1863 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

A gubernatorial election was held in Rhode Island on April 2, 1863. The Republican former mayor of Providence James Y. Smith defeated the Democratic incumbent governor William C. Cozzens.^[1]

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1863 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

← 1862 April 2, 1863 1864 â†’

Nominee James Y. Smith William C. Cozzens Party Republican Democratic Alliance Constitutional Union Popular vote 10,749 7,672 Percentage 58.4% 41.6%

County results Smith:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election William C. Cozzens Democratic Elected Governor James Y. Smith Republican

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William Sprague IV won the 1860 Rhode Island gubernatorial election leading a coalition of Conservative Republicans, former Whigs, and Democrats.^[2] Following the election, Sprague's supporters coalesced in the Constitutional Union Party.^[3] Sprague underwent a political transformation during his tenure as governor, which coincided with the American Civil War. He attempted to build a new political party composed of Republicans, War Democrats, and his old conservative allies. When this effort failed, Sprague threw his support behind the Republicans.^[4] Following his election to the United States Senate, he used his influence to encourage conservatives to back Smith, whom Sprague had defeated in his 1861 re-election bid.^[2] Cozzens ran jointly as the Democratic and Constitutional Union candidate on a platform that endorsed the war effort and condemned emancipation.^[5][6]