Republican Governor William D. Denney declined to seek re-election, and the Republican state convention unanimously named banker Robert P. Robinson as its nominee;[1] Robinson emerged as a compromise selection.

[2] On the Democratic side, several candidates announced their candidacies prior to the convention[3] and a difficult, protracted fight for the nomination developed.

Joseph Bancroft, a prominent industrialist, and Josiah Marvel, emerged as the frontrunners.

[4] Bancroft won the nomination at the convention after nine ballots; an effort was made to nominate him by acclamation, but Marvel's supporters objected.

Robinson's landslide victory occurred as President Calvin Coolidge was overwhelmingly winning the state over his opponents, Democrat John W. Davis and Progressive Robert M. La Follette.