1842 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

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1842 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

← 1841 November 14, 1842 1843 →
 
Nominee Marcus Morton John Davis Samuel E. Sewall
Party Democratic Whig Liberty
Popular vote 56,491 54,939 6,382
Percentage 47.88% 46.56% 5.41%
Senate vote 27 11

Governor before election

John Davis
Whig

Elected Governor

Marcus Morton
Democratic

The 1842 Massachusetts gubernatorial election consisted of an initial popular election held on November 14, 1842 that was followed by a legislative vote held on January 17, 1843. The ultimate task of electing the governor had been placed before the Massachusetts General Court because no candidate received the majority of the vote that was constitutionally required for a candidate to be elected through the popular election. Incumbent Whig Governor John Davis was defeated by Democratic nominee and former Governor Marcus Morton.

Candidates

Popular election

1842 Massachusetts gubernatorial election[1][2][3][4][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Marcus Morton 56,491 47.88%
Whig John Davis 54,939 46.56%
Liberty Samuel E. Sewall 6,382 5.41%
Scattering 180 0.15%
Majority 1,552 1.32%
Turnout 117,992

Legislative vote

As no candidate received a majority of the vote, the Massachusetts House of Representatives was required nominate two of the four top vote-getters to the Massachusetts Senate, which then chose one of the two as Governor. The House nominated Davis and Morton.[6][7] The election in the Senate was held on January 17, 1843.

Legislative election[8][7][9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marcus Morton 27 71.1
Whig John Davis 11 28.9
Turnout 38
Democratic gain from Whig

References

  1. ^ "MA Governor, 1842". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  2. ^ Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. p. 58. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
  3. ^ Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.
  4. ^ Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Westport, CT: Meckler Books. pp. 142–143. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
  5. ^ Kallenbach and Kallenbach 1977, p. 277.
  6. ^ "Boston". The New York herald. New York, N.Y. January 18, 1843. p. 1. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Massachusetts Legislature". The Middlebury people's press. Middlebury, Vt. January 25, 1843. p. 2. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  8. ^ Kallenbach and Kallenbach 1977, p. 294.
  9. ^ "Boston". The New York herald. New York, N.Y. January 19, 1843. p. 1. Retrieved October 8, 2021.

Bibliography

  • Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S., eds. (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Vol. I. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-379-00665-0.