# 1884 Democratic National Convention

The 1884 Democratic National Convention was held July 8–11, 1884 and chose Governor Grover Cleveland of New York their presidential nominee with the former Governor Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana as the vice presidential nominee.

## Background

The leading candidate for the presidential nomination was New York Governor Grover Cleveland, as Cleveland's reputation for good government made him a national figure.
The Republican Party nominated James G. Blaine for president in June 1884, although he had been implicated in a financial scandal: many influential Republicans were outraged, believing the time had come for a national reform administration, and walked out of the convention. These Republicans were called mugwumps, and declared that they would vote for the Democratic candidate based on his integrity.

## Presidential nomination
### Candidates

* Governor Grover Cleveland of New York
* Senator Thomas F. Bayard of Delaware
* Former Governor Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana
* Former Senator Allen G. Thurman of Ohio
* Former House Speaker Samuel J. Randall of Pennsylvania
* Former Senator Joseph E. McDonald of Indiana
* House Speaker John G. Carlisle
* Governor George Hoadly of Ohio
Seven names were placed in nomination: Grover Cleveland, Thomas F. Bayard, Allen G. Thurman, Samuel J. Randall, Joseph E. McDonald, John G. Carlisle, and George Hoadly.
Thomas A. Hendricks professed that he was not a candidate for the presidential nomination. When a delegate from Illinois cast the only vote he received on the first ballot, Hendricks rose to ask this vote be withdrawn because it "wrongly" placed him before the convention. Nonetheless, Hendricks made an impressive showing on the second ballot but it was not enough to prevent the nomination of Cleveland.
Presidential Ballot :
| | 1st | 2nd (Before Shifts) | 2nd (After Shifts) |
| Cleveland | 392 | 475 | 683 |
| Bayard | 170 | 151.5 | 81.5 |
| Hendricks | 1 | 123.5 | 45.5 |
| Thurman | 88 | 60 | 4 |
| Randall | 78 | 5 | 4 |
| McDonald | 56 | 2 | 2 |
| Carlisle | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| Flower | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Hoadly | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tilden | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Not Voting | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Source: US President - D Convention. Our Campaigns. (August 26, 2009).
* 1st Presidential Ballot
* 2nd Presidential Ballot Before Shifts
* 2nd Presidential Ballot After Shifts

## Vice presidential nomination

Hendricks, who was the 1876 Democratic vice presidential nominee, was offered the 1884 nomination and accepted.

### Vice presidential candidates

* Former Governor Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana
* Former Senator Henry G. Davis of West Virginia (Not Nominated)
* Brevet Brigadier General John C. Black of Illinois (Withdrawn)
* Governor George W. Glick of Kansas (Withdrawn)
* Former Senator Joseph E. McDonald of Indiana (Withdrawn)
* Major General William Rosecrans of California (Withdrawn)
Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana was overwhelmingly nominated as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate after the names of John C. Black, George W. Glick, Joseph E. McDonald, and William Rosecrans were withdrawn from consideration.
Vice Presidential Ballot :
| Thomas A. Hendricks | 816 |
| Abstaining | 4 |
Source: US Vice President - D Convention. Our Campaigns. (August 26, 2009).
* 1st Vice Presidential Ballot