51%10,152
Knox10,03549.92%9,83748.93%690.34%1440.72%190.09%1980.98%20,104
Kosciusko7,97363.18%4,53735.95%820.65%200.16%80.06%3,43627.23%12,620
LaGrange3,17164.40%1,72034.93%270.55%30.06%30.06%1,45129.47%4,924
Lake48,76859.68%32,32139.55%1790.22%2420.30%2090.26%16,44720.13%81,719
LaPorte14,76361.32%9,25438.44%250.10%250.10%80.03%5,50922.88%24,075
Lawrence9,84468.70%4,42830.90%330.23%220.15%20.01%5,41637.80%14,329
Madison23,08364.45%12,49634.89%1240.35%1040.29%70.02%10,58729.56%35,814
Marion109,63059.55%73,30939.82%4570.25%4790.26%2250.12%36,32119.73%184,100
Marshall6,73860.24%4,37739.13%600.54%100.09%00.00%2,36121.11%11,185
Martin2,45051.88%2,24547.54%110.23%160.34%00.00%2054.34%4,722
Miami8,31859.19%5,59239.80%1000.71%360.26%60.04%2,72619.40%14,052
Monroe8,88367.00%4,31732.56%360.27%230.17%00.00%4,56634.44%13,259
Montgomery8,86363.69%4,96035.64%720.52%200.14%00.00%3,90328.05%13,915
Morgan5,46457.76%3,93341.58%390.41%210.22%30.03%1,53116.18%9,460
Newton3,05364.48%1,64934.83%210.44%100.21%20.04%1,40429.65%4,735
Noble6,33859.76%4,20739.67%420.40%170.16%10.01%2,13120.09%10,605
Ohio1,23057.10%91142.29%120.56%10.05%00.00%31914.81%2,154
Orange5,08661.77%3,11237.79%200.24%100.12%60.07%1,97423.97%8,234
Owen3,03655.03%2,42043.86%320.58%280.51%10.02%61611.17%5,517
Parke4,72959.25%3,16539.66%390.49%470.59%10.01%1,56419.60%7,981
Perry3,77249.89%3,78250.02%20.03%50.07%00.00%-10-0.13%7,561
Pike4,19054.61%3,40944.43%320.42%360.47%60.08%78110.18%7,673
Porter7,10770.44%2,92128.95%260.26%320.32%40.04%4,18641.49%10,090
Posey4,39651.80%4,05247.74%220.26%140.16%30.04%3444.05%8,487
Pulaski2,73856.43%2,04042.04%681.40%60.12%00.00%69814.39%4,852
Putnam5,35155.72%4,17743.50%240.25%430.45%80.08%1,17412.23%9,603
Randolph8,36871.32%3,26427.82%930.79%70.06%10.01%5,10443.50%11,733
Ripley5,05953.39%4,38746.30%120.13%150.16%30.03%6727.09%9,476
Rush6,64068.38%2,99630.85%680.70%70.07%00.00%3,64437.52%9,711
Scott1,71952.68%1,52746.80%150.46%20.06%00.00%1925.88%3,263
Shelby7,51656.14%5,79043.24%700.52%110.08%20.01%1,72612.89%13,389
Spencer4,67252.83%4,15246.95%150.17%20.02%30.03%5205.88%8,844
St. Joseph36,84457.56%26,84641.94%1690.26%1060.17%410.06%9,99815.62%64,006
Starke2,75957.32%2,01641.89%120.25%230.48%30.06%74315.44%4,813
Steuben4,43571.35%1,73027.83%410.66%90.14%10.02%2,70543.52%6,216
Sullivan6,19951.09%5,64246.50%790.65%1841.52%300.25%5574.59%12,134
Switzerland2,61758.62%1,80540.43%390.87%30.07%00.00%81218.19%4,464
Tippecanoe15,16563.25%8,72036.37%590.25%280.12%60.03%6,44526.88%23,978
Tipton4,77459.30%3,18639.58%740.92%140.17%20.02%1,58819.73%8,050
Union2,10165.99%1,06933.57%130.41%10.03%00.00%1,03232.41%3,184
Vanderburgh29,06759.44%19,64640.17%900.18%620.13%400.08%9,42119.26%48,905
Vermillion5,19251.41%4,79347.46%310.31%750.74%90.09%3993.95%10,100
Vigo22,96254.71%18,50944.10%950.23%3600.86%420.10%4,45310.61%41,968
Wabash8,53768.25%3,87230.96%680.54%250.20%60.05%4,66537.30%12,508
Warren2,64468.57%1,18830.81%120.31%100.26%20.05%1,45637.76%3,856
Warrick4,60354.12%3,74444.02%1381.62%150.18%50.06%85910.10%8,505
Washington3,83551.96%3,51847.66%190.26%90.12%00.00%3174.29%7,381
Wayne15,93667.52%7,54731.98%590.25%560.24%30.01%8,38935.55%23,601
Wells4,14248.93%4,24650.16%660.78%80.09%30.04%-104-1.23%8,465
White4,53460.01%2,98039.44%280.37%130.17%10.01%1,55420.57%7,556
Whitley4,51957.43%3,29441.86%510.65%20.03%30.04%1,22515.57%7,869
Totals848,29059.68%562,69139.59%5,4960.39%3,8710.27%9660.07%285,59920.09%1,421,314

