The 1928 Democratic National Convention was held at Sam Houston HallinHouston, Texas, June 26–28, 1928. The keynote speaker was Claude G. Bowers. The convention[1] resulted in the nomination of Governor Alfred E. SmithofNew York for president and Senator Joseph T. RobinsonofArkansas for vice president.
| 1928 presidential election | |
 
Nominees
Smith and Robinson | |
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | June 26–28, 1928 |
| City | Houston, Texas |
| Venue | Sam Houston Hall |
| Candidates | |
| Presidential nominee | Alfred E. SmithofNew York |
| Vice presidential nominee | Joseph T. RobinsonofArkansas |
| ‹ 1924 · 1932 › | |
The convention was the first held by either party in the South since the Civil War. It was also the first to nominate a Roman Catholic for president, Al Smith. The Texas delegation, led by Governor Dan Moody, was vehemently opposed to Smith. Therefore, when Smith was nominated, they rallied against his anti-prohibition sentiment by fighting for a "dry", prohibitionist platform. Ultimately, the convention pledged "honest enforcement of the Constitution".
Smith became the first Democrat since Reconstruction to lose more than one southern state in the general election, due to his "wet" stance, his opposition to the Ku Klux Klan[citation needed], and his Catholicism.
The election was held in very hot summer weather in a venue without air conditioning.[2]
Other candidates for the nomination possibly included:
| Presidential Balloting | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | 1st (Before Shifts) | 1st (After Shifts) |
| Smith | 724.67 | 849.67 |
| Hull | 71.83 | 50.83 |
| George | 52.50 | 52.50 |
| Reed | 48 | 52 |
| Pomerene | 47 | 3 |
| Jones | 43 | 43 |
| Woollen | 32 | 7 |
| Harrison | 20 | 8.50 |
| Ayres | 20 | 3 |
| Watts | 18 | 18 |
| Hitchcock | 16 | 2 |
| Donahey | 5 | 5 |
| Thompson | 2 | 2 |
| Bilbo | 0 | 1 |
| Not Voting | 0 | 2.50 |
Presidential Balloting / 3rd Day of Convention (June 28, 1928)
Joseph T. Robinson was chosen as the vice presidential nominee.
Other candidates for the nomination possibly included:
| Vice Presidential Balloting | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | 1st (Before Shifts) | 1st (After Shifts) |
| Robinson | 914.17 | 1,035.17 |
| Barkley | 77 | 9 |
| Ross | 33 | 2 |
| Allen | 28 | 21 |
| Berry | 17.50 | 11.50 |
| Moody | 9.33 | 9.33 |
| Fletcher | 7 | 7 |
| Taylor | 6 | 0 |
| Stevenson | 4 | 2 |
| Woollen | 2 | 2 |
| Tumulty | 1 | 0 |
| Not Voting | 1 | 1 |
Vice Presidential Balloting / 3rd Day of Convention (June 28, 1928)
| Preceded by 1924 New York, New York |
Democratic National Conventions | Succeeded by 1932 Chicago, Illinois |