1892 United States presidential election in Michigan

none June 2025 September 2023 Flag of Michigan (1865–1911, obverse).svgborder 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan Michigan 1911 presidential no 1888 United States presidential election in Michigan 1888 1896 United States presidential election in Michigan 1896 November 8, 1892 x200px Benjamin Harrison 1896.jpg Benjamin Harrison Republican Party (United States) Indiana Whitelaw Reid 9 222,708 47.72% StephenGroverCleveland.jpg Grover Cleveland Democratic Party (United States) New York Adlai Stevenson I 5 202,296 43.34% President Benjamin Harrison Republican Party (United States) Grover Cleveland Democratic Party (United States) 375px County results 315px Congressional district results Harrison #f2b3be 40–50% #e27f90 50–60% #cc2f4a 60–70% Cleveland #b9d7ff 40–50% #86b6f2 50–60% #4389e3 60–70% Weaver #d7f4d7 30–40% 1892 United States presidential election The 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan took place on November 8, 1892. All contemporary 44 states were part of the 1892 United States presidential election. Voters chose 14 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president. Uniquely, this remains the only presidential election where Michigan used the congressional district method of distributing electoral votes rather than the traditional election of each elector by the state as a whole. The switch was made by the newly elected 1890 Democratic legislature, which had gained control of the state for the first time since before the Civil War.Egan, Paul. “Democrats Once Pulled the Same Electoral College Stunt.” Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2014, http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2014/11/20/michigan-white-house-presidential-election-electoral-college/70028908/.Braun, Ken. “Ken Braun: It Didn't Matter Much When Democrats Decided to Divide Michigan's Electoral College Votes.” MLive.com, 19 Nov. 2014, http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/11/ken_braun_it_didnt_matter_much.html. The change was an attempt at boosting Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland's chances of winning a second, nonconsecutive term, who had run in the previous election and won the popular vote, but lost in the electoral college. Controversial among Republicans, the party fought all the way to the Supreme Court in efforts to prevent it, the Court ruling in McPherson v. Blacker that allocating electoral votes this way was constitutional.McPherson v. Blacker 146 U.S. 1 1892 https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=12718508074854824379 The split ultimately had no effect in Cleveland's victory, and the system was quickly repealed when Republicans regained control after the election. This is the only instance of Michigan splitting its electoral votes among multiple candidates. A law later passed in 1954 that prohibits faithless electors prevents a similar occurrence, barring a return to the district method.“Section 168.47 .” Michigan Legislature - Section 168.47, Legislative Council, State of Michigan, http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-168-47.