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1912 United States presidential election in Tennessee

←  1908 November 5, 1912 1916 →
 
Nominee Woodrow Wilson William Howard Taft Theodore Roosevelt
Party Democratic Republican Progressive
Home state New Jersey Ohio New York
Running mate Thomas R. Marshall Nicholas M. Butler Hiram Johnson
Electoral vote 12 0 0
Popular vote 133,021 60,475 54,041
Percentage 52.80% 24.00% 21.45%

County Results

President before election

William Howard Taft
Republican

Elected President

Woodrow Wilson
Democratic

The 1912 United States presidential election in Tennessee took place on November 5, 1912, as part of the 1912 United States presidential election. Tennessee voters chose twelve representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

For over a century after the Civil War, Tennessee was divided according to political loyalties established in that war. Unionist regions covering almost all of East Tennessee, Kentucky Pennyroyal-allied Macon County, and the five West Tennessee Highland Rim counties of Carroll, Henderson, McNairy, Hardin and Wayne [1] voted Republican – generally by landslide margins – as they saw the Democratic Party as the “war party” who had forced them into a war they did not wish to fight. [2] Contrariwise, the rest of Middle and West Tennessee who had supported and driven the state’s secession was equally fiercely Democratic as it associated the Republicans with Reconstruction. [3] After the disfranchisement of the state’s African-American population by a poll tax was largely complete in the 1890s, [4] the Democratic Party was certain of winning statewide elections if united, [5] although unlike the Deep South Republicans would almost always gain thirty to forty percent of the statewide vote from mountain and Highland Rim support.

In the early 1910s, the state Democratic Party was divided over the issue of prohibition. One faction, known as the “Independent Democrats,” wanted the state's Four Mile Law (which banned the sale of liquor within four miles of any school) to apply statewide, while the other faction, known as the “Regular Democrats,” wanted the state's larger cities to be exempt from this law. In 1910, the Independent Democrats fled the party and formed a coalition, known as the “Fusionists,” with Republicans, helping to elect Governor Ben W. Hooper, [6] although the Republicans did not gain at other levels.

With the national Republican Party deeply split, divisions between the dominant eastern wing and the “black-and-tan” western wing of the state Republican Party were opened up as Theodore Roosevelt and governor of California Hiram Johnson planned “lily-whitism” for the South with the “ Bull Moose” party after Roosevelt broke from the GOP. [7] The “black-and-tan” wing being revitalised by Memphis banker and businessman Robert R. Church, Jr. [8] remained loyal to incumbent President William Howard Taft ( ROhio), ad running mate Columbia University President Nicholas Murray Butler, though it had many fewer votes due to disenfranchisement.

Pollsters always conceded Tennessee to Democratic nominees Princeton University President Woodrow Wilson and governor of Indiana Thomas R. Marshall. [9]

Analysis

In the end Wilson achieved just under 53 percent of the popular vote, a figure very similar to that which Democrats had achieved in Tennessee over the previous four elections. [10] Despite the appeal of Roosevelt’s lily-white policy in the many emerging sundown towns or counties of East Tennessee, [11] the “Bull Moose” candidate finished third in the state, 2.55 percentage points behind incumbent President Taft. [10]

As of the 2020 presidential election, this is the last election in which Hawkins County voted for a Democratic presidential candidate, as well as the last election in which Blount County, Washington County, Sevier County, Carter County, Jefferson County, Henderson County, Grainger County, Scott County, Unicoi County, and Johnson County did not vote for the Republican candidate. [12]

Results

1912 United States presidential election in Tennessee [10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Woodrow Wilson 133,021 52.80%
Republican William Howard Taft (incumbent) 60,475 24.00%
Progressive Theodore Roosevelt 54,041 21.45%
Socialist Eugene V. Debs 3,564 1.41%
Prohibition Eugene W. Chafin 832 [a] 0.33%
Total votes 251,933 100%

