1860 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
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A gubernatorial election was held in Rhode Island on April 4, 1860. The Democratic and Conservative candidate William Sprague IV defeated the Republican former member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from Providence Seth Padelford.[1]
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April 4, 1860
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 County results Sprague: 50â60% Padelford: 50â60% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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At the Republican state convention, Padelford, a Radical Republican, defeated the incumbent governor Thomas G. Turner. Padelford's nomination precipitated a movement by Conservative Republicans, former Whigs, and Democrats to jointly nominate Sprague as the conservative fusion candidate. Sprague's surrogates portrayed the election as a choice between "Union and Disunion" and charged Padelford with representing "agitation, anarchy," and "black Republicanism."[2] The conservatives used several names during the campaign, including "Young Men's," "Conservative Republican," "Democratic," "Military," "Conservative Union," and "American."[3] Sprague's coalition subsequently became the foundation for the Rhode Island Constitutional Union Party.[4]
Nominations
Conservative Party
A convention of the "conservative men of Rhode Island" met at Providence on February 1, 1860 and nominated Sprague for governor.[5] Sprague declined this nomination.[6] A second state convention was held on February 16, concurrently with the Democratic convention, where Sprague was again nominated unanimously.[7]
Candidate
Democratic Party
The Democratic state convention was held at Providence on February 16, 1860, concurrently with the Conservative Union convention. Sprague was nominated unanimously.[8]
Candidate
Republican Party
The Republican state convention met at Providence on January 4, 1850. Padelford defeated Turner on the first ballot.[9]
Candidates
Gubernatorial nomination
| Candidate | 1st |
|---|---|
| Seth Padelford | 55 |
| Samuel G. Arnold | 34 |
| Thomas G. Turner | 15 |
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William Sprague IV | 12,278 | 53.34 | |
| Republican | Seth Padelford | 10,740 | 46.66 | |
| Total votes | 23,018 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
