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1860 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

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1860 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

← 1859 November 6, 1860 (1860-11-06) 1861 →
 
Nominee John Albion Andrew Erasmus Beach Amos Lawrence
Party Republican Democratic Constitutional Union
Popular vote 104,527 35,191 23,816
Percentage 61.63% 20.75% 14.04%

County results
Andrew:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election

Nathaniel Prentiss Banks
Republican

Elected Governor

John Albion Andrew
Republican

The 1860 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6. Incumbent Republican governor Nathaniel Banks did not run for re-election to a fourth term. He was succeeded by Republican John Albion Andrew, a radical abolitionist.

Republican convention

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Candidates

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Campaign

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Incumbent governor Nathaniel Banks, a moderate on the slavery issue, supported Congressman Henry L. Dawes as his successor. To give Dawes the greatest possible advantage at the state convention, Banks delayed his retirement announcement as long as possible. However, party chairman William Claflin leaked the news to U.S. senator Charles Sumner, an abolitionist and supporter of John Albion Andrew. Sumner sprang the Andrew campaign into gear before Banks announced his retirement, allowing them to get the jump on Dawes.[1]

Two additional candidates joined the race: Ensign H. Kellogg and John Z. Goodrich. Both hailed from Berkshire County, like Dawes, and their campaigns may have eaten into his regional support there. By the time the convention opened, Andrew was the strong favorite.[2]

Results

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The Republican State Convention was held in Worcester on August 29.

1860 Massachusetts Republican convention[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Albion Andrew 733 68.50%
Republican Henry L. Dawes 326 30.47%
Republican Ensign Kellogg 7 0.65%
Republican John Z. Goodrich 4 0.37%
Total votes 1,070 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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  • John Albion Andrew, state representative from Boston (Republican)
  • Erasmus Beach, Democratic nominee for governor from 1855 through 1858 (Douglas Democratic)
  • Benjamin Franklin Butler, state senator from Lowell and Democratic nominee for governor in 1859 (Breckinridge Democratic)
  • Amos Adams Lawrence, textile magnate and American Party candidate for governor in 1858 (Constitutional Union)

Results

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1860 Massachusetts gubernatorial election[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John Albion Andrew 104,527 61.63% Increase7.61
Democratic Erasmus Beach 35,191 20.75% Decrease11.70
Constitutional Union Amos Adams Lawrence 23,816 14.04% New
Southern Democratic Benjamin Franklin Butler 6,000 3.54% New
Total votes 169,534 100.00%
Republican hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ Pearson, Henry (1904). The Life of John A. Andrew. Cambridge, MA: Houghton, Mifflin. pp. 119–20. OCLC 1453615.
  2. ^ Pearson, Henry (1904). The Life of John A. Andrew. Cambridge, MA: Houghton, Mifflin. pp. 122–23. OCLC 1453615.
  3. ^ "Massachusetts Republican State Convention". The New York Times. August 30, 1860. p. 1. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  4. ^ Pearson, Henry (1904). The Life of John A. Andrew. Cambridge, MA: Houghton, Mifflin. p. 123. OCLC 1453615.
  5. ^ Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. p. 120. ISBN 9780786414390.