Organization

Democratic Party

Named in 73 stories. Back to all names

Nov 7, 1876The Territorial Election: Defining Seattle’s Future in 1878As Washington Territory eyes statehood, local papers urge a massive voter turnout to secure political clout and prove the region's population worth.Seattle, WA
Nov 10, 1876A Campaign Comes Ashore in Port TownsendIn 1876, Democratic candidates arrived by steamer to cannon fire and a cornet band, then packed Good Templars Hall for a night of speeches.Port Townsend, WA
Mar 30, 1878The Independent Candidate Who Fought the Party MachineAfter suffering a broken arm, a local editor decries the 'spoils system' and the grip of party caucuses over Washington Territory's first constitutional process.Seattle, WA
Sep 8, 1878The Political Machine in Old SnohomishA look inside the 1878 Democratic County Convention, where local power was consolidated, delegates were appointed to regional councils, and candidates for sheriff and judge were chosen by ballot.Snohomish, WA
Sep 20, 1880The 1880 Democratic Territorial ConventionWashington Territory’s Democrats gather in Kalama to organize their bid for statehood and select a delegate to Congress.Kalama, WA
Nov 2, 1880The Price of Loyalty in 1880 SeattleAs Seattle went to the polls in 1880, local editors warned that political fealty to the Republican party was the only way to secure the University and future federal favors.Seattle, WA
Nov 4, 1880The Political Battle for Seattle’s Soul in 1880A rare glimpse into the intense, hard-fought campaign that cemented Republican power in late 19th-century Seattle.Seattle, WA
Feb 21, 1885The Railway's Shadow Over Washington PoliticsA scathing editorial exposes how the Northern Pacific Railroad is buying influence by handing out free travel passes to political aspirants in Washington Territory.Seattle, WA
Jul 22, 1886The Plot to Overturn Women's SuffrageA leaked political scheme from 1886 reveals a coordinated attempt by territorial Democrats to replace the judiciary and strip Washington women of their voting rights.Seattle, WA
Aug 19, 1886The Great Land Grab: 1886 Democracy vs. The Northern PacificAt the 1886 Democratic Territorial Convention in Tacoma, delegates launched a blistering critique against the Northern Pacific Railroad for failing its promises and seizing public lands meant for settlers.Tacoma, WA
Aug 20, 1886The Martial Law Debate that Rocked the TerritoryWhen the Democratic Party of Washington Territory tried to denounce Governor Squire for imposing martial law, they ended up in an awkward tangle of political hypocrisy.Front Street, Seattle, WA
Jun 12, 1887The Governor’s Hotel: A Scandal of Misplaced ChargesWhen an out-of-town politician accused Washington Territory Governor Watson C. Squire of war profiteering during the anti-Chinese riots, the business community and local Democrats rallied to defend his integrity.Seattle, WA
Dec 7, 1887The Battle for the Council FloorA legislative standoff in Olympia over petty offices and party control highlights the raw political maneuvering of the late Washington Territory era.Olympia, WA
Jun 10, 1888The General's Last Stand: Seattle Watches Sheridan’s HeartbeatAs the nation holds its breath over General Philip Sheridan’s critical illness in Washington D.C., local doctors and citizens here in Seattle track his vital signs with the same intensity as a presidential convention.Seattle, WA
Aug 25, 1888The Unsavory Political Machine of 1888A scorching editorial from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer calls for a purge of 'tricksters' and 'nasty fellows' within the Territorial Republican ranks.Seattle, WA
Sep 1, 1888The 1888 Tariff Scramble: How Labor Markets Dictated Washington's FutureA historic dispatch from 1888 Seattle reveals how workers and manufacturing interests in the Pacific Northwest saw their livelihoods tied directly to the political tug-of-war over trade policy.Seattle, WA
Sep 5, 1888The 'Bullpen' at the Roslyn MinesWhen the Northern Pacific Railroad imported scab labor to break a strike in 1888, the local Democratic convention issued a blistering condemnation of the 'armed police' used to coerce workers.Roslyn, WA
May 8, 1889The Strange Lottery of Seattle’s 1889 Democratic PrimaryWhile Republicans held conventional district conventions to nominate candidates for the constitutional convention, Seattle’s Democrats opted for the 'novel' method of picking delegates by lottery.King County Courthouse, Seattle, WA
