THC Science

The 1878 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1878. Incumbent Republican governor Silas Garber did not seek reelection. This election featured Republican nominee Albinus Nance, the Speaker of the Nebraska House of Representatives, defeating Democratic nominee Colonel William H. Webster, a lawyer from Merrick County, Nebraska, and Greenback Party nominee Levi G. Todd, a former member of the Nebraska Territorial House of Representatives from Cass County, Nebraska.^[1]

General election[edit]

Albinus Nance, Republican candidate, member of the Nebraska House of Representatives from 1875 to 1878, serving as Speaker from 1877 to 1878^[1]^[2]
Col. William H. Webster, Democratic candidate, lawyer from Merrick County, Nebraska.^[3]^[4]^[5]
Levi Goodsell Todd, Greenback candidate, member of the Nebraska Territorial House of Representatives from 1863 to 1864 from Cass County, Nebraska.^[6]^[7]^[8]

Nebraska gubernatorial election, 1878^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Albinus Nance	29,469	56.22%
	Democratic	William H. Webster	13,473	25.70%
	Greenback	Levi G. Todd	9,475	18.08%
Total votes			52,417	100.0%
	Republican hold

^ ^a ^b ^c Addison E. Sheldon, ed. (December 1918). The Nebraska Blue Book and Historical Register. Nebraska Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 441. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
^ J. T. White (1904). The National Cyclopaedia of American biography, Volume 12. J. T. White. p. 2. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
^ "The Democratic State Convention". Central City Courier. October 3, 1878. Retrieved May 13, 2023. The Democratic State Convention, which convened in Lincoln, Sept. 27, placed the name of our fellow townsman, W. H. Webster, in nomination for governor. Col. Webster has been a resident of Merrick county for many years...
^ "Democratic Ticket". Nebraska City Daily News. October 26, 1878. Retrieved May 13, 2023. Democratic State Ticket... For Governor, WILLIAM H. WEBSTER, of Saline Co. [sic, "Saline County" is a misprint]
^ "W. H. Webster". Central City Courier. May 30, 1878. Retrieved May 13, 2023. W. H. WEBSTER, Attorney at Law, Will practice in the District Court of Merrick and adjoining counties.
^ State of Nebraska. 2020-21 Nebraska Blue Book (PDF). p. 315. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
^ "Committee to Revise the Lord's Prayer". Nebraska Herald. August 29, 1878. p. 2. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
^ J. Sterling Morton (1905). Illustrated History of Nebraska. Vol. 1. Jacob North & Company. p. 291.