| Election Name: | 1789 Vermont Republic gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Vermont Republic |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1788 Vermont Republic gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1788 |
| Next Election: | 1790 Vermont Republic gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1790 |
| Image1: | ThomasChittenden.png |
| Nominee1: | Thomas Chittenden |
| Party1: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,263 |
| Percentage1: | 43.3% |
| Party2: | Independent politician |
| Nominee2: | Moses Robinson |
| Popular Vote2: | 746 |
| Percentage2: | 25.6% |
| Nominee3: | Samuel Safford |
| Party3: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote3: | 478 |
| Percentage3: | 16.4% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Thomas Chittenden |
| Before Party: | Independent politician |
| After Election: | Moses Robinson |
| After Party: | Anti-Administration Party (United States) |
The Vermont Republic gubernatorial election of 1789 took place in September.[1] Though incumbent Governor Thomas Chittenden won a plurality of the popular vote over his main competitor, Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice Moses Robinson, the Vermont Constitution required that the legislature choose if no candidate won a majority.[1]
The Vermont General Assembly met in Westminster on October 8 to count the votes of the freemen for governor of the Republic of Vermont, lieutenant governor, treasurer, and members of the governor's council.[1] Joseph Marsh was easily re-elected as lieutenant governor, and Samuel Mattocks was chosen for another term as treasurer.[1]
For the first time since the founding of the Vermont Republic in 1778, Chittenden found himself in political difficulty.[2] Shortly before the election, he had granted Ira Allen title to the town of Woodbridge (now Highgate) but had neglected to first obtain the approval of the governor's council.[2] Chittenden was accused of malfeasance for supposedly favoring a clique led by the Allen family with respect to land grants.[2]
As a result of the controversy, On October 9, the legislature chose Robinson, the first time Chittenden had not been elected governor.[1] [2] Robinson served a one-year term, but the controversy over the Woodbridge land grant abated, and Chittenden was returned to office in 1790.[2]