1910 California gubernatorial election

The 1910 California gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1910. It saw Republican Hiram Johnson elected as the state's governor. Johnson, the favored candidate of the progressive faction of the GOP and the Lincoln–Roosevelt League, had defeated Charles F. Curry and Alden Anderson in the primary for the Republican nomination.

1910 California gubernatorial election

← 1906 November 8, 1910 1914 →

Nominee Hiram Johnson Theodore Arlington Bell J. Stitt Wilson Party Republican Democratic Socialist Popular vote 177,191 154,835 47,819 Percentage 45.9% 40.1% 12.4%

County results Johnson:      40–50%      50–60%      80–90% Bell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election James Gillett Republican Elected Governor Hiram Johnson Republican

The governor of California at the time of this election was Republican James Gillett. Gillett's nomination to top of the Republican ticket was controversial in 1906, and during the previous campaign he was consistently accused of being in the pocket of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Despite this, he served a term as governor and accomplished several things, including being a leader in the creation of the state's highway system, and developing parole guidelines for prisoners.^[1] Despite this he was suffering financially while being governor, and decided not to seek a second term. He instead opted to pursue a career in law.^[2]

Simone P. Meads was nominated by the Prohibition Party for governor in September of 1910 at the party's convention in San Jose, California^[3] Meads was a public school teacher and principal for multiple schools in Oakland. In addition to being a teacher, Meads was also a published author, writing several books about life in Oakland, and educational teaching materials.^[4] In addition to the prohibition of alcohol, the party also supported the public ownership of utilities, women's suffrage, and the implementation of referendum, reform, and recall ballot measures.^[5]

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