1849–50 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

The 1849–50 Massachusetts gubernatorial election consisted of an initial popular election held on November 12, 1949^[1] that was followed by a legislative vote held on January 7, 1850. The ultimate task of electing the governor had been placed before the Massachusetts General Court because no candidate received the majority of the vote required for a candidate to be elected through the popular election. Incumbent Whig Governor George N. Briggs won the legislative vote and was therefore elected, defeating Democratic nominee George S. Boutwell and Free Soil nominee Stephen C. Phillips.

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

← 1848

November 12, 1849 (popular election)
January 7, 1850 (legislative vote)

1850 →


Nominee	George N. Briggs	George S. Boutwell	Stephen C. Phillips
Party	Whig	Democratic	Free Soil
Popular vote	54,009	30,040	25,247
Percentage	49.33%	27.44%	23.06%
Senate vote	23 65.71%	12 34.29%	Did not qualify

Popular election results by county
Briggs: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%

Governor before election

George N. Briggs
Whig

Elected Governor

George N. Briggs
Whig

General election

Candidates

George N. Briggs, Whig, incumbent governor
George S. Boutwell, Democratic, state banking commissioner, former state representative^[2]
Stephen C. Phillips, Free Soil, former U.S. representative, former mayor of Salem, Massachusetts

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...

1849 Massachusetts gubernatorial election^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Whig	George N. Briggs	54,009	49.33%
	Democratic	George S. Boutwell	30,040	27.44%
	Free Soil	Stephen C. Phillips	25,247	23.06%
	Scattering		193	0.18%
Majority			23,969	21.89%
Turnout			109,849
	Whig hold		Swing

Legislative election

As no candidate received a majority of the vote, the Massachusetts General Court was required to decide the election. Under Article III of the Constitution of Massachusetts, the House of Representatives chose two candidates from the top four vote-getters, the Senate electing the governor from the House's choice.^[8]

Contemporary sources only record the House's vote as Briggs 157, Phillips 63, Boutwell 59, which would result in the nomination of Briggs but not Boutwell.^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]

The legislative election was held on January 7, 1850.^[16]

More information Party, Candidate ...

Legislative election^[16]^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Whig	George N. Briggs	23	65.71%
	Democratic	George S. Boutwell	12	34.29%
Turnout			35
	Whig hold

References

[1]
"Elections". The daily union. Washington, D.C. November 6, 1849. p. 3. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
[2]
"Gov. George Sewall Boutwell". www.nga.org. National Governors Association. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
[3]
"MA Governor, 1849". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
[4]
Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Westport, CT: Meckler Books. pp. 142–143. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
[5]
Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. p. 58. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
[6]
Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.
[7]
Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S., eds. (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Vol. I. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, Inc. p. 278. ISBN 0-379-00665-0.
[8]
"Massachusetts Constitution". The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
[9]
"Governor of Massachusetts". The republic. Washington, D.C. January 10, 1850. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
[10]
"Election of Governor of Massachusetts". Weekly national intelligencer. Washington, D.C. January 12, 1850. p. 5. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
[11]
"Election of Governor in Massachusetts". The national era. Washington, D.C. January 17, 1850. p. 11. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
[12]
"Election of Gov. Briggs". Virginia free press. Charlestown, Va. January 17, 1850. p. 3. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
[13]
"Governor of Massachusetts". The Lancaster gazette. Lancaster, Ohio. January 18, 1850. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
[14]
"Governor of Massachusetts". The daily crescent. New Orleans, La. January 18, 1850. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
[15]
"Communicated". The Minnesota pioneer. St. Paul, Minn. Territory. February 27, 1850. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
[16]
Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S., eds. (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Vol. I. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, Inc. p. 294. ISBN 0-379-00665-0.

1849–50 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

General election

Candidates

Results

Legislative election

References

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