1871 Boston mayoral election

The Boston mayoral election of 1871 saw the reelection of incumbent Democrat William Gaston, who defeated Republican nominee Newton Talbot.

1871 Boston mayoral election
← 1870 December 4, 1871[1] 1872 →
 
Candidate William Gaston Newton Talbot
Party Democratic (also Labor-Reformers and Citizens') Republican
Popular vote 9,838 6,231
Percentage 61.19% 38.76%

Mayor before election

William Gaston
Democratic

Elected mayor

William Gaston
Democratic

Nominations

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Democratic nomination

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Incumbent Democratic Party mayor William Gaston was re-nominated by his party.[2] He also received the nominations of the city's Labor-Reformers and Citizens' parties.[3]

Republican nomination

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On November 24, the city's Republican Ward and City Committee nominated Talbot for mayor at its meeting (held in the courtroom of the Second Superior Court).[4]

Talbot was selected as the nominee nominee through a vote of the nominees. The ballot saw 85 delegates voting, and an individual required 49 votes in order to become the nominee.[4] The balloting was as follows:

Republican convention balloting[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Newton Talbot 74 87.06
Republican William Gaston (incumbent) 8 9.41
Republican William Gray 1 1.18
Republican Robert C. Nichols 1 1.18
Republican Joseph H. Chadwick 1 1.18

Talbot accepted the Republican nomination.[4]

A November 28 convention at Mercantile Hall for a citizens ticket unanimously voted to nominate Talbot on that ticket as well.[5][6]

Results

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The municipal election results were seen as forgoing typical party alignment in both the race for mayor and the chambers of the City Council.[7]

1871 Boston mayoral election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William Gaston (incumbent) 9,838 61.19
Republican Newton Talbot 6,231 38.76
Others Scattering 9 0.06
Turnout 16,078

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b A Catalogue of the City Councils of Boston, 1822-1908, Roxbury, 1846-1867, Charlestown, 1847-1873 and of the Selectmen of Boston, 1634-1822: Also of Various Other Town and Municipal Officers. City of Boston Printing Department. 1909. pp. 54, 259. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "Chicago Tribune". Newspapers.com. December 12, 1871. Retrieved April 30, 2024 – via Chicago Tribune.
  3. ^ "Latest News". Intelligencer Journal. December 7, 1871. Retrieved April 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d "Nomination of Hon. Newton Talbot for Mayor". Boston Evening Transcript. November 25, 1871. Retrieved April 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Municipal Politics". Boston Evening Transcript. November 29, 1871. Retrieved April 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Citizens' Nomination". Boston Evening Transcript. November 29, 1871. Retrieved April 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Boston Municipal Election". The Daily Patriot. December 12, 1871. Retrieved April 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.