The 1860 Vermont gubernatorial election for governor of Vermont was held on Tuesday, September 4.[1] In keeping with the "Mountain Rule", incumbent Republican Hiland Hall was not a candidate for a third one-year term.[2][3] The Republican nominee was former Governor Erastus Fairbanks.[2] With the Democratic Party fracturing nationally over the slavery issue, John Godfrey Saxe, the Democratic nominee against Hall in 1859, appeared on the ballot as a supporter of Stephen A. Douglas for president.[4] Robert Harvey appeared as a supporter of Democratic presidential candidate John C. Breckinridge.[4]
Vermont continued to strongly oppose the continuation of slavery and its backing of the Republican Party's abolitionist platform was unwavering.[2][4] Fairbanks easily defeated both Democrats to win a one-year term.[2] He took his oath of office on October 12.[5]
