In the Presidential election , Democratic President Grover Cleveland was defeated by Republican former Senator Benjamin Harrison of Indiana . At the 1888 Republican National Convention , Harrison was nominated on the eighth ballot , defeating Ohio Senator John Sherman , former Governor Russell A. Alger of Michigan , and several other candidates . As in 1876 , the Republican candidate won the presidency despite the Democratic candidate 's greater share of the popular vote , albeit , also as in 1876 , with widespread allegations of voter suppression and fraud aimed at Republican black voters in the South . This situation would not be repeated until the 2000 election . Despite the popular vote margin , Harrison won a comfortable majority of the electoral college , and took most of the states outside the South
1888 Republican National Convention
1888 Republican National Convention
1888 United States elections