1797 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

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1797 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

← 1796 April 3, 1797 (1797-04-03) 1798 →

Nominee Increase Sumner James Sullivan Moses Gill Party Federalist Democratic-Republican Federalist Popular vote 14,540 7,125 3,559 Percentage 56.21% 27.55% 13.76%

County results Sumner:      40-50%      50-60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100% Sullivan:      40–50%

Governor before election Samuel Adams Democratic-Republican Elected Governor Increase Sumner Federalist

The 1797 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on April 3.

Incumbent Governor Samuel Adams did not stand for election to a fourth term. The party system was still taking shape in the state, and the Federalists nominated Increase Sumner, while more populist factions that had previously supported Governors John Hancock and Samuel Adams nominated Moses Gill and James Sullivan, respectively. The principal issues in this and subsequent elections were over federal policy: specifically the national response to threats of war with Revolutionary France, and the consequent need for increased taxes to arm the nation.^[1] Sumner ultimately won a majority over the divided opposition.