| Election Name: | 1846 Iowa gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Iowa |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Next Election: | 1850 Iowa gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1850 |
| Election Date: | 26 October 1846 |
| Nominee1: | Ansel Briggs |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 7,626 |
| Percentage1: | 50.82% |
| Nominee2: | Thomas McKnight |
| Party2: | Whig Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 7,379 |
| Percentage2: | 49.18% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | James Clarke (Territorial) |
| Before Party: | Whig Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Ansel Briggs |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1846 Iowa gubernatorial election was held on 26 October 1846 in order to elect the first Governor of Iowa upon Iowa acquiring statehood on 28 December 1846. Democratic nominee Ansel Briggs defeated Whig nominee Thomas McKnight.[1]
On election day, 26 October 1846, Democratic nominee Ansel Briggs won the election by a margin of 247 votes against his opponent Whig nominee Thomas McKnight, thereby gaining Democratic control over the new office of Governor. Briggs was sworn in as the 1st Governor of the new state of Iowa on 28 December 1846.[2]