1849 Indiana gubernatorial election

1849 Indiana gubernatorial election

← 1846 August 6, 1849 1852 →
 
Nominee Joseph A. Wright John A. Matson
Party Democratic Whig
Popular vote 76,996 67,218
Percentage 52.27% 45.64%

County results
Wright:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Matson:      40–50%      50–60%

No Vote/Data:      

Governor before election

James Whitcomb
Democratic

Elected Governor

Joseph A. Wright
Democratic

The 1849 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on August 6, 1849.[1]

This was the last election held in August, and the last election for a three-year term, until a new state constitution came into effect in 1851.

Incumbent Democratic Governor James Whitcomb was term-limited, and could not seek a third consecutive term.[2]

Democratic nominee Joseph A. Wright defeated Whig nominee John A. Matson and Free Soil nominee James H. Cravens with 52.27% of the vote.

Following the election, on December 26, 1848, Whitcomb resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate. Lieutenant Governor Paris C. Dunning acted as governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

  1. ^ "Proclamation". Indiana State sentinel. Indianapolis. August 2, 1849. p. 4. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Article IV". Constitution of 1816. Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved August 24, 2023.