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Born
Library WebsiteWilson was born in Staunton, Virginia, on December 28, 1856. His birthplace in Staunton, at 18–24 North Coalter Street, is now the location of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. He was the third of four children of Joseph Ruggles Wilson and Jessie Janet Woodrow. -
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Governor of New Jersey
In 1910, Wilson ran for Governor of New Jersey against the Republican candidate Vivian M. Lewis, the State Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. Wilson's campaign focused on his independence from machine politics, and he promised that if elected he would not be beholden to party bosses. Wilson soundly defeated Lewis in the general election by a margin of more than 49,000 votes. -
Election of 1912
Woodrow Wilson and The Election of 1912Wilson's popularity as governor and his status in the national media gave impetus to his presidential campaign in 1912. Much of Wilson's support came from the South, especially intellectuals, editors and lawyers. In the campaign Wilson promoted the "New Freedom", emphasizing limited federal government and opposition to monopoly powers, often after consultation with his chief advisor Louis D. Brandeis. Wilson took 41.8% of the popular vote and wowon 435 electoral votes from 40 states.
