1797 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

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1797 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
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←  1796 April 3, 1797 (1797-04-03) 1798  →
  IncreaseSumnerBySharples.jpg James Sullivan.jpg Moses Gill - John S Copley.jpg
Nominee Increase Sumner James Sullivan Moses Gill
Party Federalist Democratic-Republican Federalist
Popular vote14,5407,1253,559
Percentage56.21%27.55%13.76%
Governor before election

Samuel Adams
Democratic-Republican

Elected Governor

Increase Sumner
Federalist

The 1797 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on April 3.

Contents

Incumbent Governor Samuel Adams did not stand for election to a fourth term. The party system was still taking shape in the state, and the Federalists nominated Increase Sumner, while more populist factions that had previously supported Governors John Hancock and Samuel Adams nominated Moses Gill and James Sullivan, respectively. The principal issues in this and subsequent elections were over federal policy: specifically the national response to threats of war with Revolutionary France, and the consequent need for increased taxes to arm the nation. [1] Sumner ultimately won a majority over the divided opposition.

General election

Candidates

Results

Although Gill polled well in Boston and the eastern counties of present-day Maine, the Federalists won a decisive victory over the divided opposition. [2]

1797 Massachusetts gubernatorial election [3] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Federalist Increase Sumner (incumbent) 14,540 56.21%
Democratic-Republican James Sullivan 7,12527.55%
Federalist Moses Gill 3,55913.76%
OthersScattering6412.46%
Total votes25,865 100.00%
Federalist gain from Democratic-Republican Swing

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References

  1. ↑ Morse, pp. 175, 177
  2. ↑ Morse, pp. 174–175
  3. ↑ Burdick, Charles (1814). The Massachusetts Manual: or Political and Historical Register, for the Political Year from June 1814 to June 1815. Vol. I. Boston: Charles Callender. p. 26.
  4. ↑ Glashan, Roy (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Westport, Conn.: Meckler Books. p. 140.

Bibliography

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