1928 United States presidential election in North Dakota explained

See main article: 1928 United States presidential election.

Election Name:1928 United States presidential election in North Dakota
Country:North Dakota
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1924 United States presidential election in North Dakota
Previous Year:1924
Next Election:1932 United States presidential election in North Dakota
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 Vote1:5
Popular Vote1:131,441
Percentage1:54.80%
Nominee2:Al Smith
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Home State2:New York
Running Mate2:Joseph T. Robinson
Electoral Vote2:0
Popular Vote2:106,148
Percentage2:44.46%
Map Size:325px
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 North Dakota 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 five representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

Ever since statehood, North Dakota had been overwhelmingly Republican at state level and in many presidential elections,[1] although progressive Democrat Woodrow Wilson was able to carry the state in both his campaigns in 1912 and 1916, in the second due to his anti-war platform. In the following two elections, the state's voting would be shaped by its extreme isolationism in the aftermath of President Wilson's pushing of the nation into World War I and his “League of Nations” proposal, to which the Russian-Germans who dominated North Dakota's populace were vehemently opposed.[2] To North Dakota's predominantly German-American populace, Wilson's entry into the war and his support for the Treaty of Versailles was a betrayal, and farmers were also faced with a postwar agricultural depression as prices fell with reduced demand in Europe.[3] Consequently, North Dakota went for the isolationist Republican Warren G. Harding over the pro-League Democrat James M. Cox by four-to-one in 1920. In 1924, Robert M. La Follette under the Nonpartisan League banner attracted North Dakota's isolationist electorate so strongly that he went within two percentage points of carrying the state. When La Follette died in 1925, his family did not endorse a Republican, but rather New York City Catholic Democrat Al Smith.[4]

Despite much antagonism with the Catholic Church amongst the German and Scandinavian Lutherans in North Dakota,[5] Smith would capitalise extremely well upon La Folette's endorsement, due to the state being the most Catholic in the Midwest and a concurrent statewide repeal of Prohibition with the election,[6] further adding to support for the “wet” Smith. The local press in mid-September believed Smith would carry North Dakota.[7] and he later received further endorsement from the Nonpartisan League[8] despite opposition from Senators Lynn J. Frazier and Gerald P. Nye. Smith visited the state during his midwestern tour in late September and early October,[9] but during October the lessened unpopularity with farmers of Republican nominee Herbert Hoover’s led pundits to imagine the GOP would retain the state.[10]

In the days leading up to the actual poll, forecasts suggested Hoover would retain North Dakota for the GOP, and he did this by a margin of 10.33 percent. Despite losing the state, Smith made a massive advance upon James M. Cox’ and John W. Davis’ performances earlier in the decade. Whereas North Dakota had been Cox’ and Davis’ second-weakest state in 1920 and 1924, it voted 7.07 points more Democratic than the nation at-large in 1928. In some counties that were largely Lutheran, Smith still made tremendous gains because of his opposition to Prohibition,[5] which was powerfully opposed by liturgical German Lutherans. This allowed Smith to become the first Democrat to carry McIntosh County – which had been the nation's most Republican county in 1920[11] and where no Democrat had previously gained over 22 percent of the vote – Logan County, Mercer County, Morton County and Sioux County.[12]

Results

Presidential CandidateRunning MatePartyElectoral Vote (EV)Popular Vote (PV)
Herbert Hoover of CaliforniaCharles CurtisRepublican5[13] 131,44154.80%
Al SmithJoseph T. RobinsonDemocratic0106,64844.46%
Norman ThomasJames MaurerSocial Production and Distribution09360.39%
William Z. FosterBenjamin GitlowWorkers’ and Farmers’ Government08420.35%

