1846 Vermont gubernatorial election

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1846 Vermont gubernatorial election

← 1845 September 1, 1846 (1846-09-01) 1847 →
 
Nominee Horace Eaton John Smith Lawrence Brainerd
Party Whig Democratic Free Soil
Popular vote 23,644 17,877 7,118
Percentage 48.5% 36.7% 14.6%

Governor before election

William Slade
Whig

Elected Governor

Horace Eaton
Whig

The 1846 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on September 1, 1846,[1] and resulted in the election of Whig Party candidate Horace Eaton to a one-year term as governor.[2]

Statewide elections[edit]

In the race for governor, incumbent lieutenant governor Horace Eaton defeated Smith, a former member of the United States House of Representatives and Brainerd, a former member of the Vermont House of Representatives.[3]

In the popular vote for lieutenant governor, Whig Leonard Sargeant defeated Democrat Truman B. Ransom and Free Soil candidate Jacob Scott.[3] The vote totals were: Sargeant, 23,335 (47.4%); Ransom, 17,985 (36.6%); Scott, 7,801 (15.9%); scattering, 65 (0.1%).[3]

The contest for state treasurer resulted in the election of Whig Elisha P. Jewett, who defeated Democrat Daniel Baldwin and Free Soil nominee Zenas Wood.[3] Vote totals in the treasurer's race were: Jewett, 23,324 (48.2%); Baldwin, 17,847 (36.9%); Wood, 6,978 (14.4%); scattering, 192 (0.5%).[3]

Because none of the popular vote winners achieved the 50 percent required by the Constitution of Vermont, the Vermont General Assembly was required to choose the winners.[3] In most cases, the assembly selects the candidate who received a plurality of the vote.[3] In the October 8, 1846 legislative elections, Eaton, Sargeant, and Jewett all won their contests.[3] The reported vote totals were:[3]

Governor[edit]

Necessary for a choice: 111

Results:

Eaton, 136
Smith, 75
Brainerd, 11

Lieutenant governor[edit]

Necessary for a choice: 112

Results:

Sargeant, 138
Ransom, 73
Scott, 12

Treasurer[edit]

Necessary for a choice: 111

Results:

Jewett, 138
Baldwin, 74
Wood, 12

Results[edit]

1846 Vermont gubernatorial election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Horace Eaton 23,644 48.5% + 1.4%
Democratic John Smith 17,877 36.7% - 1.8%
Free Soil Lawrence Brainerd 7,118 14.6% - 1.1%
Scattering 64 0.02% - 0.05%
Total votes '48,703' '100'

References[edit]

  1. ^ "To-Day: To-Day, Whigs of Old Addison, must find you early at the polls". Northern Galaxy. Middlebury, VT. September 1, 1846. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Armstrong, Howard E. (1955). Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. p. 272 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Poland, J., ed. (October 15, 1846). "Vermont Legislature: October 8". The Green Mountain Freeman. Montpelier, VT. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.