1912 Michigan gubernatorial election
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November 5, 1912
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 County results Ferris: 30–40% 40–50% Musselman: 30–40% 40–50% Watkins: 30–40% 40–50% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Michigan |
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The 1912 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1912. Democratic nominee Woodbridge N. Ferris defeated Republican candidate Amos S. Musselman and Progressive candidate Lucius Whitney Watkins with 35.35% of the vote.
Primary election
[edit]Michigan held primary elections on August 27, 1912.[1]
Republican party
[edit]Incumbent governor Chase S. Osborn declined to seek a second term. Amos S. Musselman narrowly defeated Frederick C. Martindale for the Republican nomination.
Candidates
[edit]- Frederick C. Martindale, Michigan Secretary of State
- Amos S. Musselman, businessman from Grand Rapids
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Amos S. Musselman | 86,191 | 51.03% | |
| Republican | Frederick C. Martindale | 82,714 | 48.97% | |
| Total votes | 168,905 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic party
[edit]Woodbridge N. Ferris was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Candidates
[edit]- Woodbridge N. Ferris, Democratic nominee for governor in 1904
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Woodbridge N. Ferris | 39,457 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 39,457 | 100.00% | ||
National Progressive party
[edit]After the national Republican convention nominated William Howard Taft over Theodore Roosevelt, Lucius Whitney Watkins became chair of Michigan's Progressive Party and was subsequently nominated for governor.
Candidates
[edit]- Lucius Whitney Watkins, member of Michigan Senate
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | Lucius Whitney Watkins | 9,770 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 9,770 | 100.00% | ||
Minor parties
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socialist | James Hoogerhyde | 3,461 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 3,461 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibition | J. D. Leland | 2,115 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 2,115 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socialist Labor | Herman Richter | 109 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 109 | 100.00% | ||
General election
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Major party candidates
- Woodbridge N. Ferris, Democratic
- Amos S. Musselman, Republican
Other candidates
- Lucius Whitney Watkins, National Progressive
- James Hoogerhyde, Socialist
- J. D. Leland, Prohibition
- Herman Richter, Socialist Labor
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Woodbridge N. Ferris | 194,017 | 35.35% | −6.29% | |
| Republican | Amos S. Musselman | 169,963 | 30.96% | −21.88% | |
| Progressive | Lucius Whitney Watkins | 155,372 | 28.31% | ||
| Socialist | James Hoogerhyde | 21,398 | 3.90% | +1.29% | |
| Prohibition | J. D. Leland | 7,811 | 1.42% | −1.18% | |
| Socialist Labor | Herman Richter | 359 | 0.07% | −0.25% | |
| Scattering | 1 | 0.00% | |||
| Plurality | 24,054 | 4.38% | |||
| Total votes | 548,921 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | +15.60% | |||
Results by county
[edit]Kalkaska County, Mecosta County, and Wexford County voted Democratic for the first time ever in this election. Kalkaska County would not vote Democratic again until 1974, while Emmet County and Wexford County would not vote Democratic again until 1986. The following counties did not vote Republican for the first since their respective organizations: Alger, Antrim, Gogebic, Kalkaska, Lake, Mecosta, and Wexford. Ferris was the first Democrat to be elected governor without carrying St. Clair County.
