After winning election to congress in 1876, McKinley had quickly established himself as a champion of high protective tariffs. In 1889, he became chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, using the position to ensure passage of the McKinley Tariff of 1890, which raised the average levy on imports to 48% (the highest rate in American history to that date). Angry voters turned him and other protectionist Republicans out of office later that year. McKinley, though, remained popular in his party and state, winning election as governor of Ohio in October 1891, reelection two years later, and election as president of the United States in 1896.