1848–49 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
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Popular election results by county Briggs: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Phillips: 40–50% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Massachusetts |
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The 1848–49 Massachusetts gubernatorial election consisted of an initial popular election held on November 13, 1848[1] that was followed by a legislative vote held on January 8, 1949. Incumbent Whig Governor George N. Briggs was reelected.
Democratic nomination
[edit]The Democratic convention was held on September 6, 1848, at Worcester City Hall.[2]
Results
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Caleb Cushing | 382 | 60.0 | |
Democratic | Frederick Robinson | 220 | 34.5 | |
Democratic | George S. Boutwell | 16 | 2.5 | |
Democratic | Robert Rantoul Jr. | 11 | 1.7 | |
Democratic | G. P. Osgood | 4 | 6.3 | |
Democratic | Benjamin F. Hallett | 2 | 3.1 | |
Democratic | Isaac Davis | 1 | 1.6 | |
Democratic | H. H. Childs | 1 | 1.6 | |
Total votes | 637 |
Whig nomination
[edit]The Whig convention was held on September 13, 1848, at Worcester. Governor George N. Briggs and Lieutenant Governor John Reed Jr. were re-nominated by acclamation.[5][6]
General election
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- George N. Briggs, Whig, incumbent Governor
- Stephen C. Phillips, Free Soil, former U.S. Representative, former Mayor of
Salem, Massachusetts - Caleb Cushing, Democratic, former U.S. Representative, former United States Minister to China
- Frederick Robinson, Independent Democrat, warden of the Massachusetts State Prison, former President of the Massachusetts Senate[7]
Results
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | George N. Briggs | 61,640 | 49.69% | ||
Free Soil | Stephen C. Phillips | 36,011 | 29.03% | ||
Democratic | Caleb Cushing | 25,323 | 20.41% | ||
Independent Democrat | Frederick Robinson | 475 | 0.38% | ||
Scattering | 606 | 0.49% | |||
Majority | 25,629 | 20.66% | |||
Turnout | 124,055 |
Legislative election
[edit]As no candidate received a majority of the vote, the Massachusetts General Court was required to decide the election. Under Article III of the Constitution of Massachusetts, the House of Representatives chose two candidates from the top four vote-getters, the Senate electing the Governor from the House's choice.[13]
The legislative election was held on January 8, 1849.[14][15]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | George N. Briggs | unanimous | ||
Whig hold |
References
[edit]- ^ "Miscellaneous Political Intelligence". The New York herald. New York, N.Y. November 13, 1848. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ a b "Democratic State Convention at Worcester". The daily union. Washington, D.C. September 24, 1848. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ "Caleb Cushing Nominated for Governor of Massachusetts". The New York herald. New York, N.Y. September 7, 1848. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ "Massachusetts Democratic State Convention". Richmond enquirer. Richmond, Va. September 8, 1848. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ "Massachusetts Whig State Convention". Alexandria gazette. Alexandria, D.C. September 15, 1848. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ "The Whigs of Massachusetts". The Middlebury galaxy. Middlebury, Vt. September 19, 1848. p. 3. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. American Series of Popular Biographies (Massachusetts ed.). Boston: Graves & Steinbarger. 1901. pp. 455–456.
- ^ "MA Governor, 1848". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Westport, CT: Meckler Books. pp. 142–143. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
- ^ Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. p. 58. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
- ^ Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.
- ^ Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S., eds. (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Vol. I. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, Inc. p. 278. ISBN 0-379-00665-0.
- ^ "Massachusetts Constitution". The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ "Massachusetts". The examiner. Louisville, Ky. January 20, 1849. p. 3. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ "Massachusetts". The Mississippi Creole. Canton, Miss. January 26, 1849. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S., eds. (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Vol. I. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, Inc. p. 294. ISBN 0-379-00665-0.
- ^ "News of the Day". Alexandria gazette. Alexandria, D.C. January 11, 1849. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ "Briggs and Reed". The Middlebury galaxy. Middlebury, Vt. January 16, 1849. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.