“The Electoral College.” National Conference of State Legislators, 22 Aug. 2016, http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/the-electoral-college.aspx#faithless. Michigan was won by the Republican nominees: incumbent President Benjamin Harrison of Indiana and his running mate Whitelaw Reid of New York. The pair received nine of the state's electoral votes, while the Democratic ticket earned five. Cleveland became the first Democratic presidential candidate since Franklin Pierce in 1852 to get electoral votes from Michigan, although the state wouldn't send a full slate of Democratic electors to the Electoral College until Franklin D. Roosevelt won it in 1932. Statewide results Michigan was divided into two at large districts that chose one elector each. Cleveland won the eastern district and Harrison won the western district. Both districts also separately elected alternate presidential electors. At Large districts 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - Eastern DistrictJochim John W. Official Directory and Legislative Manual of the State of Michigan for the Years 1893-1894 1893 Robert Smith & Co., State Printers and Binders Lansing 390–402 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015061529452&view=1up&seq=482 19 January 2026Official Canvass of the State of Michigan, 1892 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1045007487/ 19 January 2026 The Lansing Journal 3 February 1893 Lansing 3–6 Democratic Party (United States) George H. Durand 108,956 46.90% Republican Party (United States) William McPherson Jr. 107,418 46.24% Prohibition Party Henry A. Reynolds 8,633 3.72% Populist Party (United States) William R. Alger 7,169 3.09% Independent politician Scattering 6154 votes for Archibald McDonell and 7 votes for Charles W. Deland (misspelling of Charles V. De Land). McDonell and De Land were the respective Republican and Democratic candidates for alternate elector in this district. 0.03% Independent politician Blank 73 0.03% 232,310 100.00% 1,538 0.66% 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - Western District Republican Party (United States) Jay A. Hubbell 115,290 49.18% Democratic Party (United States) John Power 93,340 39.82% Populist Party (United States) Oscar F. Bean 12,762 5.44% Prohibition Party Samuel Dickie 12,224 5.21% Independent politician Scattering 791743 votes for William R. Alger, 29 votes for Trowbridge Johns, and 19 votes for Alsor F. Bean (apparent misspelling of Oscar F. Bean). Alger was the Populist nominee in the Eastern District and Johns was the Prohibition nominee in the 12th congressional district. 0.34% 234,407 100.00% 21,950 9.36% The statewide results for the presidential candidates themselves are the combined results for their respective electors in the eastern and western districts. Note, however, that the full statewide results had no effect on the outcome; all electors were chosen individually. Each voter chose only two of the state's 14 electors: one for their respective at large district and one for their respective congressional district (see below). 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan Republican Party (United States) Benjamin Harrison (incumbent) 222,708 47.72% Democratic Party (United States) Grover Cleveland 202,296 43.34% Prohibition Party John Bidwell 20,857 4.47% Populist Party (United States) James B. Weaver 19,931 4.27% Independent politician Scattering 852 0.18% Independent politician Blank 73 0.02% 466,717 100.00% 20,412 4.37% Results by county County Benjamin HarrisonRepublican Grover ClevelandDemocratic John BidwellProhibition James B. WeaverPopulist Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % # %Alcona55657.32%38039.18%292.99%50.52%17618.14%970Alger16050.31%15649.06%20.63%00.00%41.26%318Allegan4,28350.96%3,20738.16%5446.47%3714.41%1,07612.80%8,405Alpena1,52649.11%1,53649.44%260.84%190.61%-10-0.32%3,107Antrim1,14052.17%81437.25%1647.51%673.07%32614.92%2,185Arenac32227.81%37332.21%262.25%43737.74%-64In this county where Weaver ran ahead of Harrison and also Cleveland, margin given is Cleveland vote minus Weaver vote and percentage margin Cleveland percentage minus Weaver percentage.