Results by county

1912 United States presidential election in Tennessee by county [13] [14]
County Thomas Woodrow Wilson
Democratic
William Howard Taft
Republican
Theodore Roosevelt
Progressive
Eugene Victor Debs
Socialist
Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # % # %
Anderson 597 25.52% 539 23.04% 1,148 49.08% 55 2.35% -551 [b] -23.56% 2,339
Bedford 2,305 59.39% 1,474 37.98% 96 2.47% 6 0.15% 831 21.41% 3,881
Benton 1,095 53.00% 652 31.56% 289 13.99% 30 1.45% 443 21.44% 2,066
Bledsoe 464 37.00% 379 30.22% 401 31.98% 10 0.80% 63 [b] 5.02% 1,254
Blount 836 26.83% 870 27.92% 1,410 45.25% 0 0.00% -540 [c] -17.33% 3,116
Bradley 645 38.21% 485 28.73% 548 32.46% 10 0.59% 97 [b] 5.75% 1,688
Campbell 554 26.37% 302 14.37% 1,193 56.78% 52 2.48% -639 [b] -30.41% 2,101
Cannon 1,184 63.32% 631 33.74% 48 2.57% 7 0.37% 553 29.57% 1,870
Carroll 1,653 40.80% 1,362 33.62% 967 23.87% 69 1.70% 291 7.18% 4,051
Carter 478 13.11% 1,243 34.08% 1,926 52.81% 0 0.00% -683 [c] -18.73% 3,647
Cheatham 1,096 70.30% 317 20.33% 123 7.89% 23 1.48% 779 49.97% 1,559
Chester 636 46.29% 312 22.71% 388 28.24% 38 2.77% 248 [b] 18.05% 1,374
Claiborne 903 34.61% 589 22.58% 1,098 42.09% 19 0.73% -195 [b] -7.47% 2,609
Clay 718 57.30% 440 35.12% 83 6.62% 12 0.96% 278 22.19% 1,253
Cocke 597 31.21% 757 39.57% 549 28.70% 10 0.52% -160 -8.36% 1,913
Coffee 1,705 73.59% 521 22.49% 63 2.72% 28 1.21% 1,184 51.10% 2,317
Crockett 1,297 48.31% 852 31.73% 509 18.96% 27 1.01% 445 16.57% 2,685
Cumberland 489 37.44% 372 28.48% 434 33.23% 11 0.84% 55 [b] 4.21% 1,306
Davidson 9,517 76.25% 1,428 11.44% 1,330 10.66% 206 1.65% 8,089 64.81% 12,481
Decatur 758 45.42% 405 24.27% 491 29.42% 15 0.90% 267 [b] 16.00% 1,669
DeKalb 1,394 48.40% 1,219 42.33% 265 9.20% 2 0.07% 175 6.08% 2,880
Dickson 1,689 67.97% 448 18.03% 293 11.79% 55 2.21% 1,241 49.94% 2,485
Dyer 1,469 66.26% 318 14.34% 348 15.70% 82 3.70% 1,121 [b] 50.56% 2,217
Fayette 830 84.52% 59 6.01% 93 9.47% 0 0.00% 737 [b] 75.05% 982
Fentress 399 33.78% 444 37.60% 317 26.84% 21 1.78% -45 -3.81% 1,181
Franklin 2,172 79.33% 370 13.51% 164 5.99% 32 1.17% 1,802 65.81% 2,738
Gibson 2,671 63.20% 1,002 23.71% 518 12.26% 35 0.83% 1,669 39.49% 4,226
Giles 3,081 60.44% 1,596 31.31% 419 8.22% 2 0.04% 1,485 29.13% 5,098
Grainger 841 33.88% 741 29.85% 900 36.26% 0 0.00% -59 [b] -2.38% 2,482
Greene 2,076 41.75% 1,650 33.18% 1,242 24.97% 5 0.10% 426 8.57% 4,973
Grundy 529 61.58% 122 14.20% 87 10.13% 121 14.09% 407 47.38% 859
Hamblen 722 48.39% 427 28.62% 325 21.78% 18 1.21% 295 19.77% 1,492
Hamilton 4,394 50.96% 1,493 17.32% 2,454 28.46% 281 3.26% 1,940 [b] 22.50% 8,622
Hancock 427 36.50% 659 56.32% 84 7.18% 0 0.00% -232 -19.83% 1,170
Hardeman 1,323 69.09% 320 16.71% 264 13.79% 8 0.42% 1,003 52.38% 1,915
Hardin 738 31.85% 955 41.22% 592 25.55% 32 1.38% -217 -9.37% 2,317
Hawkins 1,026 40.52% 828 32.70% 660 26.07% 18 0.71% 198 7.82% 2,532
Haywood 1,069 87.69% 34 2.79% 88 7.22% 28 2.30% 981 [b] 80.48% 1,219
Henderson 738 33.90% 473 21.73% 947 43.50% 19 0.87% -209 [b] -9.60% 2,177
Henry 2,526 65.44% 941 24.38% 282 7.31% 111 2.88% 1,585 41.06% 3,860
Hickman 1,288 56.49% 868 38.07% 111 4.87% 13 0.57% 420 18.42% 2,280
Houston 586 64.47% 172 18.92% 65 7.15% 86 9.46% 414 45.54% 909
Humphreys 1,283 69.54% 343 18.59% 189 10.24% 30 1.63% 940 50.95% 1,845
Jackson 1,344 57.49% 743 31.78% 251 10.74% 0 0.00% 601 25.71% 2,338
James 202 25.93% 169 21.69% 408 52.37% 0 0.00% -206 [b] -26.44% 779
Jefferson 514 25.66% 540 26.96% 940 46.93% 9 0.45% -400 [c] -19.97% 2,003
