The 1916 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1916. Republican nominee Albert Sleeper defeated Democratic nominee Edwin F. Sweet with 55.83% of the vote.

Primary election Michigan held primary elections on August 29, 1916.

Democratic party By late July, it was unclear whether or not incumbent Democratic governor Woodbridge N. Ferris would run for a third term. Democrats had considered Charles H. Bender, president of City Trust & Savings Bank, and Edwin F. Sweet, United States deputy secretary of commerce. Both men were from Grand Rapids. On July 25, a meeting of the Democratic state central committee had favored Bender for the nomination. The committee was against asking Henry Ford to run, as he was uninterested in politics. By this time, it was known Governor Ferris would not be running for re-election. Ferris had endorsed Bender's nomination. On July 26, the committee had tentatively selected Bender as their candidate for governor.

Bender had earlier said he did not want to be a candidate. Bender said that he was more interested in business than politics. By July 27, Democratic Committee Chairman A. E. Stevenson and Governor Ferris urged Bender to run, though he was not swayed. Stevenson did not accept Bender's refusal as final and, by July 28, began circulating petitions as preparation for Bender's name to appear on the primary ballot.

By July 31, Bender still refused the nomination, however, he was the only name filed to appear on the Democratic primary ballot for the election in August. Bender ultimately allowed his name to be on the ballot, but had made it clear that he would resign as nominee after the election. In the primary election, despite Ford's disinterest and his name not appearing on the ballot, he received 1,344 votes. He also received 137 votes in the Republican primary. His candidacy was promoted with paper slips.

Bender's refusal left the responsibility of choosing a gubernatorial nominee with the state central committee. Ford was asked by the committee to accept the nomination, though he refused. The committee had decided to return to a potential candidate from earlier consideration, Edwin F. Sweet. After the primary, Sweet had received a telegram asking him to run, though he could not give an immediate answer, as he was in North Dakota, and he'd have to consult with U. S. Secretary of Commerce William C. Redfield in Washington, D.C. before he could consider it. By August 17, Governor Ferris had endorsed Sweet's nomination. On September 2, Sweet agreed to run for governor, after being urged to run by President Woodrow Wilson via telegram. On September 21, Sweet's nomination was confirmed by the state central committee. By September 26, Sweet resigned as deputy secretary, and left Washington for Michigan to begin his campaign.

Candidates Charles H. Bender, banker from Grand Rapids

Results

Republican party Former state treasurer Albert E. Sleeper emerged victorious in a crowded primary field.

Candidates Gerrit J. Diekema, former representative from Michigan's 5th congressional district Washington Gardner, former commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic Frank B. Leland, member of University of Michigan Board of Regents Albert E. Sleeper, former State Treasurer of Michigan Sybrant Wesselius, former member of Michigan House of Representatives

Results

Minor parties

General election

Candidates Major party candidates Albert Sleeper, Republican Edwin F. Sweet, Democratic Other candidates Ernest J. Moore, Socialist E. W. Woodruff, Prohibition James R. Murray, Socialist Labor

