Along with Hanecy (who was a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County), the two other front-running contenders for the Republican nomination were Sanitary District of Chicago president William Boldenweck and former alderman John Maynard Harlan.

Other contenders that Henry beat were Judge Marcus Kavanaugh and aldermen William Mavor and Frank T. Fowler.

Additionally, Alderman William Hale Thompson had initially declared candidacy, but did not ultimately contest for the nomination at the convention.

[5] Harrison's opponent for the nomination was former governor John Peter Altgeld, who had been a third-party challenger in the previous election.

[5] There had been rumors that Roger Charles Sullivan and John Patrick Hopkins might recruit a candidate of their own to challenge Harrison, but this never materialized.

The Republican Party nominated Cook County Circuit Court judge Elbridge Hanecy at its city convention on March 2.

[6] The previous year, Hanecy had sought the gubernatorial nomination, being defeated by Richard Yates Jr. at the state convention by a thin margin.

Ahead of their city nominating convention (held February 21 at Willard Hall), those discussed as possible nominees included Hoyt, J. P. Tracey, and John H.

He advocated changing the fee system practiced by some city officials and also proposed stronger measures to regulate the streetcar companies.

The Republican Party's platform criticized the Harrison administration as "inefficient", "notorious", "scandalous", "dishonest", and cowardly negligent in its, manner of defending correct and dishonest damage suits against the city, its prostitution of our public schools, its pernicious effect upon the realty and industrial values whereby the property of the individual has been depreciated in value while manufacturing and other industrial interests have been driven from our city.

[16] The Democratic platform advocated for,Twenty years as the maximum of franchises pending the final ownership by the city with the percentage of the gross receipts as compensation, lower fares in rush hours and better facilitites, and weaver of rights claimed under the 99-year act.

[16] Not only did Henacy propose stronger measures to regulate streetcar companies,[5] but the Republican convention had declared that, The franchise question must be settled fairly, honestly and promptly between all parties.

The extension of street railway franchises and lowering of the tunnels are questions which demand the immediate attention of the city and must be promptly and fearlessly met.

[16]The Democratic platform also advocated municipal ownership of other public utilities, including gas, electricity, and water.