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The Chicago mayoral election of 1887 saw Republican John A. Roche win by a landslide, receiving more than a two-thirds majority of the vote, defeating United Labor Party nominee Robert S. Nelson by more than 36 points (a margin of victory which was itself greater than Nelson's vote share), in a race where the Democratic Party had failed to field a candidate.

Lack of Democratic nominee

Incumbent Democratic Mayor Carter Harrison Sr. had opted to retire.^[2]^[3] Harrison lost the backing of his party amid declining public support. Among the reasons Harrison had lost the Party's backing were his handling of the Haymarket Riot and his failure to receive the endorsement of the United Labor Party (Chicago), which he had sought for a fusion ticket with the Democrats.^[4]^[5] Additionally, his handling of the Haymarket affair also harmed his standing with conservative business groups.^[5] Furthermore, his decision not to seek reelection was influenced by election scandals involving charges of fraud against some individuals. Though these charges had little to do with Harrison's own personal conduct, they posed a prospective threat to his chances of victory.^[5]^[6]

The Democratic Party nominated DeWitt Clinton Cregier, who refused their nomination.^[3] After this, and despite his declared intent to retire, they attempted to nominate Harrison, who also refused their nomination.^[3]

Campaign

Republican nominee John A. Roche ran as a fiscally conservative "law-and-order" candidate.^[5] Roche was regarded by many Democrats to be the lesser of two evils.^[7] The United Labor Party nominated Robert S. Nelson, who (in the absence of a Democratic nominee) was Roche's sole opponent in the election.^[8] During the campaign, the Republicans tried to deride Nelson and his party as "socialists".^[8] Behind-the-scenes, Roche received unlikely support from some Democrats such as Michael Cassius McDonald.^[7] Incumbent mayor Harrison, while formally not backing either candidate, dismissed many Democrats' worries about the prospect of a Nelson mayoralty, and also cautioned that a Roche election could spur the passage of additional blue laws.^[7] Harrison went as far as indicating that he leaned more in favor of Nelson among the two candidates, saying, "Nelson is a representative of the laboring men, and Roche tried to be. Nelson is not a socialist. A young party is on its good behavior, and if Nelson were elected he would do his very best for himself and his party."^[9] Some prominent Chicagoans such as John M. Smyth spoke with the impression that Harrison outright supported Nelson's candidacy.^[10]