Results

Results by county After this election, Kalamazoo County would not vote Democratic again until 1986. County Albert SleeperRepublican Edwin F. SweetDemocratic Ernest J. MooreSocialist E. W. WoodruffProhibition James R. MurraySocialist Labor Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % # % # %Alcona66460.86%38134.92%343.12%100.92%20.18%28325.94%1,091Alger78054.81%56139.42%553.87%251.76%20.14%21915.39%1,423Allegan4,92555.94%3,52940.08%2172.46%1181.34%100.11%1,39615.86%8,804Alpena2,12060.36%1,33337.96%481.37%100.28%10.03%78722.41%3,512Antrim1,36354.78%93037.38%1445.79%431.73%80.32%43317.40%2,488Arenac1,06254.27%80941.34%532.71%301.53%30.15%25312.93%1,957Baraga86966.18%35026.66%836.32%80.61%30.23%51939.53%1,313Barry3,16953.86%2,51542.74%1001.70%921.56%50.08%65411.11%5,884Bay7,31555.72%5,38941.05%3182.42%640.49%410.31%1,92614.67%13,127Benzie95449.71%73038.04%1608.34%643.34%110.57%22411.67%1,919Berrien7,76655.37%5,85041.71%2221.58%1150.82%670.48%1,91613.66%14,026Branch2,96246.57%3,21750.58%931.46%851.34%30.05%-255-4.01%6,360Calhoun7,11945.86%7,54848.62%6454.15%1631.05%490.32%-429-2.76%15,524Cass2,60348.13%2,59648.00%1502.77%510.94%80.15%70.13%5,408Charlevoix1,96456.93%1,10832.12%3038.78%611.77%140.41%85624.81%3,450Cheboygan1,57350.96%1,41245.74%782.53%200.65%40.13%1615.22%3,087Chippewa2,62159.94%1,58536.25%1162.65%461.05%50.11%1,03623.69%4,373Clare1,07455.02%77939.91%683.48%291.49%20.10%29515.11%1,952Clinton3,50262.20%2,03036.06%380.67%601.07%00.00%1,47226.15%5,630Crawford47453.08%39444.12%182.02%60.67%10.11%808.96%893Delta3,29563.38%1,59630.70%2464.73%420.81%200.38%1,69932.68%5,199Dickinson2,57164.78%1,14628.87%2065.19%411.03%50.13%1,42535.90%3,969Eaton3,97753.01%3,32444.31%1051.40%831.11%130.17%6538.70%7,502Emmet1,81752.77%1,31538.19%2577.46%411.19%130.38%50214.58%3,443Genesee10,10852.15%8,59444.34%4272.20%1850.95%420.22%1,5147.81%19,383Gladwin1,05960.58%65037.19%00.00%341.95%40.23%40923.40%1,748Gogebic2,33458.09%1,42135.37%1253.11%1323.29%60.15%91322.72%4,018Grand Traverse2,04148.32%1,77742.07%3227.62%591.40%250.59%2646.25%4,224Gratiot3,53153.19%2,89643.62%550.83%1111.67%60.09%6359.56%6,639Hillsdale3,54149.69%3,37747.39%420.59%1642.30%20.03%1642.30%7,126Houghton8,59064.28%4,06130.39%2712.03%4263.19%130.10%4,52933.89%13,363Huron5,26777.70%1,40720.76%650.96%390.58%10.01%3,86056.94%6,779Ingham8,73254.48%7,02343.81%30.02%2161.35%550.34%1,70910.66%16,029Ionia4,14950.68%3,77146.07%1261.54%1361.66%40.05%3784.62%8,186Iosco1,09361.51%64936.52%201.13%140.79%10.06%44424.99%1,777Iron2,26270.51%79124.66%1283.99%210.65%50.16%1,47145.85%3,208Isabella2,83656.36%2,04140.56%651.29%851.69%50.10%79515.80%5,032Jackson7,69049.23%7,55248.34%1931.24%1691.08%180.12%1380.88%15,622Kalamazoo6,60746.25%6,73547.14%7485.24%1771.24%190.13%-128-0.90%14,286Kalkaska74957.75%43733.69%796.09%282.16%40.31%31224.06%1,297Kent16,49543.45%20,16953.13%8612.27%4231.11%170.04%-3,674-9.68%37,965Keweenaw88279.96%17415.78%211.90%242.18%20.18%70864.19%1,103Lake60762.32%34034.91%252.57%20.21%00.00%26727.41%974Lapeer