1884 Election Results Cleveland vs Blaine

The Democratic convention was held in Chicago in July 1884. Grover Cleveland was the front-runner from the opening of the convention. The only significant opposition to Cleveland was from the New York Tammany organization. Cleveland received the nomination on the second ballot with 683 votes. Cleveland's opponent in the election was James Blaine of Maine. President Arthur attempted to secure the Republican nomination but had little support. Signing the Civil Service Reform Act after the assassination of President Garfield had lost him support within the party. He could not fall back on the help of the reform wing party since he had never been a member of that wing. The only individual at the convention who had a chance to receive nomination other than Blaine was General Sherman. He ended speculation that he would run by making what has become known as a Sherman statement: "If nominated, I will not accept, and if elected I will not serve." Blaine won the nomination on the fourth ballot.

There were no major substantive issues that separated the candidates; thus, the election turned on the candidates themselves. Blaine was attacked for his close relations with the railroad interests, from which it was claimed that he received financial benefits. Blaine's opponents published what were called the "Mulligan Letters," which purported to show that Blaine received bribes. Cleveland, on the other hand, was attacked for being immoral for his affair before his marriage with Maria Halpin, which produced a son. The Republicans would chant "Ma Ma, Where's my Papa." Cleveland was able to defuse the story by telling the truth. Cleveland received the support of many reformers including several leading Republicans. Cleveland won the election in a close vote.

 

Participation of Eligible Voters:77.5%

Democratic Convention
Republican Convention

 

State results in 1884

Electoral Results in 1884

Alabama Grover Cleveland 92,736 60.4 James Blaine 59,444 38.7 Benjamin Butler 762 0.5 John St John 610 0.4
Arkansas Grover Cleveland 72,734 57.8 James Blaine 51,198 40.7 Benjamin Butler 1,847 1.5 John St John -
California Grover Cleveland 89,288 45.3 James Blaine 102,369 52.0 Benjamin Butler 2,037 1.0 John St John 2,965 1.5
Colorado Grover Cleveland 27,723 41.7 James Blaine 36,084 54.2 Benjamin Butler 1,956 2.9 John St John 756 1.1
Connecticut Grover Cleveland 67,167 48.9 James Blaine 65,879 48.0 Benjamin Butler 1,682 1.2 John St John 2,493 1.8
Delaware Grover Cleveland 16,957 56.6 James Blaine 12,953 43.2 Benjamin Butler 10 John St John 64 0.2
Florida Grover Cleveland 31,769 53.0 James Blaine 28,031 46.7 Benjamin Butler - John St John 72 0.1
Georgia Grover Cleveland 94,667 65.9 James Blaine 48,603 33.8 Benjamin Butler 145 0.1 John St John 195 0.1
Illinois Grover Cleveland 312,351 46.4 James Blaine 337,469 50.2 Benjamin Butler 10,776 1.6 John St John 12,074 1.8
Indiana Grover Cleveland 244,989 49.8 James Blaine 238,466 48.5 Benjamin Butler 8,194 1.7 John St John -
Iowa Grover Cleveland 177,316 45.1 James Blaine 197,089 50.1 Benjamin Butler 16,341 4.2 John St John 1,499 0.4
Kansas Grover Cleveland 90,111 35.9 James Blaine 154,410 61.5 Benjamin Butler 1,691 0.7 John St John 4,311 1.7
Kentucky Grover Cleveland 152,961 55.6 James Blaine 118,690 43.2 Benjamin Butler 120 John St John 3,139 1.1
Louisiana Grover Cleveland 62,594 55.3 James Blaine 46,347 40.9 Benjamin Butler 3,955 3.5 John St John 338 0.3
Maine Grover Cleveland 52,153 41.0 James Blaine 72,217 56.8 Benjamin Butler 578 0.5 John St John 2,160 1.7
Maryland Grover Cleveland 96,866 46.2 James Blaine 85,748 40.9 Benjamin Butler 24,382 11.6 John St John 2,827 1.3
Massachusetts Grover Cleveland 122,352 38.1 James Blaine 146,724 45.7 Benjamin Butler 42,252 13.2 John St John 9,923 3.1
Michigan Grover Cleveland 149,835 41.1 James Blaine 192,669 52.9 Benjamin Butler 3,583 1.0 John St John 18,403 5.0
Minnesota Grover Cleveland 70,065 37.6 James Blaine 111,685 59.9 Benjamin Butler - John St John 4,684 2.5
Mississippi Grover Cleveland 77,653 64.3 James Blaine 43,035 35.7 Benjamin Butler - John St John -
Missouri Grover Cleveland 236,023 53.5 James Blaine 203,081 46.0 Benjamin Butler - John St John 2,164 0.5
Nebraska Grover Cleveland 54,391 40.5 James Blaine 76,912 57.3 Benjamin Butler - John St John 2,899 2.2
Nevada Grover Cleveland 5,577 43.6 James Blaine 7,176 56.2 Benjamin Butler 26 0.2 John St John -
Now Hampshire Grover Cleveland 39,198 46.3 James Blaine 43,254 51.1 Benjamin Butler 554 0.7 John St John 1,580 1.9
New Jersey Grover Cleveland 127,747 49.0 James Blaine 123,436 47.3 Benjamin Butler 3,486 1.3 John St John 6,156 2.4
New York Grover Cleveland 563,048 48.2 James Blaine 562,001 48.2 Benjamin Butler 16,955 1.5 John St John 24,999 2.1
North Carolina Grover Cleveland 142,905 53.3 James Blaine 125,021 46.6 Benjamin Butler - John St John 430 0.2
Ohio Grover Cleveland 368,280 46.9 James Blaine 400,092 51.0 Benjamin Butler 5,179 0.7 John St John 11,069 1.4
Oregon Grover Cleveland 24,598 46.7 James Blaine 26,845 51.0 Benjamin Butler 726 1.4 John St John 479 0.9
Pennsylvania Grover Cleveland 394,772 43.9 James Blaine 472,792 52.5 Benjamin Butler 16,992 1.9 John St John 15,154 1.7
Rhode Island Grover Cleveland 12,391 37.8 James Blaine 19,030 58.1 Benjamin Butler 422 1.3 John St John 928 2.8
South Carolina Grover Cleveland 69,845 75.3 James Blaine 21,730 23.4 Benjamin Butler - John St John -
Tennessee Grover Cleveland 133,770 51.5 James Blaine 124,101 47.7 Benjamin Butler 957 0.4 John St John 1,150 0.4
Texas Grover Cleveland 223,209 69.5 James Blaine 91,234 28.4 Benjamin Butler 3,310 1.0 John St John 3,489 1.1
Vermont Grover Cleveland 17,331 29.2 James Blaine 39,514 66.5 Benjamin Butler 785 1.3 John St John 1,752 2.9
Virginia Grover Cleveland 145,491 51.1 James Blaine 139,356 48.9 Benjamin Butler - John St John 130
West Virginia Grover Cleveland 67,311 50.9 James Blaine 63,096 47.7 Benjamin Butler 799 0.6 John St John 939 0.7
Wisconsin Grover Cleveland 146,447 45.8 James Blaine 161,155 50.4 Benjamin Butler 4,594 1.4 John St John 7,651 2.4

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