1835 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

The 1835 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was among three candidates. Incumbent Governor George Wolf ran as an Independent Democrat. In the end Joseph Ritner won the election and became Pennsylvania's only Anti-Masonic governor.

1835 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

October 13, 1835 (1835-10-13)

Nominee Joseph Ritner George Wolf Henry A. P. Muhlenberg Party Anti-Masonic Independent Democrat Democratic Popular vote 94,023 65,804 40,586 Percentage 46.9% 32.8% 20.3%

County Results Ritner:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Wolf:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Muhlenberg:      30-40%      40-50%

Governor before election George Wolf Democratic Elected Governor Joseph Ritner Anti-Masonic

Democratic schism

In March 1835 factionalism came to a head in Pennsylvania's dominant Democratic party as it convened at Harrisburg to nominate its candidate for governor. The supporters of the incumbent Wolf and those of Lutheran pastor Henry Muhlenberg, known respectively as the "Wolves" and the "Mules", deadlocked and adjourned to reconvene at Lewistown in May. The Wolf delegates, however, remained at Harrisburg and in a rump convention renominated the governor. The outraged "Mules" then proceeded as scheduled to Lewistown to nominate Muhlenberg.

The resulting split Democratic vote enabled the Anti-Masons, with Whig support, to finally elect Ritner, who had lost the previous two elections.

Tension between the "Wolves" and the "Mules" lasted until the mid-1840s.

Results

Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1835

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Anti-Masonic	Joseph Ritner	94,023	46.91
	Independent Democrat	George Wolf (incumbent)	65,804	32.83
	Democratic	Henry A. P. Muhlenberg	40,586	20.25
Total votes			200,413	100.00