1855 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

November 6, 1855 (1855-11-06)


Nominee	Henry J. Gardner	Julius Rockwell
Party	Know Nothing	Republican
Popular vote	51,497	36,715
Percentage	37.73%	26.90%


Nominee	Erasmus Beach	Samuel H. Walley
Party	Democratic	Whig
Popular vote	34,728	13,296
Percentage	25.44%	9.74%

County results
Gardner:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%
Rockwell:      30–40%      40–50%
Beach:      30–40%
Walley:      40–50%

Governor before election

Henry J. Gardner
Know Nothing

Elected Governor

Henry J. Gardner
Know Nothing

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Massachusetts

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Massachusetts portal

The 1855 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6. Know-Nothing candidate Henry J. Gardner was re-elected to a second term as Governor in a multi-partisan race, defeating Republican Julius Rockwell and Democrat Erasmus Beach.

This was the first election won by a direct plurality vote, after the majority requirement was abolished by the legislature on May 23. Gardner won without ratification by the General Court.

General election

Candidates

Erasmus Beach, former State Senator from Springfield (Democratic)
Henry J. Gardner, incumbent Governor (Native American)
Julius Rockwell, interim U.S. Senator (1854–55) (Republican)
Samuel H. Walley, U.S. Representative from Roxbury (Whig)

Results

1855 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Know Nothing	Henry J. Gardner (incumbent)	51,497	37.73%	24.85
	Republican	Julius Rockwell	36,715	26.90%	21.92
	Democratic	Erasmus D. Beach	34,728	25.44%	14.89
	Whig	Samuel H. Walley	13,296	9.74%	11.20
	Scattering	All others	252	0.19%	0.03
Total votes			136,488	100.00%
	Know Nothing hold		Swing

References

Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. p. 118. ISBN 9780786414390.

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Categories:

General election

Candidates

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See also

References