| County[3][4] | Woodbridge N. Ferris Democratic |
Amos S. Musselman Republican |
L. Whitney Watkins Progressive |
James Hoogerhyde Socialist |
J. D. Leland Prohibition |
Herman Richter Socialist Labor |
Margin[a] | Total votes cast | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Alcona | 223 | 22.82% | 284 | 29.07% | 395 | 40.43% | 69 | 7.06% | 6 | 0.61% | 0 | 0.00% | -111[b] | -11.36% | 977 |
| Alger | 343 | 31.44% | 290 | 26.58% | 391 | 35.84% | 50 | 4.58% | 17 | 1.56% | 0 | 0.00% | -48[c] | -4.40% | 1,091 |
| Allegan | 2,356 | 30.69% | 2,598 | 33.84% | 2,309 | 30.07% | 274 | 3.57% | 116 | 1.51% | 25 | 0.33% | -242 | -3.15% | 7,678 |
| Alpena | 1,377 | 38.66% | 987 | 27.71% | 1,121 | 31.47% | 56 | 1.57% | 21 | 0.59% | 0 | 0.00% | 256[d] | 7.19% | 3,562 |
| Antrim | 748 | 29.92% | 736 | 29.44% | 828 | 33.12% | 151 | 6.04% | 37 | 1.48% | 0 | 0.00% | -80[c] | -3.20% | 2,500 |
| Arenac | 662 | 33.23% | 424 | 21.29% | 757 | 38.00% | 106 | 5.32% | 43 | 2.16% | 0 | 0.00% | -95[c] | -4.77% | 1,992 |
| Baraga | 295 | 26.04% | 328 | 28.95% | 459 | 40.51% | 36 | 3.18% | 15 | 1.32% | 0 | 0.00% | -131[b] | -11.56% | 1,133 |
| Barry | 2,187 | 39.81% | 1,798 | 32.73% | 1,313 | 23.90% | 93 | 1.69% | 103 | 1.87% | 0 | 0.00% | 389 | 7.08% | 5,494 |
| Bay | 3,506 | 31.65% | 2,834 | 25.59% | 3,993 | 36.05% | 501 | 4.52% | 242 | 2.18% | 0 | 0.00% | -487[c] | -4.40% | 11,076 |
| Benzie | 536 | 27.96% | 594 | 30.99% | 454 | 23.68% | 239 | 12.47% | 89 | 4.64% | 5 | 0.26% | -58 | -3.03% | 1,917 |
| Berrien | 4,518 | 37.80% | 3,315 | 27.74% | 3,529 | 29.53% | 435 | 3.64% | 154 | 1.29% | 0 | 0.00% | 979[d] | 8.28% | 11,951 |
| Branch | 2,653 | 42.95% | 1,865 | 30.19% | 1,419 | 22.97% | 142 | 2.30% | 98 | 1.59% | 0 | 0.00% | 788 | 12.76% | 6,177 |
| Calhoun | 4,409 | 33.82% | 3,581 | 27.47% | 3,749 | 28.76% | 974 | 7.47% | 200 | 1.53% | 122 | 0.94% | 660[d] | 5.06% | 13,035 |
| Cass | 2,208 | 40.85% | 1,796 | 33.23% | 1,003 | 18.56% | 328 | 6.07% | 70 | 1.30% | 0 | 0.00% | 412 | 7.62% | 5,405 |
| Charlevoix | 1,114 | 30.62% | 1,349 | 37.08% | 769 | 21.14% | 368 | 10.12% | 38 | 1.04% | 0 | 0.00% | -235 | -6.46% | 3,638 |
| Cheboygan | 1,305 | 40.57% | 904 | 28.10% | 862 | 26.80% | 115 | 3.57% | 28 | 0.87% | 3 | 0.09% | 401 | 12.47% | 3,217 |
| Chippewa | 1,285 | 35.38% | 851 | 23.43% | 1,240 | 34.14% | 154 | 4.24% | 102 | 2.81% | 0 | 0.00% | 45[d] | 1.24% | 3,632 |
| Clare | 573 | 31.59% | 589 | 32.47% | 508 | 28.00% | 118 | 6.50% | 26 | 1.43% | 0 | 0.00% | -16 | -0.88% | 1,814 |
