1851 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
The 1851 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 10.
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| Elections in Massachusetts |
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Incumbent Democratic Governor George S. Boutwell was re-elected to a second term in office. Although Whig Robert C. Winthrop won a plurality of the popular vote, a majority was required for election. Instead, the election was put to the Massachusetts General Court, where a coalition of Free Soil and Democratic legislators elected Boutwell to a second term.
General election
Candidates
- George S. Boutwell, incumbent Governor (Democratic)
- Francis Cogswell (Independent)
- Robert C. Winthrop, former U.S. Senator and Speaker of the U.S. House (Whig)
- John G. Palfrey, former U.S. Representative from Cambridge (Free Soil)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Robert C. Winthrop | 64,279 | 46.93% | ||
| Democratic | George S. Boutwell (incumbent) | 43,732 | 31.93% | ||
| Free Soil | John G. Palfrey | 28,560 | 20.85% | ||
| Write-in | 280 | 0.20% | |||
| Independent | Francis Cogswell | 118 | 0.09% | ||
| Total votes | 136,969 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
Legislative vote
The Massachusetts House of Representatives certified the popular returns on January 12. Governor Boutwell was the first candidate nominated with 200 votes to Winthrop's 194. On a second ballot, Winthrop was nominated with 240 votes, with 30 for Palfrey and 16 for Cogswell. In the Massachusetts State Senate, Boutwell defeated Winthrop 28–11.[2]
See also
References
- "MA Governor, 1851". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- The Massachusetts Register for the Year 1852. 1853. pp. 34–35.
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