1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election

1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election
← 1854 April 2, 1855 1856 →
 
Nominee William T. Minor Samuel Ingham Henry Dutton
Party Know Nothing Democratic Whig
Electoral vote 117 70
Popular vote 28,080 27,292 9,162
Percentage 43.51% 42.29% 14.20%
Minor:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Ingham:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Dutton:      40–50%
Governor before election

Henry Dutton
Whig

Elected Governor

William T. Minor
Know Nothing

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Mayoral Elections

The 1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election was held on April 2, 1855.[1][2][3] Former state legislator and American Party nominee William T. Minor defeated former congressman and Democratic nominee Samuel Ingham and incumbent governor and Whig nominee Henry Dutton with 43.51% of the vote.

The results reflected the national transition from the Second Party System to the Third Party System. The Know Nothings would win the first of two such elections, and the incumbent Whig Party's vote share collapsed, with Dutton finishing a distant third.

Although Minor won a plurality of the vote, he did not receive a majority. As a result, the Connecticut General Assembly elected the governor, per the state constitution. Minor won the vote over Ingham, 117 to 70, in the General Assembly, and became the governor.

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

  • William T. Minor, American or Know Nothing
  • Samuel Ingham, Democratic
  • Henry Dutton, Whig

Results

1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Know Nothing William T. Minor 28,080 43.51%
Democratic Samuel Ingham 27,292 42.29%
Whig Henry Dutton (incumbent) 9,162 14.20%
Plurality 788
Turnout
1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election, contingent General Assembly election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Know Nothing William T. Minor 117 62.57%
Democratic Samuel Ingham 70 37.43%
Majority 47
Know Nothing gain from Whig Swing

References

  1. ^ "Connecticut Election". Alexandria gazette. Alexandria, D.C. April 4, 1855. p. 2. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  2. ^ "Connecticut Elections". Daily American organ. Washington, D.C. April 4, 1855. p. 2. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  3. ^ "Connecticut". Eastern times. Bath, Me. April 5, 1855. p. 3. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  4. ^ Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. p. 25. ISBN 9780786414390.


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