| Clinton | 2,309 | 42.68% | 1,796 | 33.20% | 1,209 | 22.35% | 25 | 0.46% | 71 | 1.31% | 0 | 0.00% | 513 | 9.48% | 5,410 |
| Crawford | 358 | 48.44% | 216 | 29.23% | 130 | 17.59% | 30 | 4.06% | 5 | 0.68% | 0 | 0.00% | 142 | 19.22% | 739 |
| Delta | 1,254 | 28.49% | 1,177 | 26.74% | 1,713 | 38.91% | 220 | 5.00% | 38 | 0.86% | 0 | 0.00% | -459[c] | -10.43% | 4,402 |
| Dickinson | 436 | 13.03% | 1,449 | 43.32% | 1,166 | 34.86% | 252 | 7.53% | 42 | 1.26% | 0 | 0.00% | -283[e] | -8.46% | 3,345 |
| Eaton | 3,253 | 44.60% | 2,452 | 33.62% | 1,409 | 19.32% | 92 | 1.26% | 88 | 1.21% | 0 | 0.00% | 801 | 10.98% | 7,294 |
| Emmet | 1,294 | 38.75% | 970 | 29.05% | 662 | 19.83% | 365 | 10.93% | 48 | 1.44% | 0 | 0.00% | 324 | 9.70% | 3,339 |
| Genesee | 4,440 | 33.38% | 3,551 | 26.70% | 4,428 | 33.29% | 643 | 4.83% | 207 | 1.56% | 32 | 0.24% | 12[d] | 0.09% | 13,301 |
| Gladwin | 407 | 25.03% | 667 | 41.02% | 442 | 27.18% | 82 | 5.04% | 24 | 1.48% | 4 | 0.25% | -225[e] | -13.84% | 1,626 |
| Gogebic | 698 | 22.99% | 851 | 28.03% | 1,211 | 39.89% | 122 | 4.02% | 154 | 5.07% | 0 | 0.00% | -360[b] | -11.86% | 3,036 |
| Grand Traverse | 1,344 | 34.44% | 1,153 | 29.54% | 1,106 | 28.34% | 249 | 6.38% | 51 | 1.31% | 0 | 0.00% | 191 | 4.89% | 3,903 |
| Gratiot | 2,367 | 40.21% | 2,130 | 36.18% | 1,288 | 21.88% | 31 | 0.53% | 71 | 1.21% | 0 | 0.00% | 237 | 4.03% | 5,887 |
| Hillsdale | 2,606 | 37.49% | 1,600 | 23.02% | 2,551 | 36.70% | 48 | 0.69% | 146 | 2.10% | 0 | 0.00% | 55[d] | 0.79% | 6,951 |
| Houghton | 2.618 | 21.64% | 4,458 | 36.86% | 4,248 | 35.12% | 416 | 3.44% | 356 | 2.94% | 0 | 0.00% | -210[e] | -1.76% | 12,096 |
| Huron | 1,817 | 28.66% | 2,099 | 33.11% | 2,305 | 36.36% | 62 | 0.98% | 57 | 0.90% | 0 | 0.00% | -206[b] | -3.25% | 6,340 |
| Ingham | 5,221 | 39.52% | 3,328 | 25.19% | 3,782 | 28.63% | 528 | 4.00% | 291 | 2.20% | 60 | 0.45% | 1,439[d] | 10.89% | 13,210 |
| Ionia | 3,565 | 46.20% | 2,740 | 35.51% | 1,133 | 14.68% | 142 | 1.84% | 136 | 1.76% | 0 | 0.00% | 825 | 10.69% | 7,716 |
| Iosco | 617 | 34.32% | 521 | 28.98% | 614 | 34.15% | 27 | 1.50% | 19 | 1.06% | 0 | 0.00% | 3[d] | 0.17% | 1,798 |
| Iron | 315 | 13.83% | 1,113 | 48.86% | 718 | 31.52% | 109 | 4.78% | 23 | 1.01% | 0 | 0.00% | -395[e] | -17.34% | 2,278 |
| Isabella | 2,002 | 41.92% | 1,489 | 31.18% | 1,116 | 23.37% | 112 | 2.35% | 55 | 1.15% | 2 | 0.04% | 513 | 10.74% | 4,776 |
| Jackson | 4,892 | 37.31% | 2,377 | 18.13% | 5,329 | 40.64% | 341 | 2.60% | 173 | 1.32% | 0 | 0.00% | -437[c] | -3.33% | 13,112 |
