On June 20, Governor Talbot announced that he wished to retire at the end of his term and would decline the Republican nomination if offered. He formally withdrew on August 20.[1][2]
Following Talbot's withdrawal, the field was divided between Lieutenant Governor John Davis Long and former Mayor of Boston Henry L. Pierce, with Pierce stronger in the cities.[2]
Long (or his supporters) felt he was guaranteed the nomination by agreement, having stepped aside for Talbot in 1878. However, this agreement quickly made way for the necessity of defeating Benjamin Butler, whom Republicans decried as a demagogue and communist. Supporters of Henry L. Pierce entered his name into consideration soon after Talbot's withdrawal in hopes that Long supporters would again concede to a stronger candidate, but they did not. Long and Pierce agreed on many issues, so the electability issue decided the campaign. Pierce's supporters argued that he would better appeal to liberals, independents, and Democrats, while Long had to rely on Stalwarts and prohibitionists. Though Long conceded to be as liberal as Pierce, Pierce supporters argued that his brief public record was insufficient to appeal to swing constituencies.[3]
