1879 California gubernatorial election

The 1879 California gubernatorial election was held on September 3, 1879, to elect the governor of California. George Clement Perkins won a plurality of votes, marking the fourth consecutive election in which the incumbent governor's party was defeated. Earlier that year, on May 7, 1879, voters in California approved a new constitution which, effective in 1880, moved the dates of elections to even-numbered years to coincide with elections for federal offices. Thus, the next election for governor would be held on November 7, 1882. As such, Perkins' term as governor would last only three years.

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

 * Alameda
 * Butte
 * Calaveras
 * Del Norte
 * El Dorado
 * Marin
 * Monterey
 * Napa
 * Nevada
 * Plumas
 * Sacramento
 * San Francisco
 * Santa Barbara
 * Santa Clara
 * Santa Cruz
 * Solano
 * Sutter
 * Trinity
 * Tuolumne
 * Yuba

Counties that flipped from Independent to Republican

 * Alpine
 * Mono
 * Sierra

Counties that flipped from Independent to Democratic

 * Lassen

Counties that flipped from Republican to Workingmen's

 * Humboldt

Counties that flipped from Democrat to Workingmen's

 * San Luis Obispo