1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election

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1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election

← 1854 April 4, 1855 1856 →
  William T. Minor.jpg No image.svg
Nominee William T. Minor Samuel Ingham
Party Know Nothing Democratic
Electoral vote 117 70
Popular vote 28,080 27,292
Percentage 43.51% 42.29%

  Governor Henry Dutton (cropped).jpg
Nominee Henry Dutton
Party Whig
Popular vote 9,162
Percentage 14.20%

Governor before election

Henry Dutton
Whig

Elected Governor

William T. Minor
Know Nothing

The 1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election was held on April 4, 1855. 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[1]
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. ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 2020-09-14.
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