| Election Name: | 1797 Massachusetts gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Massachusetts |
| Type: | presidential |
| Previous Year: | 1796 |
| Previous Election: | 1796 Massachusetts gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1798 |
| Next Election: | 1798 Massachusetts gubernatorial election |
| Ongoing: | No |
| Image1: | File:IncreaseSumnerBySharples.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Increase Sumner |
| Party1: | Federalist Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 14,540 |
| Percentage1: | 56.21% |
| Nominee2: | James Sullivan |
| Party2: | Democratic-Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 7,125 |
| Percentage2: | 27.55% |
| Image3: | File:Moses Gill - John S Copley.jpg |
| Nominee3: | Moses Gill |
| Party3: | Federalist Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote3: | 3,559 |
| Percentage3: | 13.76% |
| Governor | |
| Before Party: | Democratic-Republican Party (United States) |
| Before Election: | Samuel Adams |
| After Party: | Federalist Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Increase Sumner |
The 1797 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on April 3.
Incumbent Governor Samuel Adams did not stand for election to a fourth term. The party system was still taking shape in the state, and the Federalists nominated Increase Sumner, while more populist factions that had previously supported Governors John Hancock and Samuel Adams nominated Moses Gill and James Sullivan, respectively. The principal issues in this and subsequent elections were over federal policy: specifically the national response to threats of war with Revolutionary France, and the consequent need for increased taxes to arm the nation.[1] Sumner ultimately won a majority over the divided opposition.
Although Gill polled well in Boston and the eastern counties of present-day Maine, the Federalists won a decisive victory over the divided opposition.[2]