Howard Elwood Wright[1] (1866 – October 10, 1942) was a politician from California who served in the California State Assembly as a Republican from the 51st district between 1897 and 1899. In January 1899, Wright was elected the 31st Speaker of the Assembly, but resigned the office and his seat in the assembly after just 29 days after he was allegedly involved in a vote-buying scheme for U.S. Senate candidates, which at the time were elected by the state legislature. Wright had also forged campaign documents, the penalty for which would have been forfeiture of office; James K. Burnett, another state assemblyman, introduced an expulsion resolution for Wright prior to his resignation from the Assembly.[2]
Howard E. Wright | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 31st Speaker of the California State Assembly | |
| In office January 1899 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Leslie Coombs |
| Succeeded by | Alden Anderson |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 51st district | |
| In office January 4, 1897 – January 1, 1901 | |
| Preceded by | Clinton Griswold Dodge |
| Succeeded by | Newell K. Foster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1866 Carson City, Nevada, U.S. |
| Died | (aged 76) Berkeley, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
Alden Anderson was chosen to succeed Wright following his resignation.
Wright was born in Carson City, Nevada, the son of a judge, Samuel Huntington Wright. His professional career was in the oil and insurance industry.[3] Wright died at his home in Berkeley, California on October 10, 1942 at the age of 76.[4][3]