On November 22, 1891, the RNC voted on the seventh ballot to have Minneapolis host the convention. Cincinnati, New York City, Omaha, and San Francisco also made bids to host it. Many of Blaine's old supporters encouraged him to run for the nomination. Blaine had denied any interest in the nomination months before his resignation, but some of his friends, including Quay and Clarkson took it for false modesty and worked for his nomination anyway. Blaine resigned as Secretary of State on June 4, three days before the convention. This led to many Republicans believing that he would seek the nomination. Blaine's sister-in-law
Mary Abigail Dodge wrote in her biography of him that his resignation was not due to an interest in the nomination. Harrison wanted McKinley to place his name up for nomination, but McKinley declined to answer if he would.
Louis T. Michener asked McKinley at the convention if he would support Harrison, but he declined to answer. Hanna, who was a delegate to the convention, opened an unofficial headquarters for McKinley at a nearby hotel and committed the Ohio delegation for him. Harrison's allies arranged for McKinley to become chair of the convention where he would be forced to play a neutral role. Quay praised this plan stating that it would make "it impossible for McKinley to
Garfield the convention". Blaine was nominated by Colorado delegate
Edward O. Wolcott, Harrison by Indiana delegate
Richard W. Thompson.
Warner Miller seconded Blaine's nomination and
Chauncey Depew seconded Harrison's nomination. McKinley attempted to have the convention nominate Harrison by acclamation, but withdrew his proposal due to opposition. Harrison won the nomination on the first ballot. The convention later voted to make his nomination unanimous. McKinley objected to delegate votes being cast for him. On July 27, Clarkson, who opposed Harrison's renomination, was replaced as chair of the RNC by
William James Campbell. Campbell resigned on July 6, and
Thomas H. Carter was selected to replace him on July 16.
Vice presidential nomination No Republican vice president was renominated for a second term at the time of the convention. Vice President
Levi P. Morton did not campaign for renomination. Morton was dumped from the ticket, as Harrison was not particularly fond of Morton, who was closer to Blaine supporters; Morton himself was not interested in serving another term as vice president in any event, having been persuaded by his confidantes to run for
governor of New York at the next scheduled election in
1894. Reid was nominated by
Edmund O'Connor and seconded by
Horace Porter. Reed was nominated by
Josiah T. Settle and seconded by C.M. Louthan. However, Maine's delegation stated that Reed was not interested in the nomination. Reid won the nomination with a unanimous vote. ==Platform==