Legality of Cannabis by U.S. Jurisdiction

The Governor of Indiana is elected to a four-year term and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government.

1816–1850[edit]

Under the original constitution of 1816, the state held gubernatorial elections every three years. The first election was held before statehood was approved, in August 1816. Until the constitution was replaced in 1851, elections were held in October, and winners took office in December.[1]

Indiana gubernatorial election, 1816[2][3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic-Republican Jonathan Jennings 5,211 57
Democratic-Republican Thomas Posey (incumbent territorial governor) 3,934 43
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1819[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic-Republican Jonathan Jennings (incumbent) 11,256 84.9
Independent Christopher Harrison 2,008 15.1
Independent Samuel Carr 80  —
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1822[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic-Republican William Hendricks 18,340 100
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1825[6][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent James B. Ray 13,140 55.8
Whig Isaac Blackford 10,418 44.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1828[7][8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent James B. Ray (incumbent) 15,131 39.6
Whig Israel T. Branby 12,251 31.8
Democratic Harbin H. Moore 10,898 28.6
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1831[7][9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Noah Noble 25,318 47.6
Democratic James G. Reed 21,002 39.5
Independent Milton Sapp 6,894 13
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1834[7][9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Noah Noble (incumbent) 27,767 58.1
Democratic James G. Reed 19,994 41.9
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1837[7][10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig David Wallace 45,240 55.6
Whig John Dumont 36,197 44.4
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1840[7][11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Samuel Bigger 62,932 53.7
Democratic Tilghman Howard 54,274 46.3
Liberty James Duncan 30  —
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1843[7][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Whitcomb 60,784 50.2
Whig Samuel Bigger (incumbent) 58,721 48.5
Liberty Elizur Demming 1,683 1.3
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1846[7][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Whitcomb (incumbent) 64,104 50.7
Whig Joseph G. Marshall 60,138 47.5
Liberty Stephen Stevens 2,301 1.8
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1849[7][14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph A. Wright 76,996 52.3
Whig John A. Matson 67,218 45.6
Free Soil James H. Cravens 3,076 2.1

1851–1971[edit]

In 1851, Indiana adopted its second and current constitution, which banned governors from serving consecutive terms and lengthened terms to four years. Elections since then have been held on Election Day in November during years divisible by four, concurrent with presidential elections.[1]

