1854 Connecticut gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1854 Connecticut gubernatorial election
Country:Connecticut
Type:Presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1853 Connecticut gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1853
Next Election:1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election
Next Year:1855
Election Date:April 3, 1854
Image1:Governor Henry Dutton (3x4a).jpg
Nominee1:Henry Dutton
Party1:Whig Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:19,465
Percentage1:31.89%
Electoral Vote1:140
Nominee2:Samuel Ingham
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:28,338
Percentage2:46.43%
Electoral Vote2:93
Image3:Charles Chapman (Connecticut Congressman) (3x4a).jpg
Nominee3:Charles Chapman
Party3:Temperance
Popular Vote3:10,672
Percentage3:17.49%
Map Size:220px
Governor
Before Election:Charles H. Pond (acting)
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Henry Dutton
After Party:Whig Party (United States)

The 1854 Connecticut gubernatorial election was held on April 3, 1854.[1] [2] [3] Former state legislator and Whig Party nominee Henry Dutton defeated former congressman and Democratic nominee Samuel Ingham and former congressman Charles Chapman with 31.89% of the vote.

Although Ingham won a large plurality of the vote, he did not receive a majority. As a result, the Connecticut General Assembly elected the governor, per the state constitution. Dutton won the vote over Ingham, 140 to 93, in the General Assembly, and became the governor. This was the first of two elections in which Ingham would receive a plurality of more than 10% in the popular vote and lose the election, the second being 1856.

Dutton won even though he earned a smaller percentage of the popular vote than the previous four elections that the Whigs lost, winning with fewer than one third of the votes. The deterioration of the Whig vote share was similar to the national party collapse, as part of the political transition from the Second Party System to the Third Party System. This was the last time the Whigs won election to the governor's office, the last time the Whigs would finish second in the popular vote, and the last such election in which the Free Soil Party participated.

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

Minor party candidates

Results

Notes and References

  1. News: . April 2, 1854 . The Election in Connecticut . The daily union . Washington, D.C. . 2 . 1 May 2022 .
  2. News: . April 3, 1854 . The Connecticut election . The New York herald . New York, N.Y. . 4 . 1 May 2022 .
  3. News: . April 3, 1854 . Personal . Daily evening star . Washington, D.C. . 2 . 1 May 2022 .