The 1884 Maine gubernatorial election was held on September 8, 1884, in order to elect the governor of Maine. Incumbent Republican governor Frederick Robie won re-election against Democratic nominee John B. Redman, Greenback nominee Hosea B. Eaton and Prohibition nominee William T. Eustis.
A Pyrrhic victory (/ˈpɪrɪk/ PIRR-ik) is a victory gained at such a cost to the victor that it is tantamount to defeat.
The phrase references a statement attributed to Pyrrhus of Epirus. After his victory against the Romans in the Battle of Asculum in 279 BC, Plutarch reports that Pyrrhus exclaimed "One more victory over the Romans and we are completely done for!"