| Election Name: | 1846 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Vermont |
| Flag Year: | 1837 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1845 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1845 |
| Next Election: | 1847 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1847 |
| Image1: | File:Horace_Eaton.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Horace Eaton |
| Party1: | Whig Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 23,644 |
| Percentage1: | 48.5% |
| Nominee2: | John Smith |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 17,877 |
| Percentage2: | 36.7% |
| Image3: | File:Lawrence_Brainerd.jpg |
| Nominee3: | Lawrence Brainerd |
| Party3: | Free Soil Party |
| Popular Vote3: | 7,118 |
| Percentage3: | 14.6% |
| Map Size: | 220px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | William Slade |
| Before Party: | Whig Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Horace Eaton |
| After Party: | Whig Party (United States) |
The 1846 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on September 1, 1846,[1] and resulted in the election of Whig Party candidate Horace Eaton to a one-year term as governor.[2]
In the race for governor, incumbent lieutenant governor Horace Eaton defeated Smith, a former member of the United States House of Representatives and Brainerd, a former member of the Vermont House of Representatives.[3]
In the popular vote for lieutenant governor, Whig Leonard Sargeant defeated Democrat Truman B. Ransom and Free Soil candidate Jacob Scott.[3] The vote totals were: Sargeant, 23,335 (47.4%); Ransom, 17,985 (36.6%); Scott, 7,801 (15.9%); scattering, 65 (0.1%).[3]
The contest for state treasurer resulted in the election of Whig Elisha P. Jewett, who defeated Democrat Daniel Baldwin and Free Soil nominee Zenas Wood.[3] Vote totals in the treasurer's race were: Jewett, 23,324 (48.2%); Baldwin, 17,847 (36.9%); Wood, 6,978 (14.4%); scattering, 192 (0.5%).[3]
Because none of the popular vote winners achieved the 50 percent required by the Constitution of Vermont, the Vermont General Assembly was required to choose the winners.[3] In most cases, the assembly selects the candidate who received a plurality of the vote.[3] In the October 8, 1846 legislative elections, Eaton, Sargeant, and Jewett all won their contests.[3] The reported vote totals were:[3]
Necessary for a choice: 111
Results:
Eaton, 136
Smith, 75
Brainerd, 11
Necessary for a choice: 112
Results:
Sargeant, 138
Ransom, 73
Scott, 12
Necessary for a choice: 111
Results:
Jewett, 138
Baldwin, 74
Wood, 12