Who won California in the 1888 presidential election?

Harrison (Republican) carried California in 1888, winning its 8 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did California have in 1888?

California cast 8 electoral votes in the 1888 presidential election.

Did California vote for the national winner in 1888?

Yes. California backed Benjamin Harrison, who won the presidency that year.

Gilded AgeCA · 8 EV

1888

California: Harrison carries 8 EV.

California cast its 8 electoral votes for Harrison (Republican). National winner: Benjamin Harrison (Republican) — California voted with the national winner this cycle.

What happened in California, 1888

In 1888, California awarded its 8 electoral votes to Harrison of the Republican party. That placed California with the eventual winner: Benjamin Harrison went on to take the presidency, and California was part of his column.

California stayed in the Republican column for the 2nd straight cycle, extending a run that began in 1884. California did not move alone — neighboring Oregon and Nevada broke the same way in 1888. Over its 44 recorded presidential cycles, California has backed the Republican party more than any other — 22 times in all. The vote fell within the Gilded Age — Industrialization, narrow margins, and patronage politics.

Nationally, Benjamin Harrison finished with 233 of the 401 electoral votes to Grover Cleveland's 168. Though Benjamin Harrison won the Electoral College, Grover Cleveland drew more of the national popular vote — 48.63% to 47.8%.

The 1888 national map

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