| Kalamazoo | 4,240 | 34.23% | 3,251 | 26.25% | 3,073 | 24.81% | 1,411 | 11.39% | 366 | 2.95% | 46 | 0.37% | 959 | 7.98% | 12,387 |
| Kalkaska | 510 | 36.77% | 439 | 31.65% | 306 | 22.06% | 96 | 6.92% | 36 | 2.60% | 0 | 0.00% | 71 | 5.12% | 1,387 |
| Kent | 11,794 | 37.14% | 10,357 | 32.62% | 7,405 | 23.32% | 1,808 | 5.69% | 388 | 1.22% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,437 | 4.53% | 31,752 |
| Keweenaw | 81 | 7.29% | 544 | 48.96% | 434 | 39.06% | 36 | 3.24% | 16 | 1.44% | 0 | 0.00% | -110[e] | -9.90% | 1,111 |
| Lake | 257 | 27.58% | 290 | 31.12% | 341 | 36.59% | 40 | 4.29% | 4 | 0.43% | 0 | 0.00% | -51[b] | -5.47% | 932 |
| Lapeer | 1,662 | 30.56% | 2,086 | 38.36% | 1,554 | 28.58% | 35 | 0.64% | 101 | 1.86% | 0 | 0.00% | -424 | -7.80% | 5,438 |
| Leelanau | 492 | 27.95% | 675 | 38.35% | 500 | 28.41% | 75 | 4.26% | 18 | 1.02% | 0 | 0.00% | -175[e] | -9.94% | 1,760 |
| Lenawee | 4,554 | 41.11% | 3,268 | 29.50% | 2,932 | 26.47% | 131 | 1.18% | 192 | 1.73% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,286 | 11.61% | 11,077 |
| Livingston | 2,326 | 46.97% | 1,536 | 31.02% | 988 | 19.95% | 11 | 0.22% | 91 | 1.84% | 0 | 0.00% | 790 | 15.95% | 4,952 |
| Luce | 179 | 28.50% | 274 | 43.63% | 158 | 25.16% | 8 | 1.27% | 9 | 1.43% | 0 | 0.00% | -95 | -15.13% | 628 |
| Mackinac | 869 | 49.15% | 600 | 33.94% | 276 | 15.61% | 0 | 0.00% | 21 | 1.19% | 2 | 0.11% | 269 | 15.21% | 1,768 |
| Macomb | 3,290 | 45.04% | 2,730 | 37.38% | 1,158 | 15.85% | 26 | 0.36% | 100 | 1.37% | 0 | 0.00% | 560 | 7.67% | 7,304 |
| Manistee | 2,176 | 46.16% | 1,341 | 28.45% | 875 | 18.56% | 261 | 5.54% | 61 | 1.29% | 0 | 0.00% | 835 | 17.71% | 4,714 |
| Marquette | 1,281 | 16.37% | 2,666 | 34.08% | 3,286 | 42.00% | 489 | 6.25% | 101 | 1.29% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,203[b] | -7.92% | 7,823 |
| Mason | 1,391 | 35.35% | 1,143 | 29.05% | 1,150 | 29.22% | 160 | 4.07% | 91 | 2.31% | 0 | 0.00% | 241[d] | 6.12% | 3,935 |
| Mecosta | 1,803 | 45.77% | 1,102 | 27.98% | 871 | 22.11% | 109 | 2.77% | 54 | 1.37% | 0 | 0.00% | 701 | 17.80% | 3,939 |
| Menominee | 1,440 | 32.58% | 1,207 | 27.31% | 1,560 | 35.29% | 181 | 4.10% | 32 | 0.72% | 0 | 0.00% | -120 | -2.71% | 4,420[c] |
| Midland | 783 | 24.98% | 987 | 31.48% | 1,292 | 41.21% | 32 | 1.02% | 34 | 1.08% | 7 | 0.22% | -305[b] | -9.73% | 3,135 |
| Missaukee | 568 | 27.75% | 777 | 37.96% | 607 | 29.65% | 68 | 3.32% | 26 | 1.27% | 0 | 0.00% | -170[e] | -8.31% | 2,047[f] |
