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Election of 1892
Main articles: 1892 United States presidential election and Grover Cleveland 1892 presidential campaign
Nomination for president
Main article: 1892 Democratic National Convention
Cleveland's enduring reputation as chief executive and his recent pronouncements on the monetary issues made him a leading contender for the Democratic nomination.[180] His leading opponent was David B. Hill, a Senator for New York.[181] Hill united the anti-Cleveland elements of the Democratic party—silverites, protectionists, and Tammany Hall—but was unable to create a coalition large enough to deny Cleveland the nomination.[181] Despite some desperate maneuvering by Hill, Cleveland was nominated on the first ballot at the party convention in Chicago.[182] For vice president, the Democrats chose to balance the ticket with Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois, a silverite.[183]
Although the Cleveland forces preferred Isaac P. Gray of Indiana for vice president, they accepted the convention favorite.[184] As a supporter of greenbacks and free silver to inflate the currency and alleviate economic distress in the rural districts, Stevenson balanced the otherwise hard-money, gold-standard ticket headed by Cleveland.