1920 United States Presidential Election in North Carolina

The 1920 United States presidential election in North Carolina took place on November 2, 1920, as part of the nationwide 1920 United States presidential election . Voters in North Carolina selected twelve electors to represent them in the Electoral College , which would then cast votes for President and Vice President .

Political Context and Historical Background

The “Redemption” Era and Jim Crow Laws

Like all former Confederate states, North Carolina developed a political landscape shaped by Jim Crow laws and the disfranchisement of its African-American population following the Reconstruction Era . The Democratic Party dominated state politics, but unlike the Deep South, the Republican Party maintained a foothold due to historic Unionist support in the mountainous western regions and the northwestern Piedmont. This allowed Republicans to consistently secure about one-third of the statewide vote, even after Black voters were effectively disenfranchised.

Poll Taxes and Voter Participation

While North Carolina implemented a poll tax , it was less restrictive than in other Southern states, leading to higher white voter participation rates. Additionally, the state’s Republican Party transitioned to a “lily-white ” organization, which helped maintain some GOP support among white voters. Unlike states such as Mississippi or Alabama , North Carolina did not enforce statewide White primaries, though some counties did implement them.

Women’s Suffrage and the Nineteenth Amendment

North Carolina had never granted women suffrage rights before 1919, and its legislature did not ratify the Nineteenth Amendment when it passed the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate . However, in 1920, the state passed a constitutional amendment abolishing its poll tax by a three-to-one margin, making it the first former Confederate state to do so. This amendment had been proposed as early as 1908, but gained traction after the Sixteenth Amendment (1913) highlighted inefficiencies in the state’s tax system.

The combination of women’s suffrage and the abolition of the poll tax led to one of the largest mobilizations of new voters in the nation.

The 1920 Election Campaign

National and State Dynamics

The Republican nominee, Warren G. Harding , and the Democratic nominee, Ohio Governor James M. Cox , did not campaign extensively in North Carolina, as the state had consistently voted Democratic since 1876. However, in late October, the Republican Party, sensing a potential landslide victory, believed it had a chance to carry North Carolina—alongside Tennessee —for the first time since 1876.

Election Results

Despite early optimism from Republican strategists, James M. Cox won North Carolina comfortably, securing 56.69% of the popular vote and all twelve electoral votes. His margin was even stronger than Woodrow Wilson ’s victory in 1916, with Cox losing fewer than 3 percentage points compared to Wilson’s performance. Notably, Polk County shifted from voting Republican in 1916 (for Charles Evans Hughes ) to supporting Cox in 1920.

Results

Statewide Results

County-Level Results

The election results varied significantly by county, with Democratic strength concentrated in the eastern and central regions, while Republican support was strongest in the western mountains.

Strongest Democratic Counties

• Edgecombe County : 99.29% for Cox
• Northampton County : 93.32% for Cox
• Currituck County : 92.08% for Cox

Strongest Republican Counties

• Avery County : 86.31% for Harding
• Mitchell County : 75.54% for Harding
• Madison County : 72.96% for Harding

Competitive Counties

• Polk County : 50.65% for Cox (narrowest margin)
• Jackson County : 50.32% for Cox
• Montgomery County : 50.18% for Cox

Aftermath and Historical Significance

North Carolina’s Resistance to the Anti-Wilson Trend

While much of the nation shifted toward Republican dominance in 1920, North Carolina remained a Democratic stronghold. Cox’s victory was particularly notable because he lost fewer than 3 percentage points compared to Wilson’s 1916 performance, making North Carolina the state that most resisted the national Republican wave.

Long-Term Political Implications

The 1920 election reinforced North Carolina’s status as a competitive but Democratic-leaning state within the Solid South. The abolition of the poll tax and the expansion of suffrage to women contributed to increased voter participation, setting the stage for future political shifts.

See Also

• 1920 United States presidential election
• Elections in North Carolina
• List of United States presidential elections in North Carolina