1916 Michigan gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1916 Michigan gubernatorial election Michigan Presidential no 1914 Michigan gubernatorial election 1914 1918 Michigan gubernatorial election 1918 November 7, 1916 File:Albert Sleeper.jpg 150x150px Albert Sleeper Republican Party (United States) 363,724 55.83% File:Edwin Forrest Sweet circa 1915.jpg Edwin F. Sweet Democratic Party (United States) 264,440 40.59% 1916 Michigan gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 300px County resultsSleeper: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90%Sweet: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% Governor Woodbridge N. Ferris Democratic Party (United States) Albert Sleeper Republican Party (United States) The 1916 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1916. Republican nominee Albert Sleeper defeated Democratic nominee Edwin F. Sweet with 55.83% of the vote. Primary election Michigan held primary elections on August 29, 1916.August 29, 1916 Hot Primary Battle on in State Today 1 Kalamazoo Gazette https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-hot-primary-battle/201944978/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 Democratic party By late July, it was unclear whether or not incumbent Democratic governor Woodbridge N. Ferris would run for a third term.July 21, 1916 Ferris Candidacy Depends on Wife 1 St. Joseph Daily Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-joseph-daily-press-ferris-candidacy/116003961/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 Democrats had considered Charles H. Bender, president of City Trust & Savings Bank, and Edwin F. Sweet, United States deputy secretary of commerce. Both men were from Grand Rapids. On July 25, a meeting of the Democratic state central committee had favored Bender for the nomination.July 25, 1916 Democrats Still Seek A Leader 3 Detroit Evening Times https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-evening-times-democrats-still-se/116003073/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 The committee was against asking Henry Ford to run, as he was uninterested in politics.July 25, 1916 Democrats in Dilema on Governor 1 The Herald-Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-press-democrats-in-dilema-on/116003335/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 By this time, it was known Governor Ferris would not be running for re-election. Ferris had endorsed Bender's nomination.July 26, 1916 Ferris In Favor of Bender For Governor 12 Lansing State Journal https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-ferris-in-favor-of/116003111/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 On July 26, the committee had tentatively selected Bender as their candidate for governor.July 26, 1916 Democrats Decided on Governor 1 The Herald-Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-press-democrats-decided-on-go/116003803/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 Bender had earlier said he did not want to be a candidate. Bender said that he was more interested in business than politics. By July 27, Democratic Committee Chairman A. E. Stevenson and Governor Ferris urged Bender to run, though he was not swayed.July 27, 1916 Bender Balks at Governorship 1 The Herald-Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-press-bender-balks-at-governo/116004285/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 Stevenson did not accept Bender's refusal as final and, by July 28, began circulating petitions as preparation for Bender's name to appear on the primary ballot.July 28, 1916 Bender Petitions Being Circulated 1 St. Joseph Daily Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-joseph-daily-press-bender-petitions/116004584/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 By July 31, Bender still refused the nomination, however, he was the only name filed to appear on the Democratic primary ballot for the election in August.July 31, 1916 Five Seek Nomination G.O.P. Head 1 The Herald-Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-press-five-seek-nomination-g/116004792/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 Bender ultimately allowed his name to be