3,52064.56%1,80533.11%280.51%891.63%100.18%1,71531.46%5,452Leelanau1,01054.92%74940.73%542.94%231.25%30.16%26114.19%1,839Lenawee6,33052.62%5,46545.43%810.67%1451.21%60.05%8657.19%12,030Livingston2,54652.31%2,25546.33%60.12%591.21%10.02%2915.98%4,867Luce57569.87%22827.70%60.73%141.70%00.00%34742.16%823Mackinac1,12154.92%88943.56%281.37%30.15%00.00%23211.37%2,041Macomb4,68959.75%3,01538.42%450.57%921.17%70.09%1,67421.33%7,848Manistee2,50153.07%2,04743.43%1082.29%471.00%100.21%4549.63%4,713Marquette5,53267.24%2,26027.47%3113.78%1081.31%160.19%3,27239.77%8,227Mason2,37057.95%1,66940.81%00.00%481.17%00.00%70117.14%4,090Mecosta2,62860.59%1,38231.87%2475.70%771.78%30.07%1,24628.73%4,337Menominee3,01263.60%1,58033.36%1022.15%390.82%20.04%1,43230.24%4,736Midland2,22760.29%1,35636.71%661.79%411.11%40.11%87123.58%3,694Missaukee1,24958.28%84739.52%261.21%190.89%20.09%40218.76%2,143Monroe3,90148.02%4,11250.62%350.43%740.91%10.01%-211-2.60%8,123Montcalm3,93056.30%2,82040.40%981.40%1211.73%110.16%1,11015.90%6,980Montmorency45260.19%23431.16%547.19%91.20%20.27%21829.03%751Muskegon6,16756.00%4,08737.11%6105.54%1211.10%280.25%2,08018.89%11,013Newaygo2,51259.68%1,47535.04%1443.42%671.59%110.26%1,03724.64%4,209Oakland8,14954.39%6,37142.52%2801.87%1631.09%190.13%1,77811.87%14,982Oceana2,01455.21%1,37337.64%1754.80%762.08%100.27%64117.57%3,648Ogemaw98657.06%65137.67%382.20%523.01%10.06%33519.39%1,728Ontonagon1,33358.46%79434.82%1205.26%281.23%50.22%53923.64%2,280Osceola2,29864.14%1,22834.27%140.39%421.17%10.03%1,07029.86%3,583Oscoda27061.64%15936.30%71.60%20.46%00.00%11125.34%438Otsego63958.41%42839.12%111.01%131.19%30.27%21119.29%1,094Ottawa5,40954.91%4,14442.07%2142.17%760.77%70.07%1,26512.84%9,850Presque Isle1,57368.15%66128.64%562.43%80.35%80.35%91239.51%2,308Roscommon36761.47%20033.50%233.85%30.50%40.67%16727.97%597Saginaw10,28555.64%7,73541.84%3061.66%1320.71%270.15%2,55013.79%18,485Sanilac5,12874.51%1,51121.96%240.35%2183.17%10.01%3,61752.56%6,882Schoolcraft1,07961.20%55831.65%372.10%884.99%10.06%52129.55%1,763Shiawassee4,06654.04%3,22642.88%1722.29%530.70%70.09%84011.16%7,524St. Clair7,16162.51%4,09535.75%1100.96%880.77%10.01%3,06626.76%11,456St. Joseph3,20145.55%3,61051.37%1942.76%130.19%90.13%-409-5.82%7,027Tuscola4,72266.86%2,13530.23%510.72%1502.12%50.07%2,58736.63%7,063Van Buren4,45757.07%3,12039.95%1642.10%570.73%120.15%1,33717.12%7,810Washtenaw6,51053.64%5,38844.39%1341.10%750.62%300.25%1,1229.24%12,137Wayne80,29458.35%52,85638.41%3,4132.48%8760.64%1760.13%27,43819.94%137,616Wexford2,39956.61%1,63038.46%1152.71%942.22%00.00%76918.15%4,238Total363,72455.83%264,44040.59%15,0402.31%7,2551.11%9630.15%99,28415.24%651,518

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Alger Bay Berrien Cass Cheboygan Clare Clinton Crawford Eaton Genesee Grand Traverse Gratiot Hillsdale Houghton Ingham Ionia Iosco Isabella Jackson Leelanau Lenawee Livingston Luce Mackinac Macomb Manistee Mecosta Midland Montmorency Oakland Ontonagon Otsego Roscommon Saginaw Shiawassee Washtenaw Wayne

Notes

References