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The 1890 Nebraska lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1890, and featured Republican nominee Thomas Jefferson Majors defeating Populist nominee William H. Dech and Democratic nominee Alex Bear as well as Prohibition Party nominee George W. Woodbey.^[1] Incumbent Nebraska Lieutenant Governor George D. Meiklejohn did not seek reelection as lieutenant governor in order to seek the Republican nomination for the US House of Representatives in Nebraska's 3rd congressional district, but he was unsuccessful.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

For the Republican and Democratic candidates, Thomas J. Majors and Alex Bear, this election represented a rematch of a special election for Nebraska's at-large congressional district where both Majors and Bear ran against each other to fill the vacancy created by the death of Frank Welch. Majors was ultimately successful in that election.^[6]

This was the first Nebraska election in which members of different parties were elected to the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, as James E. Boyd, a Democrat, was elected governor while Thomas J. Majors retained the office of lieutenant governor for the Republicans.^[1]

General election

Candidates

Dr. Alexander Bear, Democratic candidate, physician, surgeon, former member of the Nebraska Senate from 1875 to 1877 and of the Nebraska House of Representatives from 1877 to 1879 from Norfolk, Nebraska, and former member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.^[7] He was nominated by the Democratic convention over J. R. Burks of Gage County, Nebraska, by a vote of 379 to 156.^[8]^[9]
William H. Dech, Populist candidate, former member of the Nebraska Senate from 1883 to 1885 and of the Nebraska House of Representatives from 1873 to 1875 from Ithaca, Nebraska.^[7] He served as a school director and as a road supervisor in Saunders County, Nebraska.^[10] He was associated with the Farmers' Alliance and with its gubernatorial nominee John H. Powers.^[11]^[12]
Thomas Jefferson Majors, Republican candidate, director of the Citizens' State Bank, member of the Nebraska House of Representatives since 1889, former US Representative for Nebraska's at-large congressional district from 1878 to 1879, former member of the last session of the Territorial Council of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature in 1867 and former member of the Nebraska Senate from 1867 to 1869 and again from 1887 to 1889 from Peru, Nebraska^[7]
Rev. George Washington Woodbey, Prohibition candidate, pastor from Omaha, Nebraska, who was born under slavery and was one of the first African Americans to run for statewide office in Nebraska^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]

Results

Nebraska lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1890^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Thomas J. Majors	74,386	34.84
	Populist	William H. Dech	71,127	33.31
	Democratic	Alex Bear	63,468	29.72
	Prohibition	George W. Woodbey	4,515	2.11
	Scattering		24
Total votes			213,520	100.00
	Republican hold

References

^ ^a ^b ^c State of Nebraska (1899). 1899-1900 Nebraska Blue Book (PDF). State Journal Co. pp. 200–201. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
^ "People Coming and Going". Columbus Telegram. September 3, 1890. p. 3. Retrieved June 12, 2023. Hon. George D. Meiklejohn of Fullerton was in the city yesterday looking up his chances for the republican congressional nomination.
^ "Look Out for Fur". Omaha World-Herald. July 21, 1890. p. 4. Retrieved June 12, 2023. George Meiklejohn will commence an active canvass in this district for the nomination of congressman next week.
^ "County Democratic Convention". Blair Courier. July 26, 1890. p. 2. Retrieved June 12, 2023. The republicans of Nance county will present the name of Hon. George Meiklejohn for congress in the third district, in the coming district convention.
^ "The Columbus Convention". Grand Island Independent. September 20, 1890. p. 7. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
^ "The Beatrice Democrat is reminded". The Tecumseh Chieftain. August 23, 1890. p. 4. Retrieved June 12, 2023. Thos. J. Majors, has for his opponent Dr. Alex Bear. These two gentlemen were pitted against each other some years ago, as candidates for congress of their respective parties, to fill out the unexpired term of Frank Welch.
^ ^a ^b ^c State of Nebraska, 2020-21 Nebraska Blue Book (PDF), p. 317-178, retrieved June 11, 2023
^ "The Lesser Lights". Nebraska State Journal. August 15, 1890. p. 1. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
^ "Dr. Alex Bear". Omaha World-Herald. October 16, 1890. p. 4. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
^ Biographical Record: This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska. Biographical Publishing Company. 1900. p. 83. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
^ "Independent Ticket". Antelope Tribune. August 13, 1890. p. 2. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
^ "Wednesday's Daily". Columbus Telegram. September 4, 1890. p. 5. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
^ "Prohibition State Ticket". Th New Republic. September 4, 1890. p. 1. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
^ "You must go away from home". Omaha Daily Bee. September 9, 1890. p. 4. Retrieved June 12, 2023. George W. Woodbey is one of the gifted colored men born in the arms of slavery....
^ "Mr. Woodbey". The New Republic. April 3, 1890. p. 1. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
^ "Convention Notes". Norfolk Weekly News. August 21, 1890. p. 5. Retrieved June 12, 2023.