Jun 27, 1889The Political Battle for the New WestAs Washington prepares for statehood, national parties prepare for a heated contest over legislative control and future congressional influence.Washington, WA
Aug 13, 1889The Political Gamble of StatehoodAs Washington prepares to enter the Union, party operatives sweat over the balance of power in Congress.Seattle, WA
Aug 23, 1889The Birth Pangs of Washington’s ConstitutionAs the territory prepared for statehood in 1889, the local press scrutinized the new constitution, exposing the tension between civic optimism and the looming shadow of corporate greed.Seattle, WA
Aug 27, 1889The Weight of the Ballot: Washington’s First National ElectionOn the eve of statehood, Seattle residents prepared for their first campaign tied to national parties and federal power, marking a shift away from local autonomy.Seattle, WA
Sep 12, 1889The Democratic Party Gathers in EllensburghA new generation of Democrats assembles to nominate a state ticket for the soon-to-be state of Washington.Kittitas County Courthouse, Ellensburg, WA
Sep 13, 1889The Settlers' War Against the Land OfficeHow the administration of Grover Cleveland turned homesteaders into outlaws, sparking fear across Washington Territory.Seattle, WA
Sep 14, 1889The Political Plumes of Washington TerritoryA partisan battle over which political party actually deserves credit for the birth of Washington State.Seattle, WA
Sep 17, 1889The Political Price of Free Trade in 1889As Washington Territory prepared for statehood, a fierce political battle erupted over how the Mills Tariff Bill would impact local timber, coal, and iron industries.Ellensburg, WA
Sep 18, 1889The Delegate the Party Refused to SeatWhen King County Democrats elected a Black delegate to their state convention, Southern-leaning party members staged a revolt to avoid sitting with him.Ellensburg, WA
Nov 28, 1891The Governor, the Corporations, and the Session He Wouldn't CallA leaked cabinet meeting shows Governor Ferry weighing an extra legislative session against the wrath of corporations—and his own officials split over whether the state can wait.Olympia, WA
Feb 17, 1892The Seattle Mayoralty Race: A Chronic Candidate ReturnsJohn Collins, a repeat contender for mayor, has entered the race once again, challenging J.T. Ronald and shaking up a city election cycle defined by factional infighting and shifting party alliances.Seattle, WA
Feb 24, 1892The Day Seattle Democrats Vowed to Abolish 'Whitechapel'At the 1892 city convention, Seattle Democrats staked their platform on moral reform, pledging to shutter the city's notorious 'Whitechapel' district and end the practice of paying city workers in scrip.Seattle, WA
Feb 28, 1892The Great Seattle Audit: When the Mayor Defended the LedgerFacing down accusations of corruption and fiscal recklessness, Seattle’s outgoing mayor releases a meticulous—and defensive—account of his administration's massive infrastructure push.Front Street, Seattle, WA
Mar 10, 1892The Night Seattle Painted the Town RedAfter a landslide victory in the 1892 city elections, thousands of jubilant supporters flooded Pioneer Place to celebrate the end of a 'brazen, triple-plated' political ring.Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA
Mar 27, 1892The 'Two Percent' Mayoralty: How Tacoma's Populist Boss Won the TicketWhen Alexander Parker, a wealthy lender known for 'only' charging two percent interest, vied for the mayor's office, he didn't just run a campaign—he staged a spectacle of political maneuvering and local theater at Germania Hall.Tacoma, WA
Apr 6, 1892The 'Ring' Was Busted: Inside Tacoma’s Fiercest Municipal ElectionIn 1892, Tacoma voters flocked to the polls in a high-stakes showdown that saw Republicans sweep the mayoralty, fueled by intense campaign betting and deep suspicion of local political machines.Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA
Jul 14, 1892Democratic Leader Weighs in on the Populist SurgeLegislator H.J. Snively reports on the Democratic convention and the growing threat of the People's Party in Eastern Washington.Yakima, WA
Aug 7, 1892The Political 'Tramp' Hits the StreetsA new reform journal emerges in Seattle, embroiled in the bitter factionalism of the People’s Party and the city's complex political machinery.Main Street, Seattle, WA
