He was elected as Republican candidate to the governor's office, serving as the 35th Governor of Rhode Island from May 25, 1880, to May 29, 1883. He succeeded fellow Republican Charles C. Van Zandt, who did not run for re-election in 1880. Littlefield beat the Democratic candidate Horace A. Kimball by 10,224 votes against 7,440, with 5,047 votes going to the Prohibition candidate Albert C. Howard. Republican Henry H. Fay became Lieutenant Governor.Electing State Officers.; the Rhode Island Legislature Chooses a Republican Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The New York Times, May 26, 1880.
