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 County results Arnold: 50–60% 60–70% Fenner: 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Rhode Island |
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The 1831 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 6 April 1831 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. National Republican nominee and incumbent member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Lemuel H. Arnold defeated incumbent Democratic-Republican governor James Fenner. [1]
On election day, 6 April 1831, National Republican nominee Lemuel H. Arnold won the election by a margin of 903 votes against his opponent incumbent Democratic-Republican governor James Fenner, thereby gaining National Republican control over the office of governor. Arnold was sworn in as the 12th governor of Rhode Island on 4 May 1831. [2]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Republican | Lemuel H. Arnold | 3,780 | 56.71 | |
| Democratic-Republican | James Fenner (incumbent) | 2,877 | 43.17 | |
| Scattering | 8 | 0.12 | ||
| Total votes | 6,665 | 100.00 | ||
| National Republican gain from Democratic-Republican | ||||
Since the Great Depression, Rhode Island politics have been dominated by the Rhode Island Democratic Party, and the state is considered part of the Democrats' "Blue Wall." Democrats have won all but four presidential elections since 1928, with the exceptions being 1952, 1956, 1972, and 1984. The Rhode Island Republican Party, although virtually non-existent in the Rhode Island General Assembly, has remained competitive in gubernatorial elections, having won one as recently as 2006. Until 2014, Democrats had not won a gubernatorial election in the state since 1992, and it was not until 2018 that they won one by double digits. The Rhode Island General Assembly has continuously been under Democratic control since 1959.
The 1824 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was an election held on April 21, 1824, to elect the governor of Rhode Island. James Fenner, the Jackson Republican nominee, beat Wheeler Marion, the Democratic Republican candidate, with 78.05% of the vote.
The 1825 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was an uncontested election held on April 20, 1825 to elect the governor of Rhode Island. James Fenner, the incumbent governor and Jackson Republican nominee, was the only candidate and so won with 100% of the vote. Jackson Republicans were a faction of the Democratic-Republican Party which favoured Andrew Jackson over John Quincy Adams for president.
The 1826 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was an uncontested election held on April 19, 1826 to elect the governor of Rhode Island. James Fenner, the incumbent governor and Jackson Republican nominee, was the only candidate and so won with 100% of the vote. Jackson Republicans were a faction of the Democratic-Republican Party which favoured Andrew Jackson over John Quincy Adams for president.
The 1827 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was an uncontested election held on April 18, 1827 to elect the governor of Rhode Island. James Fenner, the incumbent governor and Jackson Republican nominee, was the only candidate and so won with 100% of the vote. Jackson Republicans were a faction of the Democratic-Republican Party which favoured Andrew Jackson over John Quincy Adams for president.
The 1828 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was an uncontested election held on April 16, 1828 to elect the governor of Rhode Island. James Fenner, the incumbent governor and Jackson Republican nominee, was the only candidate and so won with 100% of the vote. Jackson Republicans were a faction of the Democratic-Republican Party which favoured Andrew Jackson over John Quincy Adams for president.
The 1829 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was an uncontested election held on April 15, 1829 to elect the governor of Rhode Island. James Fenner, the incumbent governor and Jacksonian Party nominee, was the only candidate and so won with 100% of the vote.
The 1872 Rhode Island gubernatorial election took place on April 3, 1872, in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Republican candidate and incumbent governor Seth Padelford won his fourth and final one-year term as governor against Democratic candidate Olney Arnold.
The 1805 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 3 April 1805 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Incumbent Democratic-Republican governor Arthur Fenner won re-election against Federalist nominee Seth Wheaton. The exact number of votes cast in this election are unknown.
The 1806 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 2 April 1806 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Federalist nominee Richard Jackson Jr. won a plurality of the vote against incumbent Democratic-Republican governor Henry Smith and Democratic-Republican candidate and incumbent chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Peleg Arnold. However, as no candidate received a majority of the total votes cast as was required by Rhode Island law, the election was forwarded to the Rhode Island legislature. When the legislature was also unable to elect a governor, it was decided that Democratic-Republican lieutenant governor-elect Isaac Wilbour would serve out the term as acting governor.
The 1807 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 1 April 1807 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Democratic-Republican nominee and incumbent United States senator from Rhode Island James Fenner defeated Federalist nominee Seth Wheaton.
The 1808 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 6 April 1808 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Incumbent Democratic-Republican governor James Fenner won re-election as he ran unopposed. The exact number of votes cast in this election are unknown.
The 1809 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 5 April 1809 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Incumbent Democratic-Republican governor James Fenner won re-election as he ran unopposed. The exact number of votes cast in this election are unknown.
The 1810 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 4 April 1810 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Incumbent Democratic-Republican governor James Fenner won re-election as he ran unopposed. The exact number of votes cast in this election are unknown.
The 1811 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 3 April 1811 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Federalist nominee William Jones defeated incumbent Democratic-Republican governor James Fenner.
The 1812 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 1 April 1812 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Incumbent Federalist governor William Jones won re-election against former Democratic-Republican governor James Fenner in a rematch of the previous election.
The 1832 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 4 April 1832 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Incumbent National Republican governor Lemuel H. Arnold won a plurality of the vote against former Democratic-Republican governor James Fenner and incumbent Anti-Masonic Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives William Sprague III. However, as no candidate received a majority of the total votes cast as was required by Rhode Island law, run-offs were held until a candidate received a majority. Following four run-offs which were held on 16 May, 18 July, 28 August and 21 November, no candidate was able to receive a majority. So Governor Arnold remained to serve as governor during the run-offs and in January 1833, the Rhode Island state legislature formalized Governor Arnold's win as he had come in first place in every election and run-off that was held. This permitted him to continue on as governor until the end of the term on 1 May 1833.
The 1833 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 3 April 1833 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Democratic nominee and former member of the Rhode Island Senate John Brown Francis defeated incumbent National Republican governor Lemuel H. Arnold.
The 1864 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 6 April 1864 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Incumbent Republican governor James Y. Smith won re-election against Democratic nominee and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 2nd district George H. Browne and Independent Republican candidate and former Mayor of Providence Amos C. Barstow.
The 1865 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 5 April 1865 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Incumbent Republican governor James Y. Smith won re-election as he ran unopposed upon the withdrawal of his opponent Democratic nominee and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 2nd district George H. Browne in what would have been a rematch of the previous election.