Aug 16, 1892The Right to Bear Arms in the Labor WarsA local newspaper editorial lashes out against a Democratic convention resolution that sought to ban armed groups during labor disputes, arguing that self-defense is a fundamental right for employers and employees alike.Seattle, WA
Aug 25, 1892The Canal Plank That Nearly Tore Washington’s Democrats ApartIn Olympia, King County delegates fought Pierce County over whether to endorse the Lake Washington canal. They settled on a vague promise, then spent the night shouting each other down.Olympia, WA
Aug 27, 1892King County Democrats Revolt: 'I Am King County's Candidate, Not Her Betrayer'At the Democratic state convention in Olympia, an anti-King County plank sparked outrage among Seattle delegates, who vowed to stand by their home. The convention ended in disarray, nominating an unknown candidate after a night's search and predicting certain defeat.Olympia, WA
Sep 15, 1892The Shadow Boss of Washington PoliticsA political operative creates a 'campaign committee' to mask his influence after intense public backlash from his own party.Tacoma, WA
Sep 26, 1892The Political War Over the McKinley TariffConflicting data and fiery rhetoric define the campaign debate over whether protectionist tariffs are protecting or impoverishing the American worker.Seattle, WA
Oct 6, 1892Railroads Took 158 Million Acres of Public LandA scathing editorial indictment of Republican railroad subsidies in the Pacific Northwest.Yakima, WA
Oct 13, 1892Democratic Torchlight Parade Challenges Republican Rule in YakimaHundreds of supporters defied rainy weather in a massive display of local political energy as the gubernatorial campaign heated up.Yakima, WA
Oct 13, 1892The 'Million Dollar' LegislatureA scathing critique of Washington's early state legislative sessions highlights the 'million-dollar' waste and the reputation for incompetence plaguing the new state government.Olympia, WA
Nov 1, 1892The Scandal of a Prospective GovernorDemocratic gubernatorial nominee Henry J. Snively faces accusations of swindling orphans and bigamy as he campaigns across Washington.Montesano, WA
Nov 2, 1892The Political Battle Over the Lake Washington Ship CanalBoth parties are fighting over the proposed ship canal, with Republican and Democratic platforms diverging sharply on the project's viability.Lake Washington Ship Canal, Seattle, WA
Nov 10, 1892The Election Was Quiet. The Backstabbing Was Not.Yakima County's vote was calm at the polls but ugly underneath, with charges of bought voters and official ballots loose in party workers' hands.Yakima, WA
Jan 10, 1893Fifteen Ballots and a Dark HorseA deadlocked Washington House turns to Whitman County's J. Arrasmith after Democrats and reform Republicans break the 1893 speakership fight.Washington State Capitol, Olympia, WA
Feb 27, 1893The Plot to Fire the Engineer Behind Seattle’s Sewer TunnelsDemocratic operatives wanted Reginald H. Thomson’s job for a patronage appointee. Mayor Ronald threatened to make them pay.Seattle, WA
Feb 28, 1893The 83-Ballot Deadlock: 'Either Allen or No One'In Olympia, John B. Allen’s Republican caucus held the line while Judge Humes and Levi Ankeny saw their candidacies frostbitten—and the ballots kept piling up.Olympia, WA
Mar 13, 1893A Night of Political Pandemonium in Port AngelesA local committee meeting descends into shouting, proxy-throwing, and rival factionalism as Clallam County Democrats split over patronage.Port Angeles, WA
May 3, 1893The Political Reckoning in SpokaneA landslide victory for Republicans in Spokane signals a growing wave of public frustration with Democratic city administrations across Washington state.Seattle, WA
May 28, 1893The Political Machine at the Seattle GatePresident Cleveland's recent appointments of a U.S. district attorney and marshal reveal the growing influence of Tacoma's Hugh Wallace over Washington's federal patronage.Seattle, WA
Feb 20, 1894Seattle’s 'Reform' Government Promised Clean Streets and Low Taxes. Two Years Later, the Bill Came Due.A furious 1894 editorial accuses the Democratic city administration of breaking every campaign promise—keeping Whitechapel open, protecting gambling, and cutting day laborers while salaried officials kept their pay.Seattle, WA
