| Election Name: | 1846 Delaware gubernatorial special election |
| Country: | Delaware |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1844 Delaware gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1844 |
| Next Election: | 1850 Delaware gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1850 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 1846 |
| Nominee1: | William Tharp |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 6,148 |
| Percentage1: | 50.56% |
| Nominee2: | Peter F. Causey |
| Party2: | Whig Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 6,012 |
| Percentage2: | 49.44% |
| Map Size: | 210px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | William Temple |
| Before Party: | Whig Party (United States) |
| After Election: | William Tharp |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1846 Delaware gubernatorial special election was held on November 3, 1846. A year into the term of Whig Governor Thomas Stockton, elected in 1844, he died, elevating State Senate Speaker Joseph Maull to the governorship. Maull, in turn, also died, making State House Speaker William Temple Governor. Former State Representative Peter F. Causey ran as the Whig nominee to succeed Temple, and faced former State Senator William Tharp, the Democratic nominee from 1844. Tharp narrowly defeated Causey, returning the Governorship to the Democratic Party.[1]