| Election Name: | 1853 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Vermont |
| Flag Year: | 1837 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1852 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1852 |
| Next Election: | 1854 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1854 |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Nominee1: | John S. Robinson |
| Popular Vote1: | 18,142 |
| Percentage1: | 38.5% |
| Electoral Vote1: | 120 |
| Party2: | Whig Party (United States) |
| Nominee2: | Erastus Fairbanks |
| Popular Vote2: | 20,849 |
| Percentage2: | 43.9% |
| Electoral Vote2: | 104 |
| Party3: | Free Soil Party |
| Nominee3: | Lawrence Brainerd |
| Popular Vote3: | 8,291 |
| Percentage3: | 17.6% |
| Electoral Vote3: | 7 |
| Map Size: | 220px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Erastus Fairbanks |
| Before Party: | Whig Party (United States) |
| After Election: | John S. Robinson |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1853 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on September 6.[1] The same three candidates who ran for governor of Vermont in 1852 ran again in 1853: Whig and incumbent Erastus Fairbanks, Democratic candidate John S. Robinson, and Lawrence Brainerd, the nominee of the Free Soil Party.[2] The results showed that Fairbanks had received 43.9 percent of the vote, with Robinson receiving 38.5 percent, and Brainerd 17.6 percent.[2]
Because no candidate received a majority, the Vermont Constitution required the contest to be settled by the Vermont General Assembly.[2] In the October 27 voting, 119 to 121 votes were necessary for a choice, depending on how many members of the Vermont Senate and Vermont House of Representatives took part in each ballot.[2] On the 20th ballot, with 120 votes required for a choice, enough Brainerd supporters voted for Robinson to give Robinson the win with 120 votes.[2] Fairbanks received 104, and Brainerd received 7.[2] Robinson took the oath of office and began a one-year term on October 28.[3]
Robinson was the only Democrat elected governor of Vermont until the election of Philip H. Hoff in 1962.[4]