1908 Election Results Taft vs Bryan

William Howard Taft was President Roosevelt's chosen successor. Taft received the nomination on the first ballot. Taft was a reluctant candidate. He felt he had no choice, but to run for office. However, the Republican "Old Guard" nominated one of their own, Congressman James Sherman, to be the Republican Vice Presidential candidate. When the Democrats met at their convention in Denver, the party felt they had no choice but to nominate William Jennings Bryan as their presidential candidate once again. As a result, Bryan received the Democratic nomination on the first ballot. The 1908 presidential campaign got off to a slow start. William Taft was not an enthusiastic campaigner. Bryan did not seem as driven as he had been in past campaigns. Due to President Roosevelt's continued prodding, Taft became more engaged in the campaign. This was the first time both candidates were actively involved in the campaign.

The primary focus of the campaign was choosing the candidate who could best carry out the vastly popular policies of Theodore Roosevelt. Although Taft was Roosevelt's hand-picked successor, Bryan claimed he was more likely to continue Roosevelt's policies. However, Bryan made a major mistake when he called for the socialization of the railroads. Taft won an overwhelming victory.

 

Participation of Eligible Voters:65.2%

Democratic Convention
Republican Convention
Cartoon

 

State results in 1908

Electoral Results in 1908

Alabama William Taft 25,561 24.3 William Bryan 74,391 70.7 Eugene Debs 1,450 1.4 Eugene Chafin 690 0.7
Arkansas William Taft 56,684 37.3 William Bryan 87,020 57.3 Eugene Debs 5,842 3.8 Eugene Chafin 1,026 0.7
California William Taft 214,398 55.5 William Bryan 127,492 33.0 Eugene Debs 28,659 7.4 Eugene Chafin 11,770 3.0
Colorado William Taft 123,693 46.9 William Bryan 126,644 48.0 Eugene Debs 7,960 3.0 Eugene Chafin 5,559 2.1
Connecticut William Taft 112,815 59.4 William Bryan 68,255 35.9 Eugene Debs 5,113 2.7 Eugene Chafin 2,380 1.3
Delaware William Taft 25,014 52.1 William Bryan 22,055 45.9 Eugene Debs 239 0.5 Eugene Chafin 670 1.4
Florida William Taft 10,654 21.6 William Bryan 31,104 63.0 Eugene Debs 3,747 7.6 Eugene Chafin 1,356 2.7
Georgia William Taft 41,355 31.2 William Bryan 72,350 54.6 Eugene Debs 584 0.4 Eugene Chafin 1,452 1.1
Idsho William Taft 52,621 54.1 William Bryan 36,162 37.2 Eugene Debs 6,400 6.6 Eugene Chafin 1,986 2.0
Illinois William Taft 629,932 54.5 William Bryan 450,810 39.0 Eugene Debs 34,711 3.0 Eugene Chafin 29,364 2.5
Indiana William Taft 348,993 48.4 William Bryan 338,262 46.9 Eugene Debs 13,476 1.9 Eugene Chafin 18,036 2.5
laws William Taft 275,210 55.6 William Bryan 200,771 40.6 Eugene Debs 8,287 1.7 Eugene Chafin 9,837 2.0
Kansas William Taft 197,316 52.5 William Bryan 161,209 42.9 Eugene Debs 12,420 3.3 Eugene Chafin 5,030 1.3
Kentucky William Taft 235,711 48.0 William Bryan 244,092 49.7 Eugene Debs 4,093 0.8 Eugene Chafin 5,885 1.2
Louisiana William Taft 8,958 11.9 William Bryan 63,568 84.6 Eugene Debs 2,514 3.3 Eugene Chafin -
Maine William Taft 66,987 63.0 William Bryan 35,403 33.3 Eugene Debs 1,758 1.7 Eugene Chafin 1,487 1.4
