The democratic party nominee for president in 1896 was ; the republicans nominated ; and the populists endorsed

During the eve of elections in 1896 the democrats had William Jennings Bryan as the party nominee for the president while the republicans nominated William McKinley  a former governor and the populists endorsed Bryan. William McKinley was elected as the president of the United States in the elections (1896) defeating the joint democratic and populist nominee Jennings Bryan and other minor- parties candidates. His victory brought in a  period of dominance by the republican party.