on the ballot, but had made it clear that he would resign as nominee after the election.August 18, 1916 Bender to Quit After Primaries 1 Detroit Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-bender-to-quit-after/116005578/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 In the primary election, despite Ford's disinterest and his name not appearing on the ballot, he received 1,344 votes.August 31, 1916 Sleeper Leads Leland by 7,896 in Governor's Race Diekema Is Far Behind 1 St. Joseph Daily Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-joseph-daily-press-sleeper-leads-lel/116006060/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 He also received 137 votes in the Republican primary.September 21, 1916 Sleeper Wins By 9,335 Plurality 1 The Blade-Crescent and the Progress-Advance https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-blade-crescent-and-the-progress-adva/116006233/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 His candidacy was promoted with paper slips.September 8, 1916 Ford Vote Light in Democratic Primary 2 Lansing State Journal https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-ford-vote-light-in/116006157/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 Bender's refusal left the responsibility of choosing a gubernatorial nominee with the state central committee.August 15, 1916 Dems Nominee for Governor May be Sweet 1 The Herald-Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-press-dems-nominee-for-govern/116005340/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 Ford was asked by the committee to accept the nomination, though he refused. The committee had decided to return to a potential candidate from earlier consideration, Edwin F. Sweet. After the primary, Sweet had received a telegram asking him to run, though he could not give an immediate answer, as he was in North Dakota, and he'd have to consult with U. S. Secretary of Commerce William C. Redfield in Washington, D.C. before he could consider it.August 18, 1916 Bender to Quit After Primaries 1 Detroit Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-bender-to-quit-after/116005578/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 By August 17, Governor Ferris had endorsed Sweet's nomination.August 18, 1916 Ferris Says Sweet is the Man 6 St. Joseph Daily Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-joseph-daily-press-ferris-says-sweet/116013429/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 On September 2, Sweet agreed to run for governor, after being urged to run by President Woodrow Wilson via telegram.September 9, 1916 E. F. Sweet Agrees to Run For Governor 2 St. Joseph Saturday Herald https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-joseph-saturday-herald-e-f-sweet-a/116013556/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 On September 21, Sweet's nomination was confirmed by the state central committee.September 22, 1916 Sweet for Governor, Price Out for Senate 1 Lansing State Journal https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-sweet-for-governor/116013718/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 By September 26, Sweet resigned as deputy secretary, and left Washington for Michigan to begin his campaign.September 26, 1916 Sweet Resigns to Run For Governor 1 The Herald-Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-press-sweet-resigns-to-run-fo/116014103/ Newspapers.com July 19, 2026 Candidates Charles H. Bender, banker from Grand Rapids Results Democratic primary resultsVaughn Coleman C. Michigan Official Directory and Legislative Manual for the Years 1917 and 1918 1917 420-422 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015073067327&view=1up&seq=452 6 June 2026 Canvass of Votes, Primary Election, August 29, 1916 Democratic Party (United States) Charles H. Bender 28,591 95.18% Democratic Party (United States) Scattering 1,449 4.82% 30,040 100.00% Republican party Former state treasurer Albert E. Sleeper emerged victorious in a crowded primary field. Candidates Gerrit J. Diekema, former representative from Michigan's 5th congressional district Washington Gardner, former commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic Frank B. Leland, member