-5.53%1,158Baraga37536.76%63061.76%121.18%30.29%-255-25.00%1,020Barry2,85449.20%1,80031.03%2975.12%85014.65%1,05418.17%5,801Bay4,58742.96%5,71453.51%1871.75%1901.78%-1,127-10.55%10,678Benzie77452.47%49833.76%1016.85%1026.92%27618.71%1,475Berrien4,97948.55%4,71645.98%4264.15%1351.32%2632.56%10,256Branch3,27149.68%2,16132.82%4266.47%72611.03%1,11016.86%6,584Calhoun5,07748.10%4,15039.31%7106.73%6195.86%9278.78%10,556Cass2,73147.71%2,42442.35%1803.14%3896.80%3075.36%5,724Charlevoix1,10153.14%68833.20%1416.81%1426.85%41319.93%2,072Cheboygan1,09444.27%1,22449.53%742.99%793.20%-130-5.26%2,471Chippewa1,24752.33%1,08345.45%351.47%180.76%1646.88%2,383Clare71941.90%81147.26%1679.73%00.00%-92-5.36%1,716Includes 19 Scattering votes.Clinton3,13348.42%2,75642.60%2583.99%3234.99%3775.83%6,470Crawford30048.62%30649.59%30.49%81.30%-6-0.97%617Delta1,76954.30%1,41243.34%401.23%371.14%35710.96%3,258Dickinson1,60651.05%1,25539.89%2558.11%300.95%35111.16%3,146Eaton3,78848.24%2,83736.13%4986.34%7309.30%95112.11%7,853Emmet1,01546.28%1,05948.29%1024.65%170.78%-44-2.01%2,193Genesee4,78550.14%3,71238.90%5906.18%4564.78%1,07311.24%9,543Gladwin53160.82%32537.23%131.49%40.46%20623.60%873Gogebic2,34457.25%1,61539.45%1162.83%190.46%72917.81%4,094Grand Traverse1,73454.70%92429.15%1855.84%32710.32%81025.55%3,170Gratiot3,03748.83%1,66126.70%2564.12%1,26620.35%1,37622.12%6,220Hillsdale4,11953.65%2,61334.03%4866.33%4605.99%1,50619.61%7,678Houghton3,31645.84%2,60736.04%5687.85%00.00%7099.80%7,234Includes 743 Scattering votes.Huron1,69235.35%2,22246.42%1753.66%69814.58%-530-11.07%4,787Ingham4,34144.08%4,06141.23%4995.07%9489.63%2802.84%9,849Ionia4,28849.45%3,77943.58%3794.37%2252.59%5095.87%8,671Iosco1,39349.57%1,33647.54%582.06%230.82%572.03%2,810Iron91859.26%58737.90%00.00%150.97%33121.37%1,549Includes 29 Scattering votes.Isabella1,85945.42%1,76243.05%1533.74%3197.79%972.37%4,093Jackson5,13045.02%5,00543.92%5715.01%6906.05%1251.10%11,396Kalamazoo4,96850.56%4,01840.90%4494.57%3903.97%9509.67%9,825Kalkaska71759.45%38932.26%604.98%403.32%32827.20%1,206Kent12,38846.31%11,53343.11%1,4115.27%1,4185.30%8553.20%26,750Keweenaw40065.36%20233.01%50.82%50.82%19832.35%612Lake64847.79%61044.99%634.65%352.58%382.80%1,356Lapeer3,12649.11%2,69842.39%3134.92%2283.58%4286.72%6,365Leelanau76953.63%49234.31%443.07%1299.00%27719.32%1,434Lenawee5,83346.86%5,59244.92%9107.31%1140.92%2411.94%12,449Livingston2,44743.76%2,38542.65%3656.53%3957.06%621.11%5,592Luce23455.45%16037.91%255.92%30.71%7417.54%422Mackinac47835.41%85563.33%90.67%80.59%-377-27.93%1,350Macomb2,78841.50%3,58453.35%2904.32%560.83%-796-11.85%6,718Manistee1,48135.42%2,31055.25%2315.52%1593.80%-829-19.83%4,181Manitou53.36%14496.64%00.00%00.00%-139-93.29%149Marquette3,87453.03%2,85039.01%5367.34%450.62%1,02414.02%7,305Mason1,42645.85%1,38344.47%2588.30%431.38%431.38%3,110Mecosta1,97051.76%1,48438.99%2205.78%1323.47%48612.77%3,806Menominee1,85348.43%1,80147.07%1343.50%380.99%521.36%3,826Midland1,06946.16%81535.19%1185.09%31413.56%25410.97%2,316Missaukee66548.61%62245.47%614.46%201.46%433.14%1,368Monroe2,91441.50%3,76953.68%2243.19%1141.62%-855-12.18%7,021Montcalm3,62353.31%2,20532.45%2653.90%70310.34%1,41820.87%6,796Montmorency24647.67%25549.42%101.94%50.97%-9-1.74%516Muskegon3,83049.76%3,30142.89%3224.18%2443.17%5296.87%7,697Newaygo2,10651.02%1,53137.09%2866.93%2054.97%57513.93%4,128Oakland4,76344.98%4,92546.51%7286.87%1741.64% -162 -1.53%10,590Oceana1,63547.38%1,41641.03%3129.04%882.55%2196.35%3,451Ogemaw59450.64%51443.82%262.22%393.32%806.82%1,173Ontonagon67838.68%1,04159.38%191.08%150.86% -363 -20.71%1,753Osceola1,60151.13%1,09234.88%3109.90%1284.09%50916.26%3,131Oscoda27359.09%18038.96%51.08%40.87%9320.13%462Otsego52547.60%53148.14%322.90%151.36% -6 -0.54%1,103Ottawa3,64350.82%2,99641.79%1802.51%3504.88%6479.02%7,169Presque Isle29034.77%47156.47%70.84%50.60%-181-21.70%834"sixtyone" Includes 61 Scattering votes.Roscommon23944.26%28652.96%91.67%61.11% -47 -8.70%540Saginaw6,73744.37%7,60150.07%2541.67%5903.89% -864 -5.69%15,182Sanilac2,49454.34%1,73037.69%2886.27%781.70%76416.64%4,590Schoolcraft57041.79%65047.65%1017.40%433.15% -80 -5.87%1,364Shiawassee3,61947.79%2,99439.54%6778.94%283The 1893-1894 Michigan Manual contains a typo for Alger in this county. The correct figure is 283, not 383.The Official Vote https://www.newspapers.com/image/174228753/ 19 January 2026 The Times 25 November 1892 Owosso 13.74%6258.25%7,573St. Clair5,37148.82%5,24847.70%2282.07%810.74%1231.12%11,001Includes 73 Blank votes.St. Joseph2,82443.93%2,44137.97%1852.88%97815.21%3835.96%6,428Tuscola3,20149.42%2,66741.18%3976.13%2123.27%5348.24%6,477Van Buren3,78854.05%2,18231.14%4035.75%6359.06%1,60622.92%7,008Washtenaw4,36241.99%5,50853.02%4484.31%700.67% -1,146 -11.03%10,388Wayne26,36147.81%27,58050.02%7021.27%4950.90% -1,219 -2.21%55,138Wexford1,38849.91%1,15641.57%1856.65%521.87%2328.34%2,781Totals222,70847.72%202,296The county figures add up to 202,396; the error is in the eastern district with Durand's county results adding up to 109,056 rather than the stated 108,956.43.34%20,8574.47%19,9314.27%20,4124.37%466,717 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Ingham Iosco Livingston Oscoda Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Otsego Roscommon Schoolcraft District results The remaining 12 electors were chosen by congressional district. Michigan gained one seat in the United States House of Representatives as a result of the 1890 United States census and the state legislature redistricted prior to the 1892 elections. Each of the state's 12 congressional districts voted for a single presidential elector. Harrison won 8 of the 12 congressional districts. As with the at large districts, a full slate of alternate electors were also on the ballot. Summary District Benjamin HarrisonRepublican Grover ClevelandDemocratic John BidwellProhibition James B. WeaverPopulist Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % # %1st district18,33247.06%19,99051.32%3400.87%2910.75%-1,658-4.26%38,9532nd district20,94744.71%22,42747.87%2,4015.13%1,0722.29%-1,480-3.16%46,8473rd district21,23349.97%15,75637.08%2,5626.03%2,9386.91%5,47712.89%42,4894th district21,40249.19%20,08446.16%2,0244.65%00.00%1,3183.03%43,5105th district20,18747.72%18,17342.96%1,9674.65%1,9804.68%2,0144.76%42,3076th district21,32447.10%19,59043.27%2,2865.05%2,0704.57%1,7343.83%45,2707th district15,72345.05%15,98445.80%1,2833.68%1,8425.28%-261-0.75%34,902Includes 70 Blank votes.8th district16,67247.27%15,29843.37%1,2183.45%1,1493.26%1,3743.90%35,271Includes 934 Scattering votes.9th district14,03647.25%12,85343.27%1,7545.90%1,0623.58%1,1833.98%29,70510th district14,37045.89%14,97247.82%7412.37%1,1673.73%-602-1.92%31,311"sixtyone"11th district18,37950.75%12,73435.16%1,9615.41%3,1438.68%5,64515.59%36,21712th district19,81150.06%16,88842.68%1,8514.68%1,0232.59%2,9237.39%39,573Totals222,41647.69%204,74943.90%20,3884.37%17,7373.80%17,6673.79%466,355 District 1 The 1st district was located entirely in Wayne County, covering the 1st through 11th and 13th and 15th wards of the city of Detroit. This was Cleveland's strongest district. 