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 County resultsEaton: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Smith: 40–50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1846 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on September 1, 1846, and resulted in the election of Whig Party candidate Horace Eaton to a one-year term as governor.
Statewide elections
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.
In the popular vote for lieutenant governor, Whig Leonard Sargeant defeated Democrat Truman B. Ransom and Free Soil candidate Jacob Scott. The vote totals were: Sargeant, 23,335 (47.4%); Ransom, 17,985 (36.6%); Scott, 7,801 (15.9%); scattering, 65 (0.1%).
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. 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%).
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. In most cases, the assembly selects the candidate who received a plurality of the vote. In the October 8, 1846 legislative elections, Eaton, Sargeant, and Jewett all won their contests. The reported vote totals were:
Governor
Necessary for a choice: 111
Results:
- Eaton, 136
- Smith, 75
- Brainerd, 11
Lieutenant governor
Necessary for a choice: 112
Results:
- Sargeant, 138
- Ransom, 73
- Scott, 12
Treasurer
Necessary for a choice: 111
Results:
- Jewett, 138
- Baldwin, 74
- Wood, 12
Results
| 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
- "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.
- Armstrong, Howard E. (1955). Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. p. 272 – via Google Books.
- ^ Poland, J., ed. (October 15, 1846). "Vermont Legislature: October 8". The Green Mountain Freeman. Montpelier, VT. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
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