1856 Illinois gubernatorial election

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1856 Illinois gubernatorial election
Flag of Illinois.svg
  1852 November 4, 1856 1860  
  William Henry Bissell (cropped).png William Alexander Richardson - Brady-Handy (cropped).jpg Buckner Morris (1).jpg
Nominee William Henry Bissell William Alexander Richardson Buckner S. Morris
Party Republican Democratic Know Nothing
Popular vote111,466106,76919,088
Percentage46.97%44.99%8.04%

1856 Illinois gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County Results

Bissell:     30-40%     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%
Richardson:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%     90-100%

Morris:     40-50%

Governor before election

Joel Aldrich Matteson
Democratic

Elected Governor

William Henry Bissell
Republican

The 1856 Illinois gubernatorial election was the eleventh election for this office. Democratic governor Joel Aldrich Matteson did not seek re-election. Former Democratic Congressman William Henry Bissell was nominated by the newly formed Republican Party at the Bloomington Convention. Former Whig Mayor of Chicago Buckner S. Morris was nominated on the Know-Nothing Party ticket.

The Democratic campaign focused upon Bissell's involvement in a duel with future Confederate President Jefferson Davis, legally disqualifying him from holding state office, while the Republican campaign emphasized the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Despite Bissell's victory, Republican presidential nominee John C. Fremont would fail to carry the state in the concurrent presidential election. This was the first election of a Republican governor in Illinois history, as well as the first election of a Catholic.

At this time in Illinois history the Lieutenant Governor was elected on a separate ballot from the governor. This would remain the case until the adoption of the 1970 constitution.

Results

1856 gubernatorial election, Illinois
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican William Henry Bissell 111,466 46.97% +5.21%
Democratic William Alexander Richardson 106,76944.99%−7.40%
Know Nothing Buckner S. Morris 19,0888.04%N/A
Majority16,38110.62%−68.90%
Turnout 237,323100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

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