1849 Mississippi gubernatorial election

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1849 Mississippi gubernatorial election
  1847 November 5, 1849 1851  
  John A Quitman.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee John A. Quitman Luke Lea
Party Democratic Whig
Popular vote33,11722,996
Percentage59.0%41.0%

1849 Mississippi gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Quitman:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90–100%
Lea:      50–60%     60–70%
No data/vote:      

Governor before election

Joseph W. Matthews
Democratic

Elected Governor

John A. Quitman
Democratic

The 1849Mississippi gubernatorial election was held on November 1, 1849, to elect the governor of Mississippi. John A. Quitman, a Democrat won against Whig Luke Lea, future Commissioner of Indian Affairs in the Department of Interior. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Background

Debates over slavery and state rights continued to dominate the Mississippi political scene. Political leaders called for the defense of slavery and the necessity of secession if further encroachment on the institution of slavery occurred. [4]

General election

Incumbent Governor Joseph Matthews announced he would not run for reelection. The Democrats unanimously nominated John A. Quitman, a staunch defender of nullification, "state sovereignty", and slavery. The Whigs nominated Luke Lea, who was also a defender of slavery but did not believe in secession. However, many Whigs preferred Quitman. Quitman was elected governor by a wide margin, reflecting the political environment at the time. [2] [4]

Results

Mississippi gubernatorial election, 1849 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John A. Quitman 33,117 59.0%
Whig Luke Lea22,99641.0%
Total votes56,113 100.00
Democratic hold

References

  1. 1 2 Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775–1978. Westport, CT: Meckler Books. pp. 168–169.
  2. 1 2 Rowland, Dunbar (1925). History of Mississippi, the Heart of the South. Vol. 1. S. J. Clarke Publishing Company.
  3. DeJong, David H. (2021), "Luke Lea: Commissioner of Indian Affairs (July 1, 1850–March 24, 1853)", Paternalism to Partnership, The Administration of Indian Affairs, 1786–2021, University of Nebraska Press, pp. 80–85, ISBN   978-1-4962-3058-4, JSTOR   j.ctv2cw0sp9.20 , retrieved January 14, 2024
  4. 1 2 Busbee, Westley F. (2015). Mississippi: A History (1st ed.). John Wiley and Sons. pp. 201–202.