Talbot Enters Politics

1872 Republican Ticket

Talbot's entry into state politics started in 1852 when he was elected to the state house of representatives. Here Talbot was known for his support of workers’ rights, women's suffrage, fiscal responsibility, and most of all temperance. Serving in this role throughout the Civil War, Talbot would find himself on the gubernatorial Republican ticket in 1872 as the Lieutenant Governor to Governor Washburn. They would have a successful run and in 1874 Talbot would find himself the acting Governor when Governor Washburn would leave his post to fill the vacant US senate seat left but the recently deceased Senator Charles Sumner. The newly elevated Governor Talbot proved to be popular on most issues amongst the Republican parties but was an intensely divisive figure on the subject of temperance. Vetoing a bill that would allow for relaxed restrictions on alcohol, Talbot alienated himself from part of his party so much so that though he won his nomination for the party in the 1876 election, he would lose the race to his Democratic competitor.