1855 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

← 1854 November 6, 1855 (1855-11-06) 1856 →

Nominee Henry J. Gardner Julius Rockwell Party Know Nothing Republican Popular vote 51,497 36,715 Percentage 37.73% 26.90%   Nominee Erasmus Beach Samuel H. Walley Party Democratic Whig Popular vote 34,728 13,296 Percentage 25.44% 9.74%

County results Gardner:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60% Rockwell:      30–40%      40–50% Beach:      30–40% Walley:      40–50%

Governor before election Henry J. Gardner Know Nothing Elected Governor Henry J. Gardner Know Nothing

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The 1855 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6. Know-Nothing candidate Henry J. Gardner was re-elected to a second term as Governor in a multi-partisan race, defeating Republican Julius Rockwell and Democrat Erasmus Beach.

This was the first election won by a direct plurality vote, after the majority requirement was abolished by the legislature on May 23. Gardner won without ratification by the General Court.

General election[edit]

Candidates[edit]

• Erasmus Beach, former State Senator from Springfield (Democratic)
• Henry J. Gardner, incumbent Governor (Native American)
• Julius Rockwell, interim U.S. Senator (1854–55) (Republican)
• Samuel H. Walley, U.S. Representative from Roxbury (Whig)

Results[edit]

1855 Massachusetts gubernatorial election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Know Nothing	Henry J. Gardner (incumbent)	51,497	37.73%	24.85
	Republican	Julius Rockwell	36,715	26.90%	21.92
	Democratic	Erasmus D. Beach	34,728	25.44%	14.89
	Whig	Samuel H. Walley	13,296	9.74%	11.20
	Scattering	All others	252	0.19%	0.03
Total votes			136,488	100.00%
	Know Nothing hold		Swing

See also[edit]

• 1855 Massachusetts legislature

References[edit]