1849 Mississippi gubernatorial election

1849 Mississippi gubernatorial election

←  1847 November 5, 1849 1851  →

Nominee John A. Quitman Luke Lea Party Democratic Whig Popular vote 33,117 22,996 Percentage 59.0% 41.0%

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]}

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]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John A. Quitman	33,117	59.0%
	Whig	Luke Lea	22,996	41.0%
Total votes			56,113	100.00
	Democratic hold

References

1. Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775–1978. Westport, CT: Meckler Books. pp. 168–169.
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. Busbee, Westley F. (2015). Mississippi: A History (1st ed.). John Wiley and Sons. pp. 201–202.