United States gubernatorial elections were held in 1885, in seven states.
Mississippi and Virginia at this time held their gubernatorial elections in odd numbered years, every 4 years, following the United States presidential election year. New York at this time elected its governors to a three-year term. Massachusetts and Rhode Island both elected its governors to a single-year term, which they would abandon in 1920 and 1912, respectively. Iowa and Ohio at this time held gubernatorial elections in every odd numbered year.
In Ohio, the gubernatorial election was held in October for the last time; the next gubernatorial election would be held on the same day as federal elections.
Results
State Incumbent Party Status Opposing candidates Iowa Buren R. Sherman Republican Retired, Republican victory William Larrabee (Republican) 50.76%Charles E. Whiting (Democratic) 48.73%James Mickelwatt (Prohibition) 0.41%Elias Doty (Greenback) 0.09%Scattering 0.01% Massachusetts George D. Robinson Republican Re-elected, 53.53% Frederick O. Prince (Democratic) 43.09%Thomas J. Lothrop (Prohibition) 2.25%James Sumner (Greenback) 1.06%Scattering 0.07% Mississippi Robert Lowry Democratic Re-elected, 99.01% Put Darden (Independent) 0.92%Scattering 0.07% New York David B. Hill (acting) Democratic Re-elected, 48.86% Ira Davenport (Republican) 47.78%Henry Clay Bascom (Prohibition) 3.01%George O. Jones (Greenback) 0.21%Defective and scattering 0.14% Ohio(held, 13 October 1885) George Hoadly Democratic Defeated, 46.75% Joseph B. Foraker (Republican) 49.14%Adna B. Leonard (Prohibition) 3.84%John W. Northrop (Greenback) 0.27% Rhode Island(held, 1 April 1885) Augustus O. Bourn Republican George P. Wetmore (Republican) 56.22%Ziba O. Slocum (Democratic) 38.37%George H. Slade (Prohibition) 5.40%Scattering 0.02% Virginia William E. Cameron Readjuster Term-limited, Democratic victory Fitzhugh Lee (Democratic) 52.77%John Sergeant Wise (Republican) 47.22%Scattering 0.01%
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