See also

Notes and References

  1. [Kevin Phillips (political commentator)|Phillips, Kevin P.]
  2. Phillips, The Emerging Republican Majority, p. 356
  3. Paulson, Arthur C.; Electoral Realignment and the Outlook for American Democracy; p. 61
  4. ‘Last Chance Gone for Nomination in the Open: Hoover's Defeat in Indiana Throws Control of Republican Convention Back Into Hands of Professionals’; Daily Boston Globe, May 13, 1928, p. B2
  5. ‘Indiana Offers to Shift to Gov. Smith On First Ballot After Casting Votes for Woolen’; The New York Times, June 23, 1928, p. 1
  6. ‘Farmers Urge Hoover to State Relief Plans: Indianans Ask for Specific Outline in Acceptance – Neither Ticket Is Endorsed’; The New York Times, July 13, 1928, p. 3
  7. ‘Declares Indiana Will Go for Hoover: Senator Watson Says Here That Nominee’s Farm Views Will Cut Present Disaffection’; The New York Times, July 17, 1928, p. 2
  8. ‘Indicated Strength of 1928 Candidates: Smith’s Chances in National Contest Compared with Coolidge and Hoover Slate of Votes’; The Wall Street Journal, May 26, 1928, p. 2
  9. Henning, Arthur Sears; ‘Democrats’ Hopes Seen in Corn Belt and the West East: Two Battlegrounds Chosen for Inroads on States Normally Republican’; The Washington Post, July 1, 1928, p. 4
  10. ‘Indiana Democrats Uphold Dry Plank: Smith Will Enforce the Law Better Than Those in Power, It Is Held’; The Washington Post, July 17, 1928, p. 5
  11. Oulahan, Richard V.; ‘Republicans Turn to Fight in East; Think West Is Safe: Work’s Coming Visit to This Region Stresses Belief That This Is Chief Battleground’; The New York Times, August 26, 1928, p. 1
  12. ‘Brookhart Visions Hoover Prosperity: Iowa Insurgent Asserts Republican Victory Will Solve Agricultural Problem’; The New York Times, August 27, 1928, p. 5
  13. Tucker, Robert G.; ‘Indiana for Hoover Party Leaders Say: But Figures on Majority Are Being Reduced; Klan Backs G.O.P. State Fight Is in Doubt’; The Washington Post, September 16, 1928, p. M4
  14. Tucker, Robert G.; ‘Big Odd Are Faced by Smith in Indiana: Held to Have Hardest Fight of Any Democrat in Recent Years. G.O.P. Majority Claimed’; The Washington Post, September 30, 1928, p. M4
  15. Web site: Presidential General Election Results Comparison – Indiana. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas.
  16. Web site: 1928 Presidential General Election Results – Indiana. 2013-08-02 . Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
  17. Web site: Our Campaigns. IN US President Race, November 06, 1928.