Raymond L. Haight
Encyclopedia
Raymond LeRoy Haight was an American
lawyer
and politician
from California
. Involved in the Republican and Commonwealth-Progressive
parties, Haight ran as a third party
candidate during the 1934 California gubernatorial election
.
to George Haight and Isabella Hawkins. Haight's grandfather's first cousin was Henry Huntly Haight, the Governor of California
from 1867 to 1871. Haight was also related to Henry Haight
, a prominent pioneer and San Francisco banker during the California Gold Rush
. Haight was educated in law at the University of Southern California
, editing the Daily Trojan
for a year between 1918 and 1919. Following graduation, Haight entered a Los Angeles
-based law practice, and quickly gained a reputation with corporate investigations.
In the 1934 California gubernatorial election, Haight initially campaigned for the Republican nomination, gaining 85,000 votes. Haight ultimately lost to Frank Merriam
, who had recently been installed as governor following the death of James Rolph
. Haight continued to pursue the governorship, gaining the crossed Commonwealth-Progressive Party
's nomination, running against the right-wing leaning Merriam, and former Socialist
and left-wing leaning Democrat author Upton Sinclair
. During the campaign, there was discussion during amongst Democratic supporters, including A. P. Giannini, of asking Sinclair to leave the race in favor of Haight, due to belief that Haight's moderate politics and unassociation with socialism would stand better against Merriam's conservatism. Sinclair, however, disapproved.
Haight campaigned as a centrist between the right Merriam and the left Sinclair, seeping support from voters dissatisfied with both candidates. Haight garnered 302,519 votes, 13% of the vote. Much of Haight's voting strength came from the San Joaquin Valley
, where farmers were hostile to Sinclair's End Poverty in California
scheme to take over idle farms. With 13% of the vote, Haight arguably spoiled
Sinclair's chances for the governorship.
Haight would unsuccessfully run again as a Progressive in the 1938 election
, though he would never garner the same support as he did in 1934. Haight returned to law, and rejoined Republican ranks. He served as a delegate to the 1944 Republican National Convention
in Chicago
.
Haight died in San Diego on September 2, 1948.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Involved in the Republican and Commonwealth-Progressive
Progressive Party (United States, 1924)
The Progressive Party of 1924 was a new party created as a vehicle for Robert M. La Follette, Sr. to run for president in the 1924 election. It did not run candidates for other offices, and it disappeared after the election except in Wisconsin. Its name resembles the 1912 Progressive Party, which...
parties, Haight ran as a third party
Third party (politics)
In a two-party system of politics, the term third party is sometimes applied to a party other than the two dominant ones. While technically the term is limited to the third largest party or third oldest party, it is common, though innumerate, shorthand for any smaller party.For instance, in the...
candidate during the 1934 California gubernatorial election
California gubernatorial election, 1934
The California gubernatorial election, 1934 was held on November 6, 1934. Held in the midst of the Great Depression, the 1934 election was amongst the most controversial in the state's political history, putting conservative Republican Frank Merriam against former Socialist Party member turned...
.
Biography
Haight was born in San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
to George Haight and Isabella Hawkins. Haight's grandfather's first cousin was Henry Huntly Haight, the Governor of California
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
from 1867 to 1871. Haight was also related to Henry Haight
Henry Haight
Henry Huntly Haight was the tenth Governor of California from December 5, 1867 to December 8, 1871.-Life:Son of Fletcher Mathews Haight, he was born in Rochester, New York, and graduated from Yale University...
, a prominent pioneer and San Francisco banker during the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. Haight was educated in law at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, editing the Daily Trojan
Daily Trojan
The Daily Trojan, or "DT," is the student newspaper of the University of Southern California. The newspaper is a forum for student expression and is written, edited, and managed by university students. The paper is intended to inform USC students, faculty, and staff on the latest news and provide...
for a year between 1918 and 1919. Following graduation, Haight entered a Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based law practice, and quickly gained a reputation with corporate investigations.
In the 1934 California gubernatorial election, Haight initially campaigned for the Republican nomination, gaining 85,000 votes. Haight ultimately lost to Frank Merriam
Frank Merriam
Frank Finley Merriam was an American politician who served as the 28th governor of California from June 2, 1934 until January 2, 1939...
, who had recently been installed as governor following the death of James Rolph
James Rolph
James “Sunny Jim” Rolph, Jr. was an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was elected to a single term as the 27th governor of California from January 6, 1931 until his death on June 2, 1934 at the height of the Great Depression...
. Haight continued to pursue the governorship, gaining the crossed Commonwealth-Progressive Party
Progressive Party (United States, 1924)
The Progressive Party of 1924 was a new party created as a vehicle for Robert M. La Follette, Sr. to run for president in the 1924 election. It did not run candidates for other offices, and it disappeared after the election except in Wisconsin. Its name resembles the 1912 Progressive Party, which...
's nomination, running against the right-wing leaning Merriam, and former Socialist
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
and left-wing leaning Democrat author Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair
Upton Beall Sinclair Jr. , was an American author who wrote close to one hundred books in many genres. He achieved popularity in the first half of the twentieth century, acquiring particular fame for his classic muckraking novel, The Jungle . It exposed conditions in the U.S...
. During the campaign, there was discussion during amongst Democratic supporters, including A. P. Giannini, of asking Sinclair to leave the race in favor of Haight, due to belief that Haight's moderate politics and unassociation with socialism would stand better against Merriam's conservatism. Sinclair, however, disapproved.
Haight campaigned as a centrist between the right Merriam and the left Sinclair, seeping support from voters dissatisfied with both candidates. Haight garnered 302,519 votes, 13% of the vote. Much of Haight's voting strength came from the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
, where farmers were hostile to Sinclair's End Poverty in California
End Poverty in California movement
Standing for End Poverty in California, EPIC was an effort for well-known muckraking writer and former Socialist Upton Sinclair to implement socialist reforms through California's Democratic Party during the Great Depression by recruiting supporters into the party and then securing that party's...
scheme to take over idle farms. With 13% of the vote, Haight arguably spoiled
Spoiler effect
The spoiler effect describes the effect a minor party candidate with little chance of winning has in a close election, when that candidate's presence in the election draws votes from a major candidate similar to them, thereby causing a candidate dissimilar to them to win the election...
Sinclair's chances for the governorship.
Haight would unsuccessfully run again as a Progressive in the 1938 election
California gubernatorial election, 1938
-General Election Results:-References:*...
, though he would never garner the same support as he did in 1934. Haight returned to law, and rejoined Republican ranks. He served as a delegate to the 1944 Republican National Convention
1944 Republican National Convention
The 1944 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois, from June 26 to 28, 1944. It nominated Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York for President and Governor John Bricker of Ohio for Vice-President....
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Haight died in San Diego on September 2, 1948.