1928 Election Results Hoover VS Smith

When Coolidge announced that he would not run again the road was open for a new Republican nominee. Herbert Hoover was nominated on the first ballot at the Republican convention in Kansas City. After World War I, Hoover was the food administrator for Europe and Secretary of Commerce in the Harding and Coolidge Administrations. In his acceptance speech, Hoover stated that: "We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of this land... We shall soon with the help of God be in sight of the day when poverty will be banished from this land."

Alfred Smith was nominated by the Democrats on the second ballot, at their convention in Houston. Smith was the first Roman Catholic to run for the presidency. The significant issues in the 1928 campaign were religion and prohibition. Attacks were made against Smith, claiming that if elected, he would make Catholicism the national religion. Smith campaigned against prohibition, while Hoover supported its continuation. One of the slogans used by Hoover campaigners was "A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage."

The 1928 campaign was the first in which radio played an important role. While Smith was a better campaigner in person, Hoover presented himself more effectively on the radio. The combination of the continued prosperity, combined with a country that was not yet ready to elect a Catholic President ensured that Hoover went on to an overwhelming victory.

 

Participation of Eligible Voters 56.9%

Democratic Convention
Republican Convention

 

State results in 1924

Electoral Results in 1928

Alabama Herbert Hoover 120,725 48.5 Alfred Smith 127,796 51.3
Arizona Herbert Hoover 52,533 57.6 Alfred Smith 38,537 42.2
Arkansas Herbert Hoover 77,784 39.3 Alfred Smith 119,196 60.3
California Herbert Hoover 1,162,323 64.7 Alfred Smith 614,365 34.2
Colorado Herbert Hoover 253,872 64.7 Alfred Smith 133,131 33.9
Connecticut Herbert Hoover 296,641 53.6 Alfred Smith 252,085 45.6
Delaware Herbert Hoover 68,860 65.8 Alfred Smith 35,354 33.8
Florida Herbert Hoover 145,860 57.9 Alfred Smith 101,764 40.4
Georgia Herbert Hoover 101,800 44.0 Alfred Smith 129,604 56.0
Idaho Herbert Hoover 97,322 64.2 Alfred Smith 52,926 34.9
Illinois Herbert Hoover 1,769,141 56.9 Alfred Smith 1,313,817 42.3
Indiana Herbert Hoover 848,290 59.7 Alfred Smith 562,691 39.6
Iowa Herbert Hoover 623,570 61.8 Alfred Smith 379,011 37.6
Kansas Herbert Hoover 513,672 72.0 Alfred Smith 193,003 27.1
Kentucky Herbert Hoover 558,064 59.3 Alfred Smith 381,070 40.5
Louisiana Herbert Hoover 51,160 23.7 Alfred Smith 164,655 76.3
Maine Herbert Hoover 179,923 68.6 Alfred Smith 81,179 31.0
Maryland Herbert Hoover 301,479 57.1 Alfred Smith 223,626 42.3
Massachusetts Herbert Hoover 775,566 49.2 Alfred Smith 792,758 50.2
Michigan Herbert Hoover 965,396 70.4 Alfred Smith 396,762 28.9
Minnesota Herbert Hoover 560,977 57.8 Alfred Smith 396,451 40.8
Mississippi Herbert Hoover 27,030 17.8 Alfred Smith 124,538 82.2
Missouri Herbert Hoover 834,080 55.6 Alfred Smith 662,684 44.2
Montana Herbert Hoover 113,300 58.4 Alfred Smith 78,578 40.5
Nebraska Herbert Hoover 345,745 63.2 Alfred Smith 197,950 36.2
Nevada Herbert Hoover 18,327 56.5 Alfred Smith 14,090 43.5
New Hampshire Herbert Hoover 115,404 58.7 Alfred Smith 80,715 41.0
New Jersey Herbert Hoover 926,050 59.8 Alfred Smith 616,517 39.8
New Mexico Herbert Hoover 69,708 59.0 Alfred Smith 48,211 40.8
Now York Herbert Hoover 2,193,344 49.8 Alfred Smith 2,089,863 47.4
North Carolina Herbert Hoover 348,923 54.9 Alfred Smith 286,227 45.1
North Dakota Herbert Hoover 131,419 54.8 Alfred Smith 106,648 44.5
Ohio Herbert Hoover 1,627,546 64.9 Alfred Smith 864,210 34.5
Oklahoma Herbert Hoover 394,046 63.7 Alfred Smith 219,174 35.4
Oregon Herbert Hoover 205,341 64.2 Alfred Smith 109,223 34.1
Pennsylvania Herbert Hoover 2,055,382 65.2 Alfred Smith 1,067,586 33.9
Rhode Island Herbert Hoover 117,522 49.5 Alfred Smith 118,973 50.2
South Carolina Herbert Hoover 5,858 8.5 Alfred Smith 62,700 91.4
South Dakota Herbert Hoover 157,603 60.2 Alfred Smith 102,660 39.2
Tennessee Herbert Hoover 195,388 55.3 Alfred Smith 157,143 44.5
Texas Herbert Hoover 372,324 51.9 Alfred Smith 344,542 48.0
Utah Herbert Hoover 94,618 53.6 Alfred Smith 80,985 45.9
Vermont Herbert Hoover 90,404 66.9 Alfred Smith 44,440 32.9
Virginia Herbert Hoover 164,609 53.9 Alfred Smith 140,146 45.9
Washington Herbert Hoover 335,844 67.1 Alfred Smith 156,772 31.3
West Virginia Herbert Hoover 375,551 58.4 Alfred Smith 263,784 41.0
Wisconsin Herbert Hoover 544,205 53.5 Alfred Smith 450,259 44.3
Wyoming Herbert Hoover 52,748 63.7 Alfred Smith 29,299 35.4

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