1928 Delaware gubernatorial election

The 1928 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1928. Republican Governor Robert P. Robinson declined to seek a second term so C. Douglass Buck, the Chief Engineer of the State Highway Department, was seen as the likely frontrunner heading into the Republican convention.^[1] At the convention, Buck's primary opponent was State Senator I. Dolphus Short, whom he defeated by a wide margin, receiving 104 votes to Short's 54.^[2]

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

1928 Delaware gubernatorial election

← 1924 November 6, 1928 1932 â†’

Nominee C. Douglass Buck Charles M. Wharton Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 62,683 40,824 Percentage 60.56% 39.44%

County results Buck:      50–60%      60–70% Wharton:      50–60%

Governor before election Robert P. Robinson Republican Elected Governor C. Douglass Buck Republican

Close

On the Democratic side, former State Senator Charles Wharton, a well-known football player on the Penn Quakers team at the University of Pennsylvania, emerged as the frontrunner.^[3] Wharton was seen as a strong candidate by the Democratic establishment and won the nomination unopposed.^[4]

However, despite Wharton's reputation and his strength as a candidate, he proved little obstacle to Buck. Republican presidential nominee Herbert Hoover won the state in a record-breaking landslide and helped Buck across the finish line. Though Buck underperformed Hoover, he still won handily, winning 61% of the vote to Wharton's 39%.