| Monroe | 3,239 | 44.47% | 2,427 | 33.32% | 1,465 | 20.11% | 56 | 0.77% | 89 | 1.22% | 8 | 0.11% | 812 | 11.15% | 7,284 |
| Montcalm | 2,151 | 33.10% | 2,393 | 36.82% | 1,597 | 24.57% | 253 | 3.89% | 105 | 1.62% | 0 | 0.00% | -242 | -3.72% | 6,499 |
| Montmorency | 203 | 27.18% | 360 | 48.19% | 167 | 22.36% | 15 | 2.01% | 2 | 0.27% | 0 | 0.00% | -157 | -21.02% | 747 |
| Muskegon | 2,033 | 24.86% | 1,854 | 22.67% | 3,647 | 44.60% | 587 | 7.18% | 56 | 0.68% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,614[c] | -19.74% | 8,177 |
| Newaygo | 1,241 | 31.63% | 1,185 | 30.20% | 1,230 | 31.35% | 205 | 5.22% | 63 | 1.61% | 0 | 0.00% | 11[d] | 0.28% | 3,924 |
| Oakland | 4,707 | 41.13% | 4,161 | 36.36% | 2,178 | 19.03% | 192 | 1.68% | 207 | 1.81% | 0 | 0.00% | 546 | 4.77% | 11,455 |
| Oceana | 1,225 | 32.84% | 1,098 | 29.44% | 1,216 | 32.60% | 88 | 2.36% | 103 | 2.76% | 0 | 0.00% | 9[d] | 0.24% | 3,730 |
| Ogemaw | 430 | 25.10% | 582 | 33.98% | 586 | 34.21% | 72 | 4.20% | 43 | 2.51% | 0 | 0.00% | -4[b] | -0.24% | 1,713 |
| Ontonagon | 392 | 22.39% | 779 | 44.49% | 427 | 24.39% | 131 | 7.48% | 22 | 1.26% | 0 | 0.00% | -352[b] | -20.10% | 1,751 |
| Osceola | 1,132 | 32.10% | 1,432 | 40.60% | 806 | 22.85% | 82 | 2.32% | 75 | 2.13% | 0 | 0.00% | -300 | -8.51% | 3,527 |
| Oscoda | 74 | 21.51% | 131 | 38.08% | 137 | 39.83% | 1 | 0.29% | 1 | 0.29% | 0 | 0.00% | -6[b] | -1.75% | 344 |
| Otsego | 415 | 39.45% | 369 | 35.08% | 250 | 23.76% | 6 | 0.57% | 12 | 1.14% | 0 | 0.00% | 46 | 4.37% | 1,052 |
| Ottawa | 2,620 | 29.96% | 2,731 | 31.23% | 2,990 | 34.19% | 300 | 3.43% | 103 | 1.18% | 0 | 0.00% | -259[b] | -2.96% | 8,744 |
| Presque Isle | 458 | 23.40% | 820 | 41.90% | 615 | 31.43% | 56 | 2.86% | 8 | 0.41% | 0 | 0.00% | -205[e] | -10.47% | 1,957 |
| Roscommon | 251 | 41.28% | 143 | 23.52% | 178 | 29.28% | 26 | 4.28% | 9 | 1.48% | 1 | 0.16% | 73[d] | 12.01% | 608 |
| Saginaw | 6,691 | 37.11% | 5,613 | 31.13% | 4,309 | 23.90% | 1,267 | 7.03% | 151 | 0.84% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,078 | 5.98% | 18,031 |
| Sanilac | 1,905 | 26.57% | 2,734 | 38.13% | 2,051 | 28.60% | 227 | 3.17% | 254 | 3.54% | 0 | 0.00% | -683[e] | -9.53% | 7,171 |
| Schoolcraft | 423 | 22.60% | 659 | 35.20% | 439 | 23.45% | 241 | 12.87% | 110 | 5.88% | 0 | 0.00% | -220[e] | -11.75% | 1,872 |
| Shiawassee | 2,540 | 33.38% | 2,324 | 30.54% | 2,344 | 30.81% | 305 | 4.01% | 83 | 1.09% | 13 | 0.17% | 196[d] | 2.58% | 7,609 |
| St. Clair | 3,762 | 35.22% | 2,966 | 27.77% | 3,814 | 35.71% | 56 | 0.52% | 83 | 0.78% | 0 | 0.00% | -52[c] | -0.49% | 10,681 |
