The 1928 presidential election was held on November 6, 1928, and featured the Republican candidate Herbert Hoover and the Democratic candidate Alfred E. Smith. Hoover, who was the Secretary of Commerce, campaigned on the prosperity of the 1920s, while Smith, the Governor of New York, was the first Catholic to be nominated by a major party, which raised concerns among some voters. Herbert Hoover won the election decisively, receiving 58.2% of the popular vote and 444 electoral votes compared to Smith's 40.8% and 87 electoral votes. This election marked a significant shift in American politics, as it highlighted the growing divide between urban and rural voters.