The Republican National Convention met in mid-May 1860 after the Democrats had been forced to adjourn their convention in Charleston. With the Democrats in disarray and a sweep of the Northern states possible, the Republicans felt confident going into their convention in
Chicago.
William H. Seward from New York was considered the front-runner, followed by
Salmon P. Chase from Ohio, and Missouri's
Edward Bates.
Abraham Lincoln from Illinois was less well-known and was not considered to have a good chance against Seward. Seward had been governor and senator of New York and was an able politician with a Whig background. Also running were
John C. Frémont,
William L. Dayton,
Cassius M. Clay, and
Benjamin Wade, who might be able to win if the convention deadlocked.