| St. Joseph | 2,713 | 44.54% | 1,388 | 22.79% | 1,932 | 31.72% | 39 | 0.64% | 10 | 0.16% | 9 | 0.15% | 781[d] | 12.82% | 6,091 |
| Tuscola | 1,762 | 23.89% | 2,674 | 36.25% | 2,756 | 37.36% | 55 | 0.75% | 129 | 1.75% | 0 | 0.00% | -82[b] | -1.11% | 7,376 |
| Van Buren | 2,248 | 30.98% | 2,393 | 32.98% | 2,294 | 31.61% | 236 | 3.25% | 86 | 1.19% | 0 | 0.00% | -99[e] | -1.37% | 7,257 |
| Washtenaw | 4,959 | 46.70% | 2,705 | 25.47% | 2,683 | 25.27% | 115 | 1.08% | 137 | 1.29% | 20 | 0.19% | 2,254 | 21.23% | 10,619 |
| Wayne | 33,284 | 37.20% | 28,452 | 31.80% | 23,720 | 26.51% | 3,454 | 3.86% | 565 | 0.63% | 0 | 0.00% | 4,832 | 5.40% | 89,475 |
| Wexford | 1,352 | 34.85% | 1,057 | 27.24% | 1,116 | 28.76% | 251 | 6.47% | 104 | 2.68% | 0 | 0.00% | 236[d] | 6.08% | 3,880 |
| Total | 194,017 | 35.35% | 169,963 | 30.96% | 155,372 | 28.30% | 21,398 | 3.90% | 7,811 | 1.42% | 359 | 0.07% | 24,054 | 4.38% | 548,921 |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
[edit]Counties that flipped from Republican to Progressive
[edit]Counties that flipped from Democratic to Progressive
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ↑ Because this election was a three-way race, there is considerable variation in who placed first, second, and third in each county. All margins are Ferris over Musselman unless otherwise noted.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Watkins' margin over Musselman
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Watkins' margin over Ferris
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Ferris's margin over Watkins
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Musselman's margin over Watkins
- ↑ Includes 1 write-in vote for Thomas Sunderland
References
[edit]- ↑ "Light Vote is Being Polled at State Primaries". The Flint Journal. August 27, 1912. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Martindale, Frederick C. (1913). "Canvass of Votes, Primary Election, August 27, 1912". Michigan Official Directory and Legislative Manual for the Years 1913-1914. pp. 388–389. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- 1 2 Michigan State Archives, Canvass of the votes given at the General Election, held in the State of Michigan on Tuesday, the Fifth day of November, 1912
- 1 2 Martindale, Frederick C. (1913). "Official Canvass of Votes, Election November 5, 1912". Michigan Official Directory and Legislative Manual for the Years 1913-1914. pp. 425–426. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
