1860 Vermont gubernatorial election

The 1860 Vermont gubernatorial election for governor of Vermont was held on Tuesday, September 4.[1] In keeping with the "Mountain Rule", incumbent Republican Hiland Hall was not a candidate for a third one-year term.[2][3] The Republican nominee was former Governor Erastus Fairbanks.[2] With the Democratic Party fracturing nationally over the slavery issue, John Godfrey Saxe, the Democratic nominee against Hall in 1859, appeared on the ballot as a supporter of Stephen A. Douglas for president.[4] Robert Harvey appeared as a supporter of Democratic presidential candidate John C. Breckinridge.[4]

1860 Vermont gubernatorial election

← 1859 September 4, 1860 (1860-09-04) 1861 →
 
Nominee Erastus Fairbanks John Godfrey Saxe Robert Harvey
Party Republican Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 34,188 11,795 2,115
Percentage 71.0% 24.5% 4.5%

County results
Fairbanks:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election

Hiland Hall
Republican

Elected Governor

Erastus Fairbanks
Republican

Vermont continued to strongly oppose the continuation of slavery and its backing of the Republican Party's abolitionist platform was unwavering.[2][4] Fairbanks easily defeated both Democrats to win a one-year term.[2] He took his oath of office on October 12.[5]

General election

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Results

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1860 Vermont gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Erastus Fairbanks 34,188 71.0%
Democratic John Godfrey Saxe 11,795 24.5%
Democratic Robert Harvey 2,115 4.5%
Scattering 3 0.0%
Total votes '48,101' '100'

References

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  1. ^ "National Republican Nominations". The Caledonian. St. Johnsbury, VT. August 31, 1860. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e Armstrong, Howard E. (1955). Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. p. 273 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Hand, Samuel B. (2003). "Mountain Rule Revisited" (PDF). Vermont History. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Historical Society. pp. 140, 143.
  4. ^ a b c Miller, Richard F., ed. (2013). States at War. Vol. 1. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England. p. 564. ISBN 978-1-6116-8324-0 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Legislature of Vermont: Joint Assembly". Vermont Chronicle. Bellows Falls, VT. October 16, 1860. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.