1860 United States presidential election in California

1860 United States presidential election in California

← 1856 November 6, 1860 1864 →
 
Nominee Abraham Lincoln Stephen A. Douglas
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Illinois Illinois
Running mate Hannibal Hamlin Herschel V. Johnson
Electoral vote 4 0
Popular vote 38,734 38,023
Percentage 32.31% 31.72%

 
Nominee John C. Breckinridge John Bell
Party Southern Democratic Constitutional Union
Home state Kentucky Tennessee
Running mate Joseph Lane Edward Everett
Electoral vote 0 0
Popular vote 33,975 9,136
Percentage 28.34% 7.62%

County Results

President before election

James Buchanan
Democratic

Elected President

Abraham Lincoln
Republican

The 1860 United States presidential election in California took place on November 6, 1860, as part of the 1860 United States presidential election. State voters chose four representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

California narrowly voted for the Republican nominee, former Illinois representative Abraham Lincoln. He defeated the Democratic nominee, Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas, the Southern Democratic nominee, Vice President John C. Breckinridge and the Constitutional Union nominee John Bell. Lincoln won the state by a narrow margin of 0.61%, or 734 votes.

After this election, Humboldt County would not vote for a Democratic candidate again until 1932. This was also the last time a Democratic candidate would carry Placer County and Plumas County until 1916, nor would any Democratic candidate carry Napa County, San Mateo County, and Solano County again until 1912.