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - 1st district Democratic Party (United States) Rufus W. Gillett 19,990 51.32% Republican Party (United States) J. Henry Carstens 18,332 47.06% Prohibition Party Leicester B. Dodge 340 0.87% Populist Party (United States) Arthur B. Hartford 291 0.75% 38,953 100.00% 1,658 4.26% District 2 The 2nd district consisted of Jackson County, Lenawee County, Monroe County, Washtenaw County, and part of Wayne County.Specifically, the townships of Brownstown, Canton, Ecorse, Huron, Monguagon, Plymouth, Romulus, Sumpter, Taylor, and Van Buren, and the city of Wyandotte. 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - 2nd district Democratic Party (United States) Edwin R. Smith 22,427 47.87% Republican Party (United States) Charles E. Hiscock 20,947 44.71% Prohibition Party Joseph B. Steere 2,401 5.13% Populist Party (United States) Martin G. Loenneker 1,072 2.29% 46,847 100.00% 1,480 3.16% District 3 The 3rd district consisted of Branch County, Calhoun County, Eaton County, Hillsdale County, and Kalamazoo County. This was Bidwell's strongest district. 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - 3rd district Republican Party (United States) Otto Ihling 21,233 49.97% Democratic Party (United States) James S. Upton 15,756 37.08% Populist Party (United States) Henry I. Allen 2,938 6.91% Prohibition Party John H. Ferguson 2,562 6.03% 42,489 100.00% 5,477 12.89% District 4 The 4th district consisted of Allegan County, Barry County, Berrien County, Cass County, St. Joseph County, and Van Buren County. The Populists nominated the Democratic district elector for their ticket; thus there no votes for Weaver in this district.Sample Ballot https://www.newspapers.com/image/362618498/ 19 January 2026 St. Joseph Saturday Herald 5 November 1892 St. Joseph 11 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - 4th district Republican Party (United States) Philip T. Colgrove 21,402 49.19% Democratic Party (United States) Edward Hutchins 20,084 46.16% Prohibition Party Hamilton S. McMaster 2,024 4.65% 43,510 100.00% 1,318 3.03% District 5 The 5th district consisted of Ionia County, Kent County, and Ottawa County. 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - 5th district Republican Party (United States) Conrad G. Swenberg 20,187 47.72% Democratic Party (United States) Thomas Hefferan 18,173 42.96% Populist Party (United States) Nathan B. Hayes 1,980 4.68% Prohibition Party William Frye 1,967 4.65% 42,307 100.00% 2,014 4.76% District 6 The 6th district consisted of Genesee County, Ingham County, Livingston County, Oakland County, and part of Wayne County.Specifically, the townships of Dearborn, Greenfield, Livonia, Nankin, Redford, and Springwells, and the 12th, 14th, and 16th wards of the city of Detroit. 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - 6th district Republican Party (United States) Henry A. Haigh 21,324 47.10% Democratic Party (United States) Orlando F. Barnes 19,590 43.27% Prohibition Party Lucius H. Ives 2,286 5.05% Populist Party (United States) George Northrop 2,070 4.57% 45,270 100.00% 1,734 3.83% District 7 The 7th district consisted of Huron County, Lapeer County, Macomb County, Sanilac County, St. Clair County, and part of Wayne County.Specifically, the townships of Grosse Pointe and Hamtramck. This was the closest of the district races, with Cleveland's elector winning by only 261 votes. 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - 7th district Democratic Party (United States) Frank W. Hubbard 15,984 45.80% Republican Party (United States) James H. White 15,723 45.05% Populist Party (United States) Jedediah Spalding 1,842 5.28% Prohibition Party George W. Smith 1,283Includes 506 votes for "George Washington Smith" that were counted separately. 