of University of Michigan Board of Regents Albert E. Sleeper, former State Treasurer of Michigan Sybrant Wesselius, former member of Michigan House of RepresentativesLegislator Details https://mdoe.state.mi.us/legislators/Legislator/LegislatorDetail/1050 Library of Michigan 6 June 2026 Results Republican primary results Republican Party (United States) Albert E. Sleeper 99,638 34.98% Republican Party (United States) Frank B. Leland 90,283 31.69% Republican Party (United States) Gerrit J. Diekema 43,741 15.35% Republican Party (United States) Washington Gardner 40.881 14.35% Republican Party (United States) Sybrant Wesselius 10,160 3.57% Republican Party (United States) Scattering 163 0.06% 284,866 100.00% Minor parties Socialist primary results Socialist Party of America Ernest J. Moore 1,449 84.94% Socialist Party of America Scattering 257 15.06% 1,706 100.00% Prohibition primary results Prohibition Party E. W. Woodruff 703 82.42% Prohibition Party Scattering 150 17.58% 853 100.00% General election Candidates Major party candidates Albert Sleeper, Republican Edwin F. Sweet, Democratic Other candidates Ernest J. Moore, Socialist E. W. Woodruff, Prohibition James R. Murray, Socialist Labor Results 1916 Michigan gubernatorial electionVaughn Coleman C. Michigan Official Directory and Legislative Manual for the Years 1917 and 1918 1917 466-467 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015073067327&view=1up&seq=546 6 June 2026 Official Canvass of Votes, Election, November 7, 1916 Republican Party (United States) Albert Sleeper 363,724 55.83% +15.81% Democratic Party (United States) Edwin F. Sweet 264,440 40.59% -7.56% Socialist Party of America Ernest J. Moore 15,040 2.31% -0.20% Prohibition Party E. W. Woodruff 7,255 1.11% +0.24% Socialist Labor Party of America James R. Murray 963 0.15% +0.03% Scattering 96 0.01% 99,284 15.24% 651,518 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) +23.37% Results by county After this election, Kalamazoo County would not vote Democratic again until 1986. County Albert SleeperRepublican Edwin F. SweetDemocratic Ernest J. MooreSocialist E. W. WoodruffProhibition James R. MurraySocialist Labor Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % # % # %Alcona66460.86%38134.92%343.12%100.92%20.18%28325.94%1,091Alger78054.81%56139.42%553.87%251.76%20.14%21915.39%1,423Allegan4,92555.94%3,52940.08%2172.46%1181.34%100.11%1,39615.86%8,804Includes 5 write-in votes for H. R. PattengillAlpena2,12060.36%1,33337.96%481.37%100.28%10.03%78722.41%3,512Antrim1,36354.78%93037.38%1445.79%431.73%80.32%43317.40%2,488Arenac1,06254.27%80941.34%532.71%301.53%30.15%25312.93%1,957Baraga86966.18%35026.66%836.32%80.61%30.23%51939.53%1,313Barry3,16953.86%2,51542.74%1001.70%921.56%50.08%65411.11%5,884"three" Includes 3 write-in votes for H. R. PattengillBay7,31555.72%5,38941.05%3182.42%640.49%410.31%1,92614.67%13,127Benzie95449.71%73038.04%1608.34%643.34%110.57%22411.67%1,919Berrien7,76655.37%5,85041.71%2221.58%1150.82%670.48%1,91613.66%14,026Includes 6 write-in votes for H. R. PattengillBranch2,96246.57%3,21750.58%931.46%851.34%30.05%-255-4.01%6,360Calhoun7,11945.86%7,54848.62%6454.15%1631.05%490.32%-429-2.76%15,524Cass2,60348.13%2,59648.00%1502.77%510.94%80.15%70.13%5,408Charlevoix1,96456.93%1,10832.12%3038.78%611.77%140.41%85624.81%3,450Cheboygan1,57350.96%1,41245.74%782.53%200.65%40.13%1615.22%3,087Chippewa2,62159.94%1,58536.25%1162.65%461.05%50.11%1,03623.69%4,373Clare1,07455.02%77939.91%683.48%291.49%20.10%29515.11%1,952Clinton3,50262.20%2,03036.06%380.67%601.07%00.00%1,47226.15%5,630Crawford47453.08%39444.12%182.02%60.67%10.11%808.96%893Delta3,29563.38%1,59630.70%2464.73%420.81%200.38%1,69932.68%5,199Dickinson2,57164.78%1,14628.87%2065.19%411.03%50.13%1,42535.90%3,969Eaton3,97753.01%3,32444.31%1051.40%831.11%130.17%6538.70%7,502Emmet1,81752.77%1,31538.19%2577.46%411.19%130.38%50214.58%3,443Genesee10,10852.15%8,59444.34%4272.20%1850.95%420.22%1,5147.81%19,383Includes 27 write-in votes for H. R. PattengillGladwin1,05960.58%65037.19%00.00%341.95%40.23%40923.40%1,748Includes 1 write-in vote for Frank DurfeeGogebic2,33458.09%1,42135.37%1253.11%1323.29%60.15%91322.72%4,018Grand