1853 Georgia gubernatorial election

1853 Georgia gubernatorial election

←  1851 3 October 1853 1855  →

Nominee Herschel V. Johnson Charles J. Jenkins Party Democratic Constitutional Union Popular vote 47,638 47,128 Percentage 50.27% 49.73%

Results by County [1] Johnson:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Jenkins:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

Governor before election Howell Cobb Union Elected Governor Herschel V. Johnson Democratic

The 1853 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on 3 October 1853 in order to elect the Governor of Georgia. Democratic nominee and former United States Senator from Georgia Herschel V. Johnson defeated Constitutional Union nominee and former Attorney General of Georgia Charles J. Jenkins by a slim margin. ^[2]

Background

In the aftermath of the Compromise of 1850, Union Democrats, led by Howell Cobb, and Georgia Whigs had merged to form the Constitutional Union Party in support of the compromise. This coalition of parties was instrumental in securing Cobb's governorship in 1851. ^[3]

The results of the 1852 presidential election confirmed Georgian's support for the compromise, but that they would demand more specific recognition of "Southern Rights" basis for the future. In its aftermath, the Southern Rights Party was accepted into the national Democratic Party, causing it to drop the former title. The Democrats nominated Herschel V. Johnson. ^[4]

Significantly, the party refused to endorse Cobb's administration or his Senate candidacy, departing from the idea of compromise in the sectional conflict. The Union Whigs, left with the option of either merging with the Democrats or attempting to rebuild their party as a state organization, chose the latter, nominating Charles J. Jenkins. ^[4]

General election

On election day, 3 October 1853, Democratic nominee Herschel V. Johnson won the election by a margin of 510 votes against his opponent Union nominee Charles J. Jenkins, thereby gaining Democrats control over the office of Governor. Johnson was sworn in as the 41st Governor of Georgia on 9 November 1853. ^[5]

Results

Georgia gubernatorial election, 1853 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Herschel V. Johnson	47,638	50.27
	Constitutional Union	Charles J. Jenkins	47,128	49.73
Total votes			94,766	100.00
	Democratic gain from Constitutional Union

References

1. Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776–1860: The Official Results By State And County. McFarland. pp. 40–41. ISBN   9780786414390.
2. "Gov. Herschel Vespasian Johnson". National Governors Association . Retrieved December 9, 2023.
3. Greene, Helen (1946). "Politics in Georgia, 1853–54: The Ordeal of Howell Cobb". The Georgia Historical Quarterly. 30 (3): 185–186. JSTOR   40577037.
4. Murray, Paul. "Party Organization in Georgia Politics 1825–1853". The Georgia Historical Quarterly. 29 (4): 209. JSTOR   40576991.
5. "GA Governor". ourcampaigns.com. March 14, 2005. Retrieved December 9, 2023.