Holland had served as a member of the Legislature from Oktibbeha County.

Harris had been a member of Congress from the Second (Holly Springs) District, having been defeated for the nomination in 1872 by A.R.Howe, of Panola County.
While the ticket, as a whole, was not a weak one, its principal strength was in its head,--the candidate for Governor.
Shortly after the adjournment of the convention Senator Alcorn had another convention called which nominated a ticket, composed exclusively of Republicans, with himself at its head for Governor.

The Democrats at their convention endorsed the Alcorn ticket.

While it would seem that this action on the part of the Democrats ought to have increased Alcorn's chances of success, it appears to have been a contributory cause of his defeat.

Thousands of Republicans who were in sympathy with the movement, and who would have otherwise voted the Alcorn ticket, refused to do so for the reason that if it had been elected the Democrats could have claimed a victory for their party.