Maryland William Taft 116,513 48.8 William Bryan 115,908 48.6 Eugene Debs 2,323 1.0 Eugene Chafin 3,302 1.4
Massachusetts William Taft 265,966 58.2 William Bryan 155,533 34.0 Eugene Debs 10,778 2.4 Eugene Chafin 4,373 1.0
Michigan William Taft 333,313 61.9 William Bryan 174,619 32.4 Eugene Debs 11,527 2.1 Eugene Chafin 16,785 3.1
Minnesota William Taft 195,843 59.3 William Bryan 109,401 33.1 Eugene Debs 14,472 4.4 Eugene Chafin 10,114 3.1
Mississippi William Taft 4,363 6.5 William Bryan 60,287 90.1 Eugene Debs 978 1.5 Eugene Chafin -
Missouri William Taft 347,203 48.5 William Bryan 346,574 48.4 Eugene Debs 15,431 2.2 Eugene Chafin 4,209 0.6
Montana William Taft 32,471 46.9 William Bryan 29,511 42.6 Eugene Debs 5,920 8.6 Eugene Chafin 838 1.2
Nebraska William Taft 126,997 47.6 William Bryan 131,099 49.1 Eugene Debs 3,524 1.3 Eugene Chafin 5,179 1.9
Nevada William Taft 10,775 43.9 William Bryan 11,212 45.7 Eugene Debs 2,103 8.6 Eugene Chafin -
New Hampshire William Taft 53,144 59.3 William Bryan 33,655 37.6 Eugene Debs 1,299 1.4 Eugene Chafin 905 1.0
Now Jersey William Taft 265,298 56.8 William Bryan 182,522 39.1 Eugene Debs 10,249 2.2 Eugene Chafin 4,930 1.1
Now York William Taft 870,070 53.1 William Bryan 667,468 40.7 Eugene Debs 38,451 2.3 Eugene Chafin 22,667 1.4
North Carolina William Taft 114,887 45.5 William Bryan 136,928 54.2 Eugene Debs 372 0.1 Eugene Chafin 354 0.1
North Dakota William Taft 57,680 61.0 William Bryan 32,884 34.8 Eugene Debs 2,421 2.6 Eugene Chafin 1,496 1.6
Ohio William Taft 572,312 51.0 William Bryan 502,721 44.8 Eugene Debs 33,795. 3.0 Eugene Chafin 11,402 1.0
Oklahoma William Taft 110,473 43.4 William Bryan 122,362 48.1 Eugene Debs 21,425 8.4 Eugene Chafin -
Oregon William Taft 62,454 56.5 William Bryan 37,792 34.2 Eugene Debs 7,322 6.6 Eugene Chafin 2,682 2.4
Pennsylvania William Taft 745,779 58.8 William Bryan 448,782 35.4 Eugene Debs 33,914 2.7 Eugene Chafin 36,694 2.9
Rhode Island William Taft 43,942 60.8 William Bryan 24,706 34.2 Eugene Debs 1,365 1.9 Eugene Chafin 1,016 1.4
South Carolina William Taft 3,945 5.9 William Bryan 62,288 93.8 Eugene Debs 100 0.2 Eugene Chafin -
South Dakota William Taft 67,536 58.8 William Bryan 40,266 35.1 Eugene Debs 2,846 2.5 Eugene Chafin 4,039 3.5
Tennessee William Taft 117,977 45.9 William Bryan 135,608 52.7 Eugene Debs 1,870 0.7 Eugene Chafin 301 0.1
Texas William Taft 65,605 22.4 William Bryan 216,662 74.0 Eugene Debs 7,779 2.7 Eugene Chafin 1,626 0.6
Utah William Taft 61,165 56.2 William Bryan 42,610 39.2 Eugene Debs 4,890 4.5 Eugene Chafin -
Vermont William Taft 39,552 75.1 William Bryan 11,496 21.8 Eugene Debs - Eugene Chafin 799 1.5
Virginia William Taft 52,572 36.4 William Bryan 82,946 60.5 Eugene Debs 255 0.2 Eugene Chafin 1,111 0.8
Washington William Taft 106,062 57.8 William Bryan 58,383 31.8 Eugene Debs 14,177 7.7 Eugene Chafin 4,700 2.6
West Virginia William Taft 137,869 53.4 William Bryan 111,410 43.2 Eugene Debs 3,679 1.4 Eugene Chafin 5,140 2.0
Wisconsin William Taft 247,744 54.5 William Bryan 166,662 36.7 Eugene Debs 28,147 6.2 Eugene Chafin 11,565 2.5
Wyoming William Taft 20,846 55.4 William Bryan 14,918 39.7 Eugene Debs 1,715 4.6 Eugene Chafin 66 0.2