3.68% Independent politician Blank 70 0.20% 34,902 100.00% 261 0.75% District 8 The 8th district consisted of Clinton County, Saginaw County, Shiawassee County, and Tuscola County. 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - 8th district Republican Party (United States) Frank Slocum 16,672 47.27% Democratic Party (United States) William A. Woodard 15,298 43.37% Prohibition Party William A. Heartt 1,218 3.45% Populist Party (United States) Philo P. Miner 1,149 3.26% Independent politician James M. Goodell 934 2.65% 35,271 100.00% 1,374 3.90% District 9 The 9th district consisted of Benzie County, Lake County, Leelanau County, Manistee County, Manitou County, Mason County, Muskegon County, Newaygo County, Oceana County, and Wexford County. 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - 9th district Republican Party (United States) James S. Stearns 14,036 47.25% Democratic Party (United States) Martin Waalkes 12,853 43.27% Prohibition Party Oscar A. Rowland 1,754 Includes 61 votes in Oceana County for "Oscar Rowland" that were listed separately. 5.90% Populist Party (United States) George R. Kinsman 1,062 3.58% 29,705 100.00% 1,183 3.98% District 10 The 10th district consisted of Alcona County, Alpena County, Arenac County, Bay County, Cheboygan County, Crawford County, Emmet County, Gladwin County, Iosco County, Midland County, Montmorency County, Ogemaw County, Oscoda County, Otsego County, and Presque Isle County. Cleveland and Harrison tied in Alpena County (Cleveland won Alpena County by 10 votes in the Eastern district) and Weaver won Arenac County (which he also did in the Eastern district). 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - 10th district Democratic Party (United States) Worthy L. Churchill 14,972 47.82% Republican Party (United States) John Millen 14,370 45.89% Populist Party (United States) Mendel J. Bailey 1,167 3.73% Prohibition Party Clarence M. Church 741 2.37% Independent politician Scattering 6154 for Milo Eastman and 7 for Rasmus Hanson, who were the Democratic and Republican alternate elector candidates, respectively. 0.19% 31,311 100.00% 602 1.92% District 11 The 11th district consisted of Antrim County, Charlevoix County, Clare County, Grand Traverse County, Gratiot County, Isabella County, Kalkaska County, Mecosta County, Missaukee County, Montcalm County, Osceola County, and Roscommon County. This was the strongest district for both Harrison and Weaver. 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - 11th district Republican Party (United States) Julius T. Hannah 18,379 50.75% Democratic Party (United States) Lyman H. Pratt 12,734 35.16% Populist Party (United States) Dewitt Vought 3,143 8.68% Prohibition Party George W. Hall 1,961 5.41% 36,217 100.00% 5,645 15.59% District 12 The 12th district consisted of Alger County, Baraga County, Chippewa County, Delta County, Dickinson County, Gogebic County, Houghton County, Iron County, Keweenaw County, Luce County, Mackinac County, Marquette County, Menominee County, Ontonagon County, and Schoolcraft County. 1892 United States presidential election in Michigan - 12th district Republican Party (United States) John H. Comstock 19,811 50.06% Democratic Party (United States) Frederick Braastad 16,888 42.68% Prohibition Party Trowbridge Johns 1,851 4.68% Populist Party (United States) Oscar M. Drake 1,023 2.59% 39,573 100.00% 2,923 7.39% See also United States presidential elections in Michigan Notes References 2 Michigan 1892 United States presidential election