Indiana gubernatorial election, 1852[7][15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph A. Wright (incumbent) 95,576 55.4
Whig Nicholas McCarty 73,641 42.7
Free Soil James H. Cravens 3,308 1.9
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1856[7][16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ashbel P. Willard 117,981 51.3
Republican Oliver P. Morton 112,139 48.7
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1860[7][17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Henry S. Lane 139,675 51.8
Democratic Thomas Hendricks 129,968 48.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1864[7][18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Oliver P. Morton (incumbent) 152,084 53.7
Democratic Joseph E. McDonald 131,201 46.3
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1868[7][19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Conrad Baker (incumbent) 171,575 50.1
Democratic Thomas Hendricks 170,614 49.9
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1872[7][20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas Hendricks 189,242 50.1
Republican Thomas M. Browne 188,276 49.9
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1876[7][21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James D. Williams 213,219 49.1
Republican Benjamin Harrison 208,080 47.9
Greenback Anson Woolcott ??
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1880[7][22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Albert G. Porter 231,405 49.2
Democratic Franklin Landers 224,452 47.7
Greenback Richard Gregg 14,881 3.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1884[7][22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Isaac P. Gray 245,140 49.5
Republican William H. Calkins 237,748 48.0
Greenback Hiram Z. Leonard 8,338 1.7
Prohibition Robert S. Dwiggins 3,868 0.8
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1888[7][23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Alvin P. Hovey 281,752 49.0
Democratic Courtland C. Matson 280,603 48.8
Prohibition JS Hughes 9,920 2.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1892[7][24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Claude Matthews 233,881 47.5
Republican Ira J. Chase (incumbent) 214,302 46.2
Populist Leroy Templeton 22,401 3.5
Prohibition Aaron Wirth 12,960 1.1
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1896[7][25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James A. Mount 321,032 47.7
Democratic Benjamin F. Shively 294,855 47.0
Populist Thomas Wadsworth 8,525 1.4
Prohibition Leonard M. Christ 2,996 0.5
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1900[7][26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Winfield T. Durbin 331,531 50.5
Democratic John W. Kern 306,272 46.7
Prohibition Charles N. Eckhart 13,453 2.1
Populist A.G. Burkhart 1,504 0.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1904[7][27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Hanly 359,362 53.5
Democratic John Kern 274,998 41.0
Prohibition McWhirter 22,690 3.4
Socialist Hallenberger 10,991 1.6
Populist Leroy Templeton 2,605 0.4
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1908[7][28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas R. Marshall 348,439 49.5
Republican James E. Watson 338,262 48.0
Prohibition Samuel W. Haynes 15,926 2.3
Populist F.J.S. Robinson 986 0.1
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1912[7][29][30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Samuel M. Ralston 275,357 48.1
Progressive Albert J. Beveridge 166,124 28.6
Republican Winfield T. Durbin 142,850 26.7
Prohibition Leonard M. Christ 22,352 3.1
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1916[7][29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James P. Goodrich 337,831 47.8
Democratic John A. M. Adair 325,060 46.0
Prohibition William Hickman 16,401 2.3
Progressive Frank Hanly[31] 7,067 1
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1920[7][32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Warren T. McCray 683,253 54.6
Democratic Carleton B. McCulloch 515,252 41.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1924[7][33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Edward L. Jackson 654,784 52.9
Democratic Carleton B. McCulloch 572,303 46.3
Prohibition 9,947 0.8
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1928[7][34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harry G. Leslie 728,203 51.3
Democratic Frank Dailey 683,545 48.1
Prohibition 8,517 0.6
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1932[7][35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul V. McNutt 862,127 55.0
Republican Raymond Springer 669,797 42.8
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1936[7][36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic M. Clifford Townsend 908,494 55.4
Republican Raymond Springer 727,526 44.3
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1940[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Henry F. Schricker 889,620 49.9
Republican Glenn R. Hillis 885,657 49.7
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1944[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ralph F. Gates 849,346 51.0
Democratic Samuel D. Jackson 802,765 48.2
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1948[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Henry F. Schricker 884,995 53.6
Republican Hobart Creighton 745,892 45.1
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1952[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George N. Craig 1,075,685 55.7
Democratic John A. Watkins 841,984 43.6
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1956[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harold W. Handley 1,086,868 55.6
Democratic Ralph Tucker 859,393 44.0
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1960[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matthew E. Welsh 1,072,717 50.39
Republican Crawford F. Parker 1,049,540 49.30
Prohibition J. Ralston Miller 5,892 0.28
Socialist Labor Herman Kronewitter 816 0.04
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1964[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Roger D. Branigin 1,164,620 56.18
Republican Richard O. Ristine 901,342 43.48
Prohibition Chester G. Bohannon 5,771 0.28
Socialist Labor Gordon A. Long 1,182 0.06
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1968[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Edgar Whitcomb 1,080,271 52.72
Democratic Robert L. Rock 965,816 47.13
Prohibition Melvin E. Hawk 2,985 0.15

1972–present[edit]

In 1972 a constitutional amendment allowing governors to serve two consecutive four-year terms was approved.[1]

