| Election Name: | 1846 Maine gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Maine |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1845 Maine gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1845 |
| Next Election: | 1847 Maine gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1847 |
| Election Date: | 14 September 1846 |
| Nominee1: | John W. Dana |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 36,031 |
| Percentage1: | 47.62% |
| Nominee2: | David Bronson |
| Party2: | Whig Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 29,557 |
| Percentage2: | 39.06% |
| Nominee3: | Samuel Fessenden |
| Party3: | Liberty Party (United States, 1840) |
| Popular Vote3: | 9,398 |
| Percentage3: | 12.42% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Hugh J. Anderson |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | John W. Dana |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1846 Maine gubernatorial election was held on September 14, 1846, in order to elect the Governor of Maine. Former acting governor and Democratic nominee John W. Dana defeated Whig nominee and former member of theMaine Senate David Bronson and Liberty Party candidate and former member of the Massachusetts State Senate Samuel Fessenden. However, as no candidate received a majority of the total votes cast as was required by Maine law, the election was forwarded to the Maine legislature, who chose Dana as governor.[1]
On election day, September 14, 1846, former Democratic acting governor John W. Dana won the election by a margin of 6,474 votes against his foremost opponent Whig nominee David Bronson, thereby retaining Democratic control over the office of governor. Dana was sworn in as the 21st governor of Maine on 12 May 1847.[2]