1847 Vermont gubernatorial election

1847 Vermont gubernatorial election

← 1846 September 7, 1847 (1847-09-07) 1848 →
 
Nominee Horace Eaton Paul Dillingham Lawrence Brainerd
Party Whig Democratic Free Soil
Electoral vote 125 85 19
Popular vote 22,455 18,601 6,926
Percentage 46.68% 38.67% 14.39%

County results
Eaton:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Dillingham:      40–50%

Governor before election

Horace Eaton
Whig

Elected Governor

Horace Eaton
Whig

The 1847 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on September 7, 1847, and resulted in the reelection of Whig Party candidate Horace Eaton to another one-year term as governor, his second.

In the election for governor, Eaton, who had succeeded from lieutenant governor in 1846, was elected to his second one-year term, defeating Democrat Paul Dillingham, Free Soiler Lawrence Brainerd, and Know Nothing Reuben C. Benton.[1]

In the lieutenant governor's election, Whig Leonard Sargeant was elected to a second one-year term with 46.5% of the vote to Democrat Charles K. Field's 39.0%, and Free Soil Party Jacob Scott's 14.3%, with a handful of votes cast for write-in candidates.[2]

For treasurer, Whig George Howes received 46.4%, Democratic nominee received Jeremiah T. Marston 39.1%, and Free Soil nominee Zenas Wood had 14.3%, with a few ballots cast for write-ins.[3]

Because none of the candidates received the popular vote majority required by the Vermont Constitution, the contests were formally decided by the Vermont General Assembly.[4] In the October 14 vote, 229 representatives and senators took part, so 115 votes were required to win.[4] Eaton, Sargeant, and Howes were all elected on the first ballot.[4] Eaton received 125 votes, Sargeant 124, and Howes 124.[4]

  1. ^ "Election for Governor, 1847". Vermont Elections Database. Montpelier, VT: Elections Division, Vermont Secretary of State. 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  2. ^ "Election for Lieutenant Governor, 1847". Vermont Elections Database. Montpelier, VT: Elections Division, Vermont Secretary of State. 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  3. ^ "Election for Treasurer, 1847". Vermont Elections Database. Montpelier, VT: Elections Division, Vermont Secretary of State. 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Election of State Officers". Walton's Daily Journal. Montpelier, VT. October 15, 1847. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.