William Jervis Hough

William Jervis Hough

VP candidate for American Party (1920)

Running mate with nominee: James E. Ferguson (1871-1944)
Popular vote: 47,968 (0.18%)    
Electoral vote: 0/531

The campaign:

James Edward Ferguson, the former Democratic Governor of Texas who was forced to resign under the shadow of impeachment in 1917, started his own political party with big plans. Unfortunately for him the American Party never appeared on any ballot outside of Texas. He had a problem with expanding his ideas beyond the borders of the Lone Star State. In one case he even stormed out a convention of his own party in Chicago. Mainly, he seemed bent on hurting the Democrats.

The platform was something of an extension of his personality, including opposition to the League of Nations, women's suffrage (which was odd since his wife would later become Governor), prohibition, and conscription. He declared he would pardon Eugene Debs.

On Election Day the Ferguson/Hough ticket won an impressive 9.86% of the Texas vote-- winning in 8 counties and placing second in many more, but that was still not enough to fulfill his goal of throwing the state to the Republicans.


Election history: ?

Other occupations: ?

Buried: ?

Notes:
Easily one of the most mysterious of running mates, Hough's description is summarized as "The little-known William J. Hough of New York." No doubt related to the NY Congressman of the same name who lived from 1795-1869.