1866 Nebraska gubernatorial election
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The 1866 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on June 2, 1866, before Nebraska officially became a state. The Nebraska Constitution of 1866 specified that "the first election for Governor... shall be held on the second day of June, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six" in order to prepare for statehood.[1] This election featured Republican nominee David Butler defeating Democratic nominee J. Sterling Morton to become the first Governor of the State of Nebraska.[2]
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June 2, 1866
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 County results Butler: 50â60% 60â70% 70â80% 80â90% >90% Morton: 50â60% 60â70% 70â80% 80â90% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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General election
Candidates
- David Butler, Republican candidate
- J. Sterling Morton, Democratic candidate
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Butler | 4,093 | 50.77% | |
| Democratic | J. Sterling Morton | 3,948 | 48.97% | |
| Scattering | 21 | |||
| Total votes | 8,062 | 100.0% | ||
Aftermath
Although this election took place on June 2, 1866, Nebraska did not officially become a state until March 1, 1867.[4] This meant that all officeholders elected under the Nebraska Constitution of 1866, including governor-elect David Butler, did not take office until after the transition period on March 27, 1867.[5]