Johnson 256 11.56% 933 42.14% 1,025 46.30% 0 0.00% -92 [c] -4.16% 2,214
Knox 4,069 40.73% 1,984 19.86% 3,816 38.19% 122 1.22% 253 [b] 2.53% 9,991
Lake 499 75.04% 122 18.35% 31 4.66% 13 1.95% 377 56.69% 665
Lauderdale 1,020 55.83% 186 10.18% 593 32.46% 28 1.53% 427 [b] 23.37% 1,827
Lawrence 1,504 46.81% 878 27.33% 783 24.37% 48 1.49% 626 19.48% 3,213
Lewis 370 57.28% 126 19.50% 144 22.29% 6 0.93% 226 [b] 34.98% 646
Lincoln 2,651 77.27% 672 19.59% 98 2.86% 10 0.29% 1,979 57.68% 3,431
Loudon 415 38.04% 322 29.51% 348 31.90% 6 0.55% 67 [b] 6.14% 1,091
Macon 787 35.26% 1,251 56.05% 183 8.20% 11 0.49% -464 -20.79% 2,232
Madison 2,702 65.36% 1,036 25.06% 316 7.64% 80 1.94% 1,666 40.30% 4,134
Marion 810 45.28% 463 25.88% 442 24.71% 74 4.14% 347 19.40% 1,789
Marshall 1,551 76.59% 376 18.57% 87 4.30% 11 0.54% 1,175 58.02% 2,025
Maury 2,309 68.70% 615 18.30% 389 11.57% 48 1.43% 1,694 50.40% 3,361
McMinn 912 42.36% 667 30.98% 557 25.87% 17 0.79% 245 11.38% 2,153
McNairy 1,155 41.67% 616 22.22% 1,001 36.11% 0 0.00% 154 [b] 5.56% 2,772
Meigs 517 50.79% 337 33.10% 163 16.01% 1 0.10% 180 17.68% 1,018
Monroe 1,136 48.63% 721 30.86% 475 20.33% 4 0.17% 415 17.77% 2,336
Montgomery 1,638 67.32% 514 21.13% 199 8.18% 82 3.37% 1,124 46.20% 2,433
Moore 694 84.43% 116 14.11% 11 1.34% 1 0.12% 578 70.32% 822
Morgan 466 28.17% 312 18.86% 841 50.85% 35 2.12% -375 [b] -22.67% 1,654
Obion 2,152 75.17% 455 15.89% 193 6.74% 63 2.20% 1,697 59.27% 2,863
Overton 1,531 60.73% 743 29.47% 181 7.18% 66 2.62% 788 31.26% 2,521
Perry 664 56.32% 379 32.15% 94 7.97% 42 3.56% 285 24.17% 1,179
Pickett 411 45.67% 355 39.44% 134 14.89% 0 0.00% 56 6.22% 900
Polk 867 42.69% 533 26.24% 622 30.63% 9 0.44% 245 [b] 12.06% 2,031
Putnam 1,867 58.69% 923 29.02% 386 12.13% 5 0.16% 944 29.68% 3,181
Rhea 692 45.38% 253 16.59% 552 36.20% 28 1.84% 140 [b] 9.18% 1,525
Roane 570 29.26% 482 24.74% 826 42.40% 70 3.59% -256 [b] -13.14% 1,948
Robertson 2,287 74.57% 513 16.73% 142 4.63% 125 4.08% 1,774 57.84% 3,067
Rutherford 3,406 68.57% 1,217 24.50% 280 5.64% 64 1.29% 2,189 44.07% 4,967
Scott 160 9.74% 123 7.49% 1,234 75.15% 125 7.61% -1,074 [b] -65.41% 1,642
Sequatchie 354 57.56% 139 22.60% 83 13.50% 39 6.34% 215 34.96% 615
Sevier 341 9.17% 967 26.00% 2,410 64.80% 1 0.03% -1,443 [c] -38.80% 3,719
Shelby 6,732 64.11% 589 5.61% 2,951 28.10% 228 2.17% 3,781 [b] 36.01% 10,500
Smith 1,863 62.90% 915 30.89% 184 6.21% 0 0.00% 948 32.01% 2,962
Stewart 1,312 64.06% 485 23.68% 54 2.64% 197 9.62% 827 40.38% 2,048
Sullivan 2,413 57.07% 538 12.72% 1,265 29.92% 12 0.28% 1,148 [b] 27.15% 4,228
Sumner 2,477 72.94% 769 22.64% 89 2.62% 61 1.80% 1,708 50.29% 3,396
Tipton 987 55.29% 564 31.60% 222 12.44% 12 0.67% 423 23.70% 1,785
Trousdale 544 68.86% 211 26.71% 35 4.43% 0 0.00% 333 42.15% 790
Unicoi 170 13.87% 280 22.84% 765 62.40% 11 0.90% -485 [c] -39.56% 1,226
Union 404 21.12% 307 16.05% 1,192 62.31% 10 0.52% -788 [b] -41.19% 1,913
Van Buren 225 58.44% 106 27.53% 30 7.79% 24 6.23% 119 30.91% 385
Warren 1,745 74.26% 339 14.43% 250 10.64% 16 0.68% 1,406 59.83% 2,350
Washington 1,531 35.89% 1,134 26.58% 1,592 37.32% 9 0.21% -61 [b] -1.43% 4,266
Wayne 435 24.10% 971 53.80% 390 21.61% 9 0.50% -536 -29.70% 1,805
Weakley 2,810 63.03% 1,265 28.38% 350 7.85% 33 0.74% 1,545 34.66% 4,458
White 1,222 64.72% 330 17.48% 279 14.78% 57 3.02% 892 47.25% 1,888
Williamson 2,205 71.75% 797 25.94% 62 2.02% 9 0.29% 1,408 45.82% 3,073
Wilson 2,325 70.35% 682 20.64% 292 8.84% 6 0.18% 1,643 49.71% 3,305
Totals 133,021 52.71% 60,475 23.96% 54,041 21.41% 3,564 1.41% 72,546 28.75% 252,353

