Patrick Mahoney

Patrick Mahoney was a Continentalist member of the Mexican Senate from Jefferson in the 1880s. At the Continentalist Party's national convention in April 1881, Mahoney nominated Constabulary Commandant Benito Hermión as the party's presidential candidate.

Sobel points out that Hermión's supporters spent as much time talking about his father, President Pedro Hermión, as the Commandant himself. In his nomination speech, Mahoney said, "Hermión was there when our party and nation needed him in 1843. Now, when we once again need a strong man, Hermión is here."

Going into the convention, it was widely believed that Hermión would receive the Continentalist nomination. However, incumbent President George Vining made it clear in his keynote address to the convention that he sought the nomination himself. California business magnate and Continentalist Party boss Bernard Kramer wished to avoid a nomination battle between the two men, and he was pleased with Vining's record as president, so he ordered Hermión to refuse the nomination and to do nothing to encourage his backers. Hermión obediently did not attend the convention, claiming publicly that "it would be unseemly" to do so. The convention chose Vining as its presidential nominee.