Results by county

County[14] Herbert Clark Hoover
Republican		Alfred Emmanuel Smith
Democratic		Norman Mattoon Thomas
Social Production and Distribution		William Z. Foster
Workers’ and Farmers’ Government		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" %
Adams1,59070.67%64428.62%130.58%30.13%94642.04%2,250
Barnes3,75553.01%3,29346.49%150.21%200.28%4626.52%7,083
Benson2,62153.80%2,19445.03%130.27%440.90%4278.76%4,872
Billings45852.22%41246.98%60.68%10.11%465.25%877
Bottineau2,68049.79%2,64849.19%130.24%420.78%320.59%5,383
Bowman1,03154.99%82143.79%120.64%110.59%21011.20%1,875
Burke2,00258.38%1,33638.96%702.04%210.61%66619.42%3,429
Burleigh3,95555.59%3,07643.23%680.96%160.22%87912.35%7,115
Cass12,48066.18%6,31533.49%140.07%490.26%6,16532.69%18,858
Cavalier3,06854.86%2,51044.89%110.20%30.05%5589.98%5,592
Dickey2,25052.90%1,97746.48%110.26%150.35%2736.42%4,253
Divide1,96360.36%1,25038.44%250.77%140.43%71321.92%3,252
Dunn1,36046.50%1,56153.37%40.14%00.00%-201-6.87%2,925
Eddy1,07146.12%1,24053.40%90.39%20.09%-169-7.28%2,322
Emmons1,79246.25%2,06653.32%120.31%50.13%-274-7.07%3,875
Foster1,13748.99%1,17850.75%50.22%10.04%-41-1.77%2,321
Golden Valley93763.78%52235.53%40.27%60.41%41528.25%1,469
Grand Forks8,02464.86%4,30034.76%150.12%320.26%3,72430.10%12,371
Grant1,75954.59%1,43444.51%140.43%150.47%32510.09%3,222
Griggs1,32952.45%1,18246.65%130.51%100.39%1475.80%2,534
Hettinger1,55353.87%1,32345.89%40.14%30.10%2307.98%2,883
Kidder1,20049.94%1,19049.52%60.25%70.29%100.42%2,403
LaMoure2,24555.00%1,80044.10%160.39%210.51%44510.90%4,082
Logan1,01343.64%1,29355.71%140.60%10.04%-280-12.06%2,321
McHenry2,91453.04%2,53546.14%210.38%240.44%3796.90%5,494
McIntosh1,19644.79%1,47455.21%00.00%00.00%-278-10.41%2,670
McKenzie2,10061.14%1,28937.53%351.02%110.32%81123.61%3,435
McLean2,73047.51%2,85549.69%210.37%1402.44%-125-2.18%5,746
Mercer97137.45%1,61962.44%30.12%00.00%-648-24.99%2,593
Morton2,88142.04%3,94657.58%170.25%90.13%-1,065-15.54%6,853
Mountrail2,35452.30%2,00344.50%1082.40%360.80%3517.80%4,501
Nelson2,36460.18%1,54239.26%110.28%110.28%82220.93%3,928
Oliver68051.67%63147.95%40.30%10.08%493.72%1,316
Pembina3,32460.75%2,14139.13%70.13%00.00%1,18321.62%5,472
Pierce1,46947.60%1,60652.04%50.16%60.19%-137-4.44%3,086
Ramsey3,24654.62%2,67244.96%80.13%170.29%5749.66%5,943
Ransom2,61360.43%1,50534.81%1984.58%80.19%1,10825.62%4,324
Renville1,47355.09%1,17443.90%150.56%120.45%29911.18%2,674
Richland4,25153.89%3,60445.68%150.19%190.24%6478.20%7,889
Rolette1,32737.50%2,18161.63%120.34%190.54%-854-24.13%3,539
Sargent1,77246.88%1,98952.62%110.29%80.21%-217-5.74%3,780
Sheridan1,24256.61%94443.03%10.05%70.32%29813.58%2,194
Sioux68740.46%98858.19%140.82%90.53%-301-17.73%1,698
Slope87360.88%54237.80%100.70%90.63%33123.08%1,434
Stark1,92437.28%3,23162.60%40.08%20.04%-1,307-25.32%5,161
Steele1,57457.34%1,15241.97%60.22%130.47%42215.37%2,745
Stutsman4,78255.07%3,87344.60%160.18%130.15%90910.47%8,684
Towner1,58854.23%1,32445.22%120.41%40.14%2649.02%2,928
Traill3,63871.36%1,44728.38%50.10%80.16%2,19142.98%5,098
Walsh3,65748.94%3,79850.83%80.11%90.12%-141-1.89%7,472
Ward6,56159.72%4,36239.71%220.20%410.37%2,19920.02%10,986
Wells2,36452.39%2,12347.05%180.40%70.16%2415.34%4,512
Williams3,59157.25%2,50339.91%1211.93%570.91%1,08817.35%6,272
Totals131,41954.79%106,64844.47%9360.39%8420.35%24,77110.33%239,845

See also

Notes and References

  1. Hansen, John Mark; Shigeo Hirano, and Snyder, James M. Jr.; ‘Parties within Parties: Parties, Factions, and Coordinated Politics, 1900-1980’; in Gerber, Alan S. and Schickler, Eric; Governing in a Polarized Age: Elections, Parties, and Political Representation in America, pp. 143-159
  2. Lubell, Samuel; The Future of American Politics (1956), pp. 156-164
  3. [Kevin Phillips (political commentator)|Phillips, Kevin P.]
  4. Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, p. 59
  5. Stange, Douglas C.; ‘Al Smith and the Republican Party at Prayer: The Lutheran Vote. 1928’, The Review of Politics, Vol. 32, No. 3 (July 1970), pp. 347-364
  6. Okrent, David; Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, p. 309
  7. ‘Reports Progressive Swing to Smith: P.M. Hanson, North Dakota Editor, Says Hoover Will Lose by Vote in That State’; New York Times, September 15, 1928, p. 3
  8. Gableman, Edwin W.; ‘Gov. Maddock Helps Smith in North Dakota: Nonpartisan Leaguers Are Strong for Governor, He Declares’; The Washington Post, September 27, 1928, p. 1
  9. ‘North Dakota Wets Big Asset to Smith: State Now Apparently in Line for New York Governor; Hoover Whisper Target. Silence Is Hurting Him’; The Washington Post, October 1, 1928, p. 3
  10. Oulahan, Richard V.; ‘Hoover Hope Rises in North Dakota: Lessening of His Unpopularity With Farmers Dispels Backers' Gloom of Two Weeks Ago’; New York Times, October 12, 1928, p. 19
  11. Web site: David Leip’s Election Atlas statistics for 1920. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas.
  12. Menendez; Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, pp. 271-273
  13. Web site: 1928 Presidential General Election Results – North Dakota. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas. 23 December 2013.
  14. Web site: ND US President Race, November 06, 1928. Our Campaigns.

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