1832 Vermont gubernatorial election

The 1832 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on September 4, 1832.^[1] It resulted in the election of William A. Palmer to a one-year term as governor.^[2]

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1832 Vermont gubernatorial election

← 1831 September 4, 1832 (1832-09-04) 1833 â†’

Nominee William A. Palmer Samuel C. Crafts Ezra Meech Party Anti-Masonic National Republican Democratic Electoral vote 112 72 37 Popular vote 17,318 15,499 8,210 Percentage 44.9% 37.8% 20.0%

County results Palmer:      30–40%      40–50%      60–70%      70–80% Crafts:      30–40%      40–50%      60–70% Meech:      30–40%

Governor before election William A. Palmer Anti-Masonic Elected Governor William A. Palmer Anti-Masonic

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The candidates for governor in 1832 were: incumbent William A. Palmer (Anti-Masonic); former Governor Samuel C. Crafts (National Republican); and Democrat Ezra Meech.^[2] In the general election, the General Assembly, which met in Montpelier on October 11, determined that the results were: total votes, 41,027; Palmer, 17,318 (42.2%); Crafts, 15,499 (37.8%); Meech, 8,210 (20.0%).^[2]

Because no candidate received a majority as required by the Vermont Constitution, the General Assembly was required to select.^[2] Over 42 ballots, 223 members cast ballots, meaning 112 were required for a choice.^[3] Palmer consistently led the balloting with more than 100 votes, and attained as many as 111.^[4] On the 43rd ballot, 222 members cast ballots, meaning 111 were required for a choice.^[4] One Crafts supporter did not vote and one voted for Palmer, who was elected with 112 votes to 72 for Crafts, 37 for Meech, and 1 recorded as scattering.^[4]

In the race for lieutenant governor, the total votes were 40,914.^[2] Anti-Mason and incumbent Lebbeus Egerton received 17,181 votes (42.0%), Jedediah Harris, a National Republican, received 15,304 (37.4%), and Democrat John Roberts received 8,429 (20.6%).^[2] The General Assembly was required to choose and with 219 members voting on the first ballot, 110 votes were necessary for a choice.^[2] Egerton was elected with 111 votes to 66 for Harris, 40 for Roberts, and 2 scattering.^[2]

Benjamin Swan won election to a one-year term as treasurer, his thirty-third.^[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.^[5] In 1832, he was the candidate of the National Republicans^[6] and Democrats,^[7] and Augustine Clarke was the Anti-Masonic candidate.^[8] The popular vote was reported as: total votes cast, 40,389; Swan, 23,687 (58.6%); Clarke, 16,702 (41.4%).^[9]