Indiana gubernatorial election, 1972[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Otis R. Bowen 1,203,903 56.77
Democratic Matthew E. Welsh 900,489 42.46
American Independent Berryman S. Hurley 8,525 0.40
Peace and Freedom Finley N. Campbell 6,278 0.30
Socialist Labor John Marion Morris 1,652 0.08
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1976[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Otis Bowen (incumbent) 1,236,555 56.85
Democratic Larry A. Conrad 927,243 42.63
American Daniel P. Talbot 9,850 0.45
U.S. Labor Samuel L. Washington 1,676 0.08
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1980[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert D. Orr 1,257,383 57.72
Democratic John Hillenbrand 913,116 41.92
American Cletis Artist 7,904 0.36
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1984[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert D. Orr (Incumbent) 1,146,497 52.16
Democratic Wayne Townsend 1,036,922 47.18
American Rockland Snyder 7,455 0.34
Libertarian James A. Ridenour 7,114 0.32
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1988[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Evan Bayh 1,138,574 53.2
Republican John Mutz 1,002,207 46.8
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1992
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Evan Bayh (incumbent) 1,382,151 62.0
Republican Linley Pearson 822,533 36.9
New Alliance Mary Barton 24,378 1.1
Indiana gubernatorial election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank O'Bannon 1,087,128 51.52
Republican Stephen Goldsmith 986,982 46.78
Libertarian Steve Dillon 35,805 1.70
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank O'Bannon (incumbent) 1,232,525 56.56
Republican David M. McIntosh 908,285 41.68
Libertarian Andrew Horning 38,458 1.76
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2004[45]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mitch Daniels 1,302,912 53.2
Democratic Joe Kernan (incumbent) 1,113,900 45.5
Libertarian Kenn Gividen 31,664 1.3
Majority 189,012[46]
Turnout 2,448,476 57
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2008[47]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mitch Daniels (incumbent) 1,563,885 57.8
Democratic Jill Long Thompson 1,082,463 40.1
Libertarian Andy Horning 57,376 2.1
Majority 481,422[46]
Turnout 2,703,751 62
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Pence 1,275,424 49.49
Democratic John R. Gregg 1,200,016 46.56
Libertarian Rupert Boneham 101,868 3.95
Turnout 2,703,751 57.81
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Eric Holcomb 1,397,396 51.4
Democratic John R. Gregg 1,235,503 45.4
Libertarian Rex Bell 87,025 3.20
Turnout 2,807,676 58
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Eric Holcomb (incumbent) 1,706,727 56.5
Democratic Woody Myers 968,094 32.1
Libertarian Donald Rainwater 345,567 11.4
Turnout 3,068,625 65

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Gugin, pp. 1–2
  2. ^ Woollen, p. 33
  3. ^ Election return summary for all Indiana gubernatorial elections can be found in: Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections. CQ Press. 2001. p. 1119. ISBN 1-56802-602-1.
  4. ^ Gugin , p. 51
  5. ^ Gugin, p. 55
  6. ^ Gugin, p. 62
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Congressional Quarterly, p. 406
  8. ^ Gugin, p. 66
  9. ^ a b Gugin, p. 72
  10. ^ Cady, Charles W (1846). The Indiana annual register and pocket manual for the year 1845. E. Chamberlain.
  11. ^ Gugin, p. 90
  12. ^ Gugin, p. 98
  13. ^ Gugin, p. 100
  14. ^ Gugin, p. 116
  15. ^ Gugin, p. 119
  16. ^ Esarey, Logan (1922). A History of Indiana. Harcourt, Brace and company. p. 187.
  17. ^ Gugin, p. 137
  18. ^ Gugin, p. 147
  19. ^ Gugin, p. 158
  20. ^ Gugin, p. 163
  21. ^ Gugin, p. 170
  22. ^ a b Gugin, p. 187
  23. ^ Gugin, p. 194
  24. ^ Gugin, p. 206
  25. ^ Gugin, p. 212
  26. ^ Gugin, p. 218
  27. ^ Gugin, p. 227
  28. ^ Gugin, p. 236
  29. ^ a b Gugin, p. 252
  30. ^ New International Encyclopedia. Dodd, Mead. 1915. p. 95.
  31. ^ After accepting the Progressive nomination for governor, Hanly accepted the Prohibition Party nomination for President.
  32. ^ Gugin, p. 264
  33. ^ Gugin, p. 276
  34. ^ Gugin, p. 284
  35. ^ Gugin, p. 292
  36. ^ Gugin, p. 330
  37. ^ "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 08, 1960".
  38. ^ "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 03, 1964".
  39. ^ "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 05, 1968".
  40. ^ "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 07, 1972".
  41. ^ "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 02, 1976".
  42. ^ "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 04, 1980".
  43. ^ "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 06, 1984".
  44. ^ "Our Campaigns - IN Governor Race - Nov 08, 1988".
  45. ^ "Indiana General Election November 2, 2004, Statewide". Indiana Secretary of State. 2004-11-02. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  46. ^ a b Number of votes the candidate won by
  47. ^ "Indiana General Election November 4, 2008, Statewide". Indiana Secretary of State. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-11-07.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Gugin, Linda C.; St. Clair, James E, eds. (2006). The Governors of Indiana. Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87195-196-7.