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During the [[United States presidential election, 1880|1880 presidential election]], Cameron served as the chairman of the [[Republican National Committee]]. Aligned with congressional [[conservative]] Stalwarts led by [[Roscoe Conkling]],<ref name=latinlibraryinfo/> he supported nominating former president Grant to run for an unprecedented, non-consecutive third term.<ref>Weisberger, Bernard A. [https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/james-garfield-and-chester-arthur James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur]. ''Encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>

During the [[United States presidential election, 1880|1880 presidential election]], Cameron served as the chairman of the [[Republican National Committee]]. Aligned with congressional [[conservative]] Stalwarts led by [[Roscoe Conkling]],<ref name=latinlibraryinfo/> he supported nominating former president Grant to run for an unprecedented, non-consecutive third term.<ref>Weisberger, Bernard A. [https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/james-garfield-and-chester-arthur James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur]. ''Encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>

In 1882, factionalism divided the Pennsylvania GOP and handed a victory to Democrats when roughly 40,000 [[Liberal Republican Party|Liberal Republicans]] deemed "[[Half-Breeds]]" by the Republican machine bolted from the party in the gubernatorial election that year to vote for an "Independent Republican" candidate.<ref name=explorepabio/> Several years later in the mid-1880s, Cameron's leadership role in the Pennsylvania machine was replaced by that of [[Matthew S. Quay]], who proved to surpass the former in influence and capabilities.<ref name=quaybio/>

In 1882, factionalism divided the Pennsylvania GOP and handed a victory to Democrats when roughly 40,000 [[Liberal Republican Party|Liberal Republicans]] deemed "[[Half-Breeds]]" by the Republican machine bolted from the party in the gubernatorial election that year to vote for an "Independent Republican" candidate.<ref name=explorepabio/> Several years later in the mid-1880s, Cameron was replaced as machine leader by [[Matthew S. Quay]], who proved to surpass the former in influence and capabilities.<ref name=quaybio/>

The Federal Elections Bill of 1890 introduced by conservative Republican [[Massachusetts]] senator [[Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr.]], narrowly passed the House by a party-line vote and faced a blockade in the Senate. Western liberal Republicans opposed the bill under the belief that the stance would draw support from Southern Democrats into their pro-free silver cause, while Northern pro-business Republicans such as Cameron and Quay emphasized protective tariffs.<ref>Koenig, Louis W. [https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/us-history-biographies/benjamin-harrison-us-president Benjamin Harrison]. ''Encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref> Although the Pennsylvania senatorial duo did not oppose the legislation, they prioritized the tariff issue and did comparably little to help pass the Lodge bill.

The Federal Elections Bill of 1890 introduced by conservative Republican [[Massachusetts]] senator [[Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr.]], narrowly passed the House by a party-line vote and faced a blockade in the Senate. Western liberal Republicans opposed the bill under the belief that the stance would draw support from Southern Democrats into their pro-free silver cause, while Northern pro-business Republicans such as Cameron and Quay emphasized protective tariffs.<ref>Koenig, Louis W. [https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/us-history-biographies/benjamin-harrison-us-president Benjamin Harrison]. ''Encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref> Although the Pennsylvania senatorial duo did not oppose the legislation, they prioritized the tariff issue and did comparably little to help pass the Lodge bill.