Notes

  1. ^ Prohibition votes were not separated by county but listed only as a statewide total.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac In this county where Roosevelt ran ahead of Taft, margin given is Wilson vote minus Roosevelt vote and percentage margin Wilson percentage minus Roosevelt percentage.
  3. ^ a b c d e f In this county where Wilson ran third behind both Taft and Roosevelt, margin given is Taft vote minus Roosevelt vote and percentage margin Taft percentage minus Roosevelt percentage.

References

  1. ^ Wright, John K. (October 1932). "Voting Habits in the United States: A Note on Two Maps". Geographical Review. 22 (4): 666–672.
  2. ^ Key (Jr.), Valdimer Orlando; Southern Politics in State and Nation (New York, 1949), pp. 282-283
  3. ^ Lyons, William; Scheb (II), John M.; Stair, Billy. Government and Politics in Tennessee. pp. 183–184. ISBN  1572331410.
  4. ^ Phillips, Kevin P.; The Emerging Republican Majority, pp. 208, 210 ISBN  9780691163246
  5. ^ Grantham, Dewey W. (Fall 1995). "Tennessee and Twentieth-Century American Politics". Tennessee Historical Quarterly. 54 (3): 210–229.
  6. ^ Langsdon, Phillip (2000). Tennessee: A Political History. Franklin, Tennessee: Hillsboro Press. pp. 287–295.
  7. ^ Link, Arthur S. (January 1947). "The Negro as a Factor in the Campaign of 1912". The Journal of Negro History. 32 (1). The University of Chicago Press: 81–99.
  8. ^ Heersink, Boris; Jenkins, Jeffrey A. Republican Party Politics and the American South, 1865-1968. p. 292. ISBN  1107158435.
  9. ^ "Taft Shows Increasing Strength in a Number of Sections and May "Nose Out" the Colonel for Second Place". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 20, 1912. p. 19.
  10. ^ a b c "1912 Presidential Election Results – Tennessee".
  11. ^ Loewen, James A. Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism. pp. 72–74. ISBN  0743294483.
  12. ^ Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
  13. ^ "1912 Presidential Election Popular Vote". Géoelections. (.xlsx file for €15)
  14. ^ "Popular Vote for Eugene V. Debs, 1912". Géoelections. (.xlsx file for €15)