The 1906 California gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1906. James Gillet won the 1906 election and became the governor of California.^[1]

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1906 California gubernatorial election

← 1902 November 6, 1906 1910 →

Nominee James Gillett Theodore Arlington Bell Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 125,887 117,645 Percentage 40.4% 37.7%   Nominee William Langdon Austin Lewis Party Independence Socialist Popular vote 45,008 16,036 Percentage 14.4% 5.1%

County results Gillett:      30-40%      40–50%      50–60%      70-80% Bell:      30-40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70-80% Langdon:      40–50%

Governor before election George Pardee Republican Elected Governor James Gillett Republican

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At the time of the election the governor of California was George Pardee. His term was relatively successful as he became a strong proponent of conservation, and provided assistance to the city of San Francisco, as it suffered through both the San Francisco plague of 1900–04, and the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. This alongside his efficient use of the states bureaucracy made Pardee a popular figure. Despite this many in the Republican party and the lobbyists for Southern Pacific despised Pardee for his views against the Southern Pacific Railroad, at a time when the railroad company was very influential in state politics.^[2][3] This alongside theories that Republican voters were angry at his focus on issues in Northern California, and not Southern California, caused Pardee to lose the Republican nomination to James Gillett, at the Republican Party convention in Santa Cruz.^[4][5]

The 1902 California gubernatorial election was a close election that saw Democratic candidate Franklin Knight Lane lose the popular vote by only several thousand votes; an impressive feat given the Republican Party's dominance in state politics. Despite this, Lane did not run for the party's nomination, instead becoming a Commissioner of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Candidates who were considering runs at the beginning of the race were Theodore A. Bell, Meredith P. Snyder, and James Phelan, the former mayor of San Francisco.^[6] Bell had initially preferred running for his former congressional seat in California's 2nd congressional district, instead of running for governor.^[7] At the Democratic convention in Sacramento the names presented for governor were James D. Phelan, Thomas O. Toland, Theodore A. Bell, and Daniel Cole, among others.^[8] Theodore A. Bell would eventually be nominated by the Democratic party on September 12, 1906.^[9] At the convention the Democratic party adopted several wide ranging policies including support for William Jennings Bryan, public ownership of utilities, support for antitrust legislation, maintaining the Chinese Exclusion Act, support for an 8 hour work day and women's suffrage.^[10]

The Independence Party began in 1906, largely led by William Randolph Hearst and his supporters. The party held its first state convention in Oakland on September 6, 1906. It was there that it nominated William Langdon for governor. The party's platform was similar to the Democratic platform, in that they called for the direct election of senators, increased irrigation for farmers, maintaining the Chinese Exclusion Act, food safety laws, and public ownership of utilities.^[11]

The Socialist Party was active in California and held its convention in Oakland, California. It was there that the party nominated Austin Lewis for governor, and F.J. Wheat of Los Angeles for lieutenant governor.^[12] Austin Lewis was a lecturer, writer and attorney who had law offices in both San Francisco and Oakland. He would become known for his work trying to prove the innocence of Tom Mooney and Warren K. Billings in the Preparedness Day Bombing.^[13]

Beginning in October the candidates began securing the nominations of their party and started campaigning to voters across the state. Early on Theodore Bell would engage in mudslinging, especially against William Langdon, who many at the time saw as a splinter campaign of the Democratic party.^[14] On the campaign trail, Theodore Bell would criticize James Gillet and William Langdon. He stated that Langdon's campaign was "simply an adjunct of the campaign of James Gillett", and implied that Gillet was a pawn of the Southern Pacific Railroad due to his acceptance of rail passes and lack of action on bills that would hurt the company.^[15] Bell also criticized William Randolph Hearst for his efforts to get himself elected Governor of New York, and his creation of the Independence League as many at the time including Bell thought this third party would take away votes from the Democratic party.^[16] On October 10, 1906, a prominent Republican banker named W.L. Porterfield went across party lines and endorsed Theodore Bell, going so far as to promise a subscription of one million dollars towards a new railroad that would connect San Pedro to an Eastern railroad. This showcased the dissatisfaction within the California Republican Party, over the Southern Pacific Railroad's influence over it.^[17][18]

Governor George Pardee endorsed James Gillett on September 28, 1906, addressing a fear of the State's Republican Party that Pardee might run a third party campaign or refuse to endorse Gillett.^[19] James Gillett held a large campaign rally in Sacramento on October 5, 1906. Thousands rallied to support Gillett as he and other Republican leaders gathered to speak about their platform and Gillett's record on issues such as labor.^[20]