From collection Candidates
Adda Hamilton was elected County Superintendent of Schools of Gallatin County, Montana in 1884. Hamiltion lost the Democratic nomination to another candidate, but decided to run as an independent. The local newspaper supported her candidacy, stating that Hamilton "enters the field against the odds of regular party nominees." the paper added, "Hamilton should be elected," and that the men of Gallatin Country [the only eligible voters' " would be confounded mean if they don't run Hamilton in." She won the race by one vote. Hamilton ran for re-election in 1886, again as an independent candidate, In that race she lost to Democrat Mary F. Houston.
