1860 New York gubernatorial election

1860 New York gubernatorial election

←  1858 November 6, 1860 1862  →

Nominee Edwin D. Morgan William Kelly Party Republican Democratic Alliance Constitutional Union Popular vote 358,272 294,812 Percentage 53.2% 43.8%

County results Morgan:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Kelly:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election Edwin D. Morgan Republican Elected Governor Edwin D. Morgan Republican

The 1858 New York gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1858. Incumbent Governor Edwin D. Morgan was re-elected to a second term in office over William Kelly. The election was held alongside a referendum on universal adult male suffrage, which failed.

Constitutional Union nomination

The Constitution Union state convention met on July 13 at Utica. They appointed a committee to form an electoral ticket "at a suitable time ... in such manner as they deem best calculated to unite National Union men of every name and designation." ^[1] The committee ultimately resolved to endorse the majority Democratic ticket, led by William Kelly.

Democratic nominations

Breckinridge Democratic nomination

The minority faction of the Democratic Party, which supported John C. Breckinridge for president, met in Syracuse on August 8. James T. Brady was nominated for governor with little opposition. ^[2] Brady accepted the nomination in a letter dated on August 14. ^[3]

Results

1860 Breckinridge Democratic convention

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent Democratic	James T. Brady	99	86