Traverse2,04148.32%1,77742.07%3227.62%591.40%250.59%2646.25%4,224Gratiot3,53153.19%2,89643.62%550.83%1111.67%60.09%6359.56%6,639Includes 40 write-in votes for H. R. PattengillHillsdale3,54149.69%3,37747.39%420.59%1642.30%20.03%1642.30%7,126Houghton8,59064.28%4,06130.39%2712.03%4263.19%130.10%4,52933.89%13,363"two" Includes 2 write-in votes for H. R. PattengillHuron5,26777.70%1,40720.76%650.96%390.58%10.01%3,86056.94%6,779Ingham8,73254.48%7,02343.81%30.02%2161.35%550.34%1,70910.66%16,029Ionia4,14950.68%3,77146.07%1261.54%1361.66%40.05%3784.62%8,186Iosco1,09361.51%64936.52%201.13%140.79%10.06%44424.99%1,777Iron2,26270.51%79124.66%1283.99%210.65%50.16%1,47145.85%3,208"one" Includes 1 write-in vote for H. R. PattengillIsabella2,83656.36%2,04140.56%651.29%851.69%50.10%79515.80%5,032Jackson7,69049.23%7,55248.34%1931.24%1691.08%180.12%1380.88%15,622Kalamazoo6,60746.25%6,73547.14%7485.24%1771.24%190.13%-128-0.90%14,286Kalkaska74957.75%43733.69%796.09%282.16%40.31%31224.06%1,297Kent16,49543.45%20,16953.13%8612.27%4231.11%170.04%-3,674-9.68%37,965Keweenaw88279.96%17415.78%211.90%242.18%20.18%70864.19%1,103Lake60762.32%34034.91%252.57%20.21%00.00%26727.41%974Lapeer3,52064.56%1,80533.11%280.51%891.63%100.18%1,71531.46%5,452Leelanau1,01054.92%74940.73%542.94%231.25%30.16%26114.19%1,839Lenawee6,33052.62%5,46545.43%810.67%1451.21%60.05%8657.19%12,030"three"Livingston2,54652.31%2,25546.33%60.12%591.21%10.02%2915.98%4,867Luce57569.87%22827.70%60.73%141.70%00.00%34742.16%823Mackinac1,12154.92%88943.56%281.37%30.15%00.00%23211.37%2,041Macomb4,68959.75%3,01538.42%450.57%921.17%70.09%1,67421.33%7,848Manistee2,50153.07%2,04743.43%1082.29%471.00%100.21%4549.63%4,713Marquette5,53267.24%2,26027.47%3113.78%1081.31%160.19%3,27239.77%8,227Mason2,37057.95%1,66940.81%00.00%481.17%00.00%70117.14%4,090"three"Mecosta2,62860.59%1,38231.87%2475.70%771.78%30.07%1,24628.73%4,337Menominee3,01263.60%1,58033.36%1022.15%390.82%20.04%1,43230.24%4,736"one"Midland2,22760.29%1,35636.71%661.79%411.11%40.11%87123.58%3,694Missaukee1,24958.28%84739.52%261.21%190.89%20.09%40218.76%2,143Monroe3,90148.02%4,11250.62%350.43%740.91%10.01%-211-2.60%8,123Montcalm3,93056.30%2,82040.40%981.40%1211.73%110.16%1,11015.90%6,980Montmorency45260.19%23431.16%547.19%91.20%20.27%21829.03%751Muskegon6,16756.00%4,08737.11%6105.54%1211.10%280.25%2,08018.89%11,013Newaygo2,51259.68%1,47535.04%1443.42%671.59%110.26%1,03724.64%4,209Oakland8,14954.39%6,37142.52%2801.87%1631.09%190.13%1,77811.87%14,982Oceana2,01455.21%1,37337.64%1754.80%762.08%100.27%64117.57%3,648Ogemaw98657.06%65137.67%382.20%523.01%10.06%33519.39%1,728Ontonagon1,33358.46%79434.82%1205.26%281.23%50.22%53923.64%2,280Osceola2,29864.14%1,22834.27%140.39%421.17%10.03%1,07029.86%3,583Oscoda27061.64%15936.30%71.60%20.46%00.00%11125.34%438Otsego63958.41%42839.12%111.01%131.19%30.27%21119.29%1,094Ottawa5,40954.91%4,14442.07%2142.17%760.77%70.07%1,26512.84%9,850Presque Isle1,57368.15%66128.64%562.43%80.35%80.35%91239.51%2,308"two"Roscommon36761.47%20033.50%233.85%30.50%40.67%16727.97%597Saginaw10,28555.64%7,73541.84%3061.66%1320.71%270.15%2,55013.79%18,485Sanilac5,12874.51%1,51121.96%240.35%2183.17%10.01%3,61752.56%6,882Schoolcraft1,07961.20%55831.65%372.10%884.99%10.06%52129.55%1,763Shiawassee4,06654.04%3,22642.88%1722.29%530.70%70.09%84011.16%7,524St. Clair7,16162.51%4,09535.75%1100.96%880.77%10.01%3,06626.76%11,456"one"St. Joseph3,20145.55%3,61051.37%1942.76%130.19%90.13%-409-5.82%7,027Tuscola4,72266.86%2,13530.23%510.72%1502.12%50.07%2,58736.63%7,063Van Buren4,45757.07%3,12039.95%1642.10%570.73%120.15%1,33717.12%7,810Washtenaw6,51053.64%5,38844.39%1341.10%750.62%300.25%1,1229.24%12,137Wayne80,29458.35%52,85638.41%3,4132.48%8760.64%1760.13%27,43819.94%137,616"one"Wexford2,39956.61%1,63038.46%1152.71%942.22%00.00%76918.15%4,238Total363,72455.83%264,44040.59%15,0402.31%7,2551.11%9630.15%99,28415.24%651,518 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Alger Bay Berrien Cass Cheboygan Clare Clinton Crawford Eaton Genesee Grand Traverse Gratiot Hillsdale Houghton Ingham Ionia Iosco Isabella Jackson Leelanau Lenawee Livingston Luce Mackinac Macomb Manistee Mecosta Midland Montmorency Oakland Ontonagon Otsego Roscommon Saginaw Shiawassee Washtenaw Wayne Notes References 1916 Michigan Gubernatorial Category:November 1916 in the United States