The 1888 Democratic National Convention was a nominating convention held June 5 to 7, 1888, in the St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall in St. Louis, Missouri. It nominated President Grover Cleveland for reelection and former Senator Allen G. Thurman of Ohio for vice president. St. Louis won the convention after a presentation in February 1888.

Proceedings

Stephen M. White served as temporary chairman and Patrick A. Collins served as the convention's permanent president.

Platform

The Democratic platform largely confined itself to a defense of the Cleveland administration, supporting reduction in the tariff and taxes generally as well as statehood for the western territories.

Presidential nomination

Presidential candidates

President Cleveland was renominated by acclamation. An event few could directly remember, as the last time a Democrat was renominated was 48 years earlier, in 1840. Presidents Franklin Pierce and Andrew Johnson lost the nomination in 1856 and 1868 respectively, and Presidents James K. Polk and James Buchanan refused to run for a second term.

Vice Presidential nomination

Vice Presidential candidates

Primary sources