1864 Maryland gubernatorial election

The 1864 Maryland gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1864. Incumbent Union Party Governor Augustus Bradford did not run for re-election. Union Party candidate Thomas Swann defeated Democratic candidate Ezekiel F. Chambers.

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

1864 Maryland gubernatorial election

← 1861 November 8, 1864 1867 â†’

Nominee Thomas Swann Ezekiel F. Chambers Party Union Democratic Popular vote 40,579 32,068 Percentage 55.86% 44.14%

County results Swann:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Chambers:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Governor before election Augustus Bradford Union Elected Governor Thomas Swann Union

Close

The Union Party was a Southern Unionist political movement which supported the Lincoln administration.^[1] Most Unionists were former Whigs who had joined the Know Nothing movement in the 1850s, while a minority were Radical Republicans or War Democrats.^[2] The party supported the re-election of Abraham Lincoln under the banner of the National Union Party.^[3]

Swann took his oath of office on January 11, 1865, but by a provision of the 1864 State Constitution, he did not actually become Governor until January 10, 1866.^[4]