1830 Vermont gubernatorial election

The 1830 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on September 7, 1830.^[1] It resulted in the election of Samuel C. Crafts to a one-year term as governor.^[2]

In the mid-1820s, the Democratic-Republicans, the only major party following the demise of the Federalists after the War of 1812, began to splinter into supporters and opponents of President Andrew Jackson.^[3] The opponents of Jackson were called National Republicans, and adopted the name Whig after the 1832 presidential election.^[3] The pro-Jackson party was still referred to as the Democratic-Republican Party, but adopted the name Democratic Party prior to the 1832 elections.^[3] The Anti-Masonic Party, which formed in the late 1820s, continued to gather supporters, and had more influence in Vermont than in most other states.^[4]

The Vermont General Assembly met in Montpelier on October 14.^[2] The Vermont House of Representatives appointed a committee to review the votes of the freemen of Vermont for governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, and members of the governor's council.^[2] The committee determined that no candidate had won a majority for governor or lieutenant governor.^[2] In accordance with the Vermont Constitution, the General Assembly was required to choose.^[2]

The popular vote for governor was reported as: Total votes, 30,721; Samuel C. Crafts (National Republican), 13,476 (43.9%); William A. Palmer (Anti-Masonic),^[5] 10,923 (35.6%); Ezra Meech (Democratic-Republican), 6,285 (20.4%); scattering, 37 (0.01%).^[2]

In the election for lieutenant governor, the popular vote totals were: Total votes, 29,847; Mark Richards (National Republican), 12,779 (42.8%); Lebbeus Egerton (Anti-Masonic),^[5] 10,594 (35.5%); John Roberts (Democratic-Republican), 6,405 (21.4%); scattering, 69 (0.02%).^[2] After numerous ballots over several days failed to produce winners, on Tuesday, October 19 the General Assembly chose Crafts for governor and Richards for lieutenant governor.^[2]

With 224 legislators and councilors casting votes for governor on the 32nd ballot, 113 were required for a majority.^[6] Crafts received 115, Palmer received 72, and Democratic-Republican William Czar Bradley received 37.^[6] For lieutenant governor, 211 members of the General Assembly voted on the third ballot, so 106 were necessary for victory.^[6] Richards received 117, Egerton received 57, and Roberts 37.^[6]

Benjamin Swan won election to a one-year term as treasurer, his thirty-first.^[2] Though he had nominally been a Federalist, Swan was usually endorsed by the Democratic-Republicans and even after the demise of the Federalist Party he was frequently unopposed.^[7] In 1830, he was endorsed by the National Republicans^[8] and Democratic-Republicans,^[9] and opposed by Anti-Masonic candidate Augustine Clarke.^[5] In the treasurer's race, the popular vote was reported as: Total votes cast, 28,917; Swan, 18,544 (64.1%); Clarke, 10,325 (35.7%); scattering, 48 (0.02%).^[10]