A small faction of the Democrats of the State and Nation supported John M. Palmer for President on a “gold standard” platform.
The Prohibition party nominated the following candidates for State officers: Secretary of State, W. G. Wright; Auditor, J. W. Wonder; Treasurer, J. E. Bye; Supreme Judge, Samuel Holmes; Attorney-General, C. E. Boardman; Railway Commissioner, W. S. Peile.
The National campaign was one of unusual vigor and enthusiasm, the great issue being for or against the gold standard.
The Republicans were successful on both the State and National tickets. The vote in Iowa was as follows:
| On President, | McKinley, Republican | 289,293 |
| Bryan, Democrat and Populist | 223,741 | |
| Palmer, Gold Standard | 4,515 | |
| Levering, Prohibition | 3,192 | |
Plurality for McKinley over Bryan, 65,552. | ||
| The vote on Secretary of State was as follows: | ||
G. L. Dobson, Republican |
288,715 | |
| H. L. Karr, Fusion | 224,812 | |
| W. G. Wright, Prohibition | 3,553 | |
The Republicans elected all of the Representatives in Congress, eleven in number.
An extra session of the Legislature was held, beginning on the 19th of January, 1897, for the purpose of taking action on the report of the Commissioners appointed to revise the laws and prepare a new code, which, when completed, was published and known as “The Code.”
The Soldiers’ Monument Commission was abolished and a new Commission appointed by joint resolution to make a thorough investigation of the acts of the trustees, regents, commissioners and all officers of the various State institutions from July 1st to January 1st, 1897.
