From collection Candidates
Ella Guptil, the Peoples party candidate, ran for the office of superintendent of schools and Clallum County, Washington, and was elected in 1894. Guptil's election was challenged in the courts on state constitutional grounds. In 1896 the Washington State Supreme Court found in Guptil's favor allowing that the state legislature could allow women to be elected County Superintendents of Instruction even though the constitution referred to such superintendents as "he". Guptil ran for a second term in 1896, but was defeated by the Republican candidate.
