1908 Missouri gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1908 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1908 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1908, and resulted in a victory for the Republican nominee, Missouri Attorney General Herbert S. Hadley, over the Democratic candidate, former Congressman William S. Cowherd, and several other candidates representing minor parties.

1908 Missouri gubernatorial election

← 1904 November 3, 1908 1912 →

Nominee Herbert S. Hadley William S. Cowherd Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 355,932 340,053 Percentage 49.73% 47.51%

County results Hadley:      40–50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Cowherd:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Joseph W. Folk Democratic Elected Governor Herbert S. Hadley Republican

This election broke a string of eleven consecutive Democratic governors,^[1] as it was the first election since 1870 which did not result in a victory by the Democratic nominee (no Democrat had run in 1870^[2]).

Results

1908 gubernatorial election, Missouri^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Herbert S. Hadley	355,932	49.73	+3.68
	Democratic	William S. Cowherd	340,053	47.51	−3.22
	Socialist	William Lincoln Garver	14,505	2.03	+0.32
	Prohibition	Herman Preston Faris	4,169	0.58	−0.29
	Populist	William A. Dillon	1,058	0.15	−0.27
Majority			15,879	2.22	−2.45
Turnout			715,720	23.04
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing