February 8, 2007

This 1888 election banner declared that Democratic candidate James P. Eagle was the “People’s Choice” for governor, although he was a narrow choice. Eagle had been one of five candidates at the state Democratic Convention, winning the party’s nomination on the 126th ballot. In the general election, under charges of fraud, he defeated opponent C. M. Norwood by only 15,000 votes. Regardless of Eagle’s close calls during his initial campaign, he was reelected two years later.