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.
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 County results Gardner: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% Rockwell: 30–40% 40–50% Beach: 30–40% Walley: 40–50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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
editCandidates
edit- 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
edit| 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 | ||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. p. 118. ISBN 9780786414390.