1860 Vermont gubernatorial election

The 1860 Vermont gubernatorial election for governor of Vermont was held on Tuesday, September 4.^[1] In keeping with the "Mountain Rule", incumbent Republican Hiland Hall was not a candidate for a third one-year term.^[2][3] The Republican nominee was former Governor Erastus Fairbanks.^[2] With the Democratic Party fracturing nationally over the slavery issue, John Godfrey Saxe, the Democratic nominee against Hall in 1859, ran as a supporter of Stephen A. Douglas for president.^[4] Robert Harvey ran as a supporter of Democratic presidential candidate John C. Breckinridge.^[4]

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

1860 Vermont gubernatorial election

← 1859 September 4, 1860 (1860-09-04) 1861 â†’

Nominee Erastus Fairbanks John Godfrey Saxe Robert Harvey Party Republican Douglas Democratic Breckinridge Democratic Popular vote 34,188 11,795 2,115 Percentage 71.0% 24.5% 4.5%

County results Fairbanks:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Hiland Hall Republican Elected Governor Erastus Fairbanks Republican

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Vermont continued to strongly oppose the continuation of slavery and its backing of the Republican Party's abolitionist platform was unwavering.^[2][4] Fairbanks easily defeated both Democrats to win a one-year term.^[2] He took his oath of office on October 12.^[5]