Question

why did taft win the republican nomination during the 1912 presidential race?

Answer 1

The general consensus is that Taft won this election due to the fact that he was able to bridge the gap between progressives and conservative republicans, while being harsh on corruption but still sympathetic to business. 

Answer 2

Taft had the support of the northern Republican conservatives.

Context/details:

In the 1912 election, the Republican Party was divided. Its conservative wing supported President William Howard Taft for reelection. Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt, who had been President from 1901-1909, led the progressive wing of the Republicans. Ultimately, Roosevelt and his supporters objected to the nomination of Taft as the Republican candidate, and formed a 3rd party, the Progressive Party, with Roosevelt as their presidential candidate. This rift in the Republican Party would make it difficult for either Taft or Roosevelt to win the 1912 campaign.

In the end, Roosevelt won 27% of the popular vote; Taft received 23% of the popular vote. Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson got 42% of the popular vote and carried 40 states to win the Electoral College vote handily.