1856 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

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1856 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

← 1855 11 March 1856 1857 →
 
Nominee Ralph Metcalf John S. Wells
Party Know Nothing Democratic
Popular vote 32,119 32,031
Percentage 48.15% 48.02%

Governor before election

Ralph Metcalf
Know Nothing

Elected Governor

Ralph Metcalf
Know Nothing

The 1856 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on 11 March 1856 in order to elect the Governor of New Hampshire. Incumbent Know Nothing Governor Ralph Metcalf won re-election against Democratic nominee and former United States Senator from New Hampshire John S. Wells and Whig nominee and former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives Ichabod Goodwin.Since no candidate received a majority in the popular vote, Metcalf was elected by the New Hampshire General Court per the state constitution.[1]

General election

On election day, 11 March 1856, incumbent Know Nothing Governor Ralph Metcalf won re-election by a margin of 88 votes against his foremost opponent Democratic nominee John S. Wells, but because no candidate received a majority of the popular vote, a separate election was held by the New Hampshire General Court, which chose Governor Metcalf as the winner. He thereby retained Know Nothing control over the office of Governor. Metcalf was sworn in for his second term on 7 June 1856.[2]

Results

New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 1856
Party Candidate Votes %
Know Nothing Ralph Metcalf (incumbent) 32,119 48.15
Democratic John S. Wells 32,031 48.02
Whig Ichabod Goodwin 2,360 3.54
Scattering 193 0.29
Total votes 66,703 100.00
Know Nothing hold

References

  1. ^ "Ralph Metcalf". National Governors Association. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  2. ^ "NH Governor". ourcampaigns.com. 4 June 2005. Retrieved 3 April 2024.