1859 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

1859 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

April 6, 1859

Nominee Thomas G. Turner Elisha R. Potter Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 8,938 3,536 Percentage 71.52% 28.29%

County results Turner:      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Elisha Dyer Republican Elected Governor Thomas G. Turner Republican

The 1859 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on April 6, 1859.^[1]

Incumbent Republican governor Elisha Dyer declined to stand for re-election.^[2][3]

Republican nominee Thomas G. Turner beat Democratic nominee Elisha R. Potter with 71.52% of the vote.

General election

Candidates

• Elisha R. Potter, Democratic, former U.S. representative, former State commissioner of public schools, Democratic candidate for governor in 1858
• Thomas G. Turner, Republican, incumbent lieutenant governor

Results

1859 Rhode Island gubernatorial election^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[a]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Thomas G. Turner	8,938	71.52%
	Democratic	Elisha R. Potter	3,536	28.29%
	Scattering		24	0.19%
Majority			5,402	43.23%
Turnout			12,498
	Republican hold		Swing

Notes

1. Some sources give slightly different results.^{[10][11][12][13]} The result given is taken from the Rhode Island Assembly Journal.

References

1. "There are to be three more State elections this spring". The Highland weekly news. Hillsboro, Ohio. March 31, 1859. p. 2. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
2. "Governors Elisha & Elisha Jr. Dyer". Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
3. Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island. Vol. I. Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co. 1908. p. 3.
4. "RI Governor, 1859". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
5. Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Westport, CT: Meckler Books. pp. 272–273. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
6. Manual with Rules and Orders for the Use of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island, 1879-80. Providence: E. L. Freeman & Co., Printers to the State. 1879. p. 160.
7. Field, Edward, ed. (1902). State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the End of the Century: A History. Vol. I. Boston and Syracuse: Mason Publishing Company. p. 370.
8. The Evening Journal Almanac 1860. Albany: Weed, Parsons & Co., Printers and Stereotypers. 1860. p. 72.
9. Acts and Resolves of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, passed at the May Session, 1859. Providence: Knowles, Anthony & Co., State Printers. 1859. p. 56.
10. Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. p. 76. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
11. Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.
12. Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S., eds. (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Vol. I. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, Inc. p. 514. ISBN 0-379-00665-0.
13. The Tribune Almanac and Political Register for 1860. New York: H. Greeley & Company. p. 47.