| Election Name: | 1842 South Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Country: | South Carolina |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1840 South Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1840 |
| Next Election: | 1844 South Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1844 |
| Election Date: | 8 December 1842 |
| Nominee1: | James H. Hammond |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 83 |
| Percentage1: | 51.55% |
| Nominee2: | Robert Francis Withers Allston |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 76 |
| Percentage2: | 47.21% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | John Peter Richardson II |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | James H. Hammond |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1842 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on 8 December 1842 in order to elect the Governor of South Carolina. Democratic candidate and former member of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina's 4th district James H. Hammond was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly against fellow Democratic candidate and incumbent member of the South Carolina Senate Robert Francis Withers Allston.[1]
On election day, 8 December 1842, Democratic candidate James H. Hammond was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly by a margin of 7 votes against his opponent fellow Democratic candidate Robert Francis Withers Allston, thereby retaining Democratic control over the office of Governor. Hammond was sworn in as the 60th Governor of South Carolina on 3 January 1843.[2]