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1861 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

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1861 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

← 1860 3 April 1861 1862 →
 
Nominee William Sprague IV James Y. Smith
Party National Union Republican
Popular vote 11,844 10,200
Percentage 53.69% 46.23%

County results
Sprague:      50–60%
Smith:      50–60%

Governor before election

William Sprague IV
Union

Elected Governor

William Sprague IV
Union

The 1861 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held April 3, 1861 to elect the governor of Rhode Island. William Sprague IV, the incumbent governor, was reelected, defeating his Republican rival, Mayor James Y. Smith of Providence.[1] Sprague was nominated by Rhode Island's Union Party, a coalition of Democrats, conservative Republicans, and ex-Whigs that had supported him in 1860.[2][3]

General election

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On election day, 3 April 1861, incumbent governor William Sprague IV won re-election by a margin of 1,644 votes against his opponent Republican nominee James Y. Smith, thereby retaining Unionist control over the office of governor. Sprague was sworn in for his second term on 5 May 1861.[4]

Results

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Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 1861
Party Candidate Votes %
National Union William Sprague IV (incumbent) 11,844 53.69
Republican James Y. Smith 10,200 46.23
Scattering 18 0.08
Total votes 22,062 100.00
National Union hold

References

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  1. ^ "William Sprague". National Governors Association. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  2. ^ Smith, Adam I. P. (2006). No Party Now: Politics in the Civil War North. New York: Oxford University. pp. 41, 90. ISBN 978-0-19-534596-4.
  3. ^ "The Rhode Island Election". Willimantic Journal. April 5, 1861.
  4. ^ "RI Governor". ourcampaigns.com. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2024.