1805 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

1805 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

October 8, 1805 (1805-10-08)

Nominee Thomas McKean Simon Snyder Party Constitutionalist Democratic-Republican Alliance Federalist Popular vote 43,644 38,483 Percentage 53.1% 46.9%

County Results McKean:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Snyder:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Unknown/No Vote:

Governor before election Thomas McKean Constitutionalist Elected Governor Thomas McKean Constitutionalist

The 1805 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election occurred on October 8, 1805. Incumbent governor Thomas McKean won a contentious election over the endorsed Democratic-Republican candidate, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Simon Snyder.

Although the Democratic-Republicans united behind the McKean ticket in each of the prior two election cycles, by 1805, the party had divided into moderate and radical wings. The former sought to balance the political power of the traditional elite and the lower classes; this group additionally supported liberal economic policies. The latter sought to directly increase political and economic opportunities for poor and working men. After the radicals took control of the state legislature under Snyder, they clashed with the moderate aligned McKean. Democratic-Republican newspapers were dominated by radical interests, and the press vociferously denounced McKean's support for strong executive and judicial power. The governor formed a working alliance with the Federalists called "the quids" and began to purge radicals from appointed offices. McKean ultimately won reelection by a six point margin.[1]

Results

1805 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
Party		Candidate	Popular votes
			Count	Percent
	Constitutionalist	Thomas McKean	43,674	53.07
	Democratic-Republican	Simon Snyder	38,529	46.82
Others			97	0.12
Totals			82,300	100.0%