The 1928 New York State Election heralded the return of FDR to politics after he had contracted polio. Incumbent Democratic Governor Al Smith, who would run for President on the Democratic ticket in 1928, requested that Franklin D. Roosevelt run in his place on the Democratic ticket. Now in OTL FDR won by about 26,000 votes over his Republican opponent Albert Ottinger a rather narrow margin. What if FDR had lost the election to Albert Ottinger?
Now my first thought is that whoever the Democratic gubernatorial nominee is in the 1930 New York State Election would win by a large margin over Ottinger. Perhaps Al Smith would once again run for Governor in the wake of his Presidential loss. However this brings us to perhaps the biggest thing, if FDR wasn't the governor of NY is it likely that he would pursue the Democratic nomination in 1932? If so without FDR who is likely to win at the 1932 DNC? What would their Presidency look like?
Now my first thought is that whoever the Democratic gubernatorial nominee is in the 1930 New York State Election would win by a large margin over Ottinger. Perhaps Al Smith would once again run for Governor in the wake of his Presidential loss. However this brings us to perhaps the biggest thing, if FDR wasn't the governor of NY is it likely that he would pursue the Democratic nomination in 1932? If so without FDR who is likely to win at the 1932 DNC? What would their Presidency look like?