The 1886 New York state election was held on November 2, 1886, to elect a judge of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly.
History In 1880, there was only one state officer to be elected statewide: a judge of the Court of Appeals, to succeed Theodore Miller who had reached the constitutional age limit of 70 years.
The Republican State Committee met on September 29 at the Gilsey House in New York City. Charles Daniels was nominated for the Court of Appeals.JUDGE DANIELS NOMINATED in NYT on September 30, 1886
The Democratic State Committee met on September 29 at Hoffman House in New York City. Charles C. B. Walker was chairman. Rufus W. Peckham was nominated for the Court of Appeals by acclamation.THE DEMOCRATS' NOMINEE; RUFUS W. PECKHAM FOR THE COURT OF APPEALS in NYT on September 30, 1886
Result The Democratic judge was elected in a tight race, with a plurality of less than 8,000 votes. Only in New York City, Peckham had a majority of over 53,000 votes, thus swamping the solid Republican upstate majority.
+ 1886 state election result Office Democratic ticket Republican ticket Prohibition ticket Greenback ticketJudge of the Court of AppealsRufus W. Peckham Jr. 468,815Charles Daniels 461,018William J. GrooWilliam J. Groo, lawyer, of Middletown, Orange County, ran also for Governor in 1876 36,437Lawrence J. McParlinLawrence Jermain McParlin (b. Nov. 14, 1848 Lockport), lawyer, ran also in 1881, 1888, 1893 and 1896; and for Chief Judge in 1882 and 1892 2,281
See also New York state elections
References Notes
Sources Result in Albany County: QUEER ELECTION RESULTS; ...ALBANY COUNTY'S VOTE in NYT on November 11, 1886 [gives erroneously "McFarland" as the fourth candidate] Result in New York City: THE VOTES IN THE CITY in NYT on November 14, 1886 Result: The Tribune Almanac 1887 CONFIDENT MR. GEORGE in NYT on October 1, 1886 (mentioning McParlin's nomination)