The Chicago mayoral election of 1891 saw "Reform" candidate Hempstead Washburne narrowly win a four-way race against incumbent Democrat DeWitt Clinton Cregier, former mayor Carter Harrison Sr., and Citizens Party nominee Elmer Washburn. Also running was Socialist Labor candidate Thomas J. Morgan. Due to the four-way split in popular support, Washburne won with merely a 28.83% vote share; less than a quarter-of-a-percent margin of victory over second-place finisher Cregier and only 2.47% ahead of third-place finisher Harrison.
Before running in the general election as an independent Democrat, former mayor Harrison challenged Mayor Cregier for the Democratic Party's nomination. A primary was held to select the delegates to the city's Democratic Party convention. Cregier prevailed in getting more delegates supporting his renomination elected than delegates supporting Harrison for mayor. As a result, Cregier won the party's nomination at the convention.
The Citizens Party that nominated Elmer Washburn, the former chief of the U.S. Secret Service and former head the Chicago Police Department, was backed by the city's old elite through the Union League Club of Chicago. Its goal was to reestablish the old elite's power in the city's politics
Nominations
Democratic nomination
In 1891, incumbent Dewitt Clinton Cregier sought reelection.
Cregier's term as mayor had been regarded as decent. However, many Democrats were displeased with Cregier's favoritism of the city's Irish population over other groups. Additionally, followers of former mayor Carter Harrison Sr. felt that Cregier had been disregarding them when making political appointments. A number of scandals had also tainted his administration.
Cregier was challenged by former mayor Carter Harrison Sr. Harrison sensed voter dissatisfaction with Cregier. Harrison also desired to oversee the city's hosting of the World's Columbian Exposition (which the city had hosted the right to host by the United States government in 1890, after a successful bid effort in which Cregier had been involved). Wishing to stage a political comeback, Harrison had come out of his retirement to run again for mayor.
Both Cregier and Harrison were populist Democrats.
The race for the Democratic nomination was contentious and rancorous. Each candidate ran fierce campaigns.
Harrison's campaign was managed by Adolf Kraus. The most influential backer of Harrison's candidacy was considered to be Frank Lawler. Lawler and Harrison each made speeches before large and excited crowds across the city in support of Harrison's candidacy.
Local Democratic establishment leadership largely stood behind Cregier. The city's Democratic executive committee formally supported his candidacy. Cregier received the backing of political organizations such as the Wah-na-ton Club and the Iroquois Club. Creiger also had the backing of individuals such as John M. Palmer and Clarence S. Darrow.
The primary to elect delegates to the city nominating convention was held on March 20, and showed a clear victory for Cregier. However Harrison's supporters alleged that electoral fraud had taken place.
At the convention, an effort successfully prevented Harrison from being allowed to enter the convention hall. In protest of this, 47 of Harrison's 99 pledged delegates withdrew their places. In the end, Cregier was renominated at the convention by a vote of 331 to 52.
Republican nomination
The Republican Party nominated Hempstead Washburne.
Carter Harrison Sr.'s independent candidacy
While Cregier had managed to fend-off Harrison's challenge for the Democratic nomination, Harrison opted to challenge him in the general election as an independent.
Citizen's Party nomination
The Citizen's Party, which was operated through the Union League Club of Chicago and organized by notable businessmen such as Potter Palmer, Marshall Field, and Philip Danforth Armour, nominated Elmer Washburn.
The Citizen's Party and Washburn's candidacy was a well-funded attempt by the old elite of the city to retake control of local politics for the claimed purposes of bringing cleaner and more efficient governance and lower taxes.
Franklin MacVeagh, the original candidate sought by the (largely Republican) reformers behind the party, declined to run. It was after this that Washburn would enter the race.
Socialist Labor nomination
The Socialist Labor Party nominated Thomas J. Morgan.