Feb 27, 1894The Seven Wise Men and the Municipal LeagueLocal politics are in flux as the city's power brokers and the Democratic party vie for control ahead of the municipal elections.Seattle, WA
Feb 28, 1894The Political Machine and the Citizens' TicketA bitter look at local political maneuvering in 1894, as power brokers attempt to bypass the Republican ticket.Seattle, WA
Feb 28, 1894The Party Says Not Guilty—and Cheers the Man It RemovedSeattle Democrats put their scandal-scarred administration on trial at Haake's Hall, buried a First Ward delegate fight, and sent David E. Durie into the mayor's race while J.M. Wolfe got the ovation.Seattle, WA
Mar 5, 1894Seattle’s 1891 Election-Eve Alarm: ‘Watch Until the Vote Is Counted’On the eve of municipal elections, the Post-Intelligencer accuses the Democratic administration of protected gambling, a looted treasury and stacked election boards—and warns Republicans that the only danger left is the count.Seattle, WA
Mar 6, 1894Seattle's 1894 Election: Corruption, Fraud, and the Fight for City HallAs voters head to the polls, the Post-Intelligencer unleashes a blistering attack on the Democratic administration, alleging graft, forgery, and a machine determined to hold power at any cost.Seattle City Hall, Seattle, WA
Aug 10, 1894Hanged in Effigy, Then Gone: The Disappearance at MicaA Spokane County man who campaigned against the Silver Federation was abducted and is presumed murdered — and an exchange paper lays the blame squarely on the movement's rhetoric.Mica, WA
Sep 3, 1894A Midnight Move to Pack the Populist RollsSeattle’s First Ward Populist Club suspected Democrats were trying to flood its membership before the primary—and threw one deputy marshal out of the hall.Seattle, WA
Sep 12, 1894The Bolters: Disappointed Office-Seekers Tried to Hand King County to the PopulistsAn editorial savages the Republican 'insurgents' of King County — a slate of men who wanted nominations, didn't get them, and now threaten to bolt the ticket and throw the county to the Democrats and Populists. It names names.Seattle, WA
Sep 15, 1894A Crepe-Draped Cleveland and the Custom-House DealPort Townsend Democrats gather amid patronage bargains, a sacrificed ally, and a prank that put the president's portrait in mourning.Port Townsend, WA
Sep 17, 1894The Democrats Drum Up Candidates—and One Staged His Own Surprise PartySeattle Democrats organize ward clubs, weigh fusion with Populists and independents, and trade rumors over sheriff, treasurer and prosecutor—including a would-be senator who bought his own gold-headed cane.Seattle, WA
Jan 2, 1895The Treasurer-Elect Nobody Would Sign ForJ.W. Maple won the King County treasurer's office, then allegedly traded away patronage and alienated his own party—leaving him unable to post the bond required to take the job.Seattle, WA
Mar 23, 1900The End of Populism in Clark CountyAfter internal negotiations, the local Populist Party has officially dissolved to merge with the Democratic Party.Vancouver, WA
Apr 20, 1900Political Backroom Dealing in SpokanePopulist and Democratic party leaders meet in Spokane to orchestrate a fusion ticket, sidelining grassroots party members.Spokane, WA
Nov 27, 1903The Railroad Lobby's Quiet Plan to Buy a Governor and Kill the CommissionA Walla Walla editor warns that railroad interests will avoid an open fight over regulation by nominating a friendly, colorless candidate—then using him to veto the commission bill.Olympia, WA
Feb 12, 1904The Political Price of PanamaWhen Democratic senators tried to expose the secrets behind the Panama Canal, they inadvertently revealed a web of European intrigue that bolstered the case for American intervention.Leavenworth, WA
Mar 12, 1904Democrats Rally at Germania HallEnthusiastic convention nominates George P. Wright for mayor amidst slick floors and political bluster.Tacoma, WA
Jun 6, 1904George Turner's Run for GovernorFormer Senator George Turner signals his intent to head the Democratic ticket, vowing to fight against railroad-influenced politics in Washington.Tacoma, WA
Mar 10, 1909Legislators Break Promises to Labor UnionsDespite campaign pledges, Olympia lawmakers stall on key labor legislation, leaving unions with little to show for their efforts.Olympia, WA
Oct 22, 1914The Grape Juice Coup of the 1914 FairA Kennewick producer saves the Democratic Party's booth at the Puyallup Valley Fair by rebranding his grape juice as the official 'Bryan's Beverage.'Puyallup, WA