1850 Connecticut gubernatorial election

The 1850 Connecticut gubernatorial election was held on April 1, 1850.[1][2] Former congressman and Democratic Party nominee Thomas H. Seymour defeated former state legislator and Whig nominee Lafayette S. Foster with 48.11% of the vote.

1850 Connecticut gubernatorial election

← 1849 April 1, 1850 1851 →
 
Nominee Thomas H. Seymour Lafayette S. Foster
Party Democratic Whig
Electoral vote 122 108
Popular vote 28,428 27,780
Percentage 48.11% 47.02%

County Results
Seymour:      40–50%      50–60%
Foster:      40–50%

Governor before election

Joseph Trumbull
Whig

Elected Governor

Thomas H. Seymour
Democratic

Seymour won a plurality of the vote, but he did not receive a majority. As a result, the Connecticut General Assembly elected the governor, per the state constitution. Seymour won the vote over Foster 122 to 108 in the General Assembly, and became the governor.[3] The constitutional inauguration date was May 1, and Seymour was inaugurated on May 4, possibly due to delays over the state legislature vote.

General election

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Candidates

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Major party candidates

  • Thomas H. Seymour, Democratic
  • Lafayette S. Foster, Whig

Minor party candidates

  • John Boyd, Free Soil

Results

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1851 Connecticut gubernatorial election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Thomas H. Seymour 28,428 48.11%
Whig Lafayette S. Foster 27,780 47.02%
Free Soil John Boyd 2,877 4.87%
Plurality 648
Turnout
1850 Connecticut gubernatorial election, contingent General Assembly election[citation needed]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Thomas H. Seymour 122 53.04%
Whig Lafayette S. Foster 108 46.96%
Majority 14
Democratic gain from Whig Swing

References

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  1. ^ "Connecticut". The republic. Washington, D.C. March 30, 1850. p. 2. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  2. ^ "Connecticut Election". The daily union. Washington, D.C. April 3, 1850. p. 3. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "Gov. Thomas H. Seymour", National Governors Association, retrieved 09-15-2020
  4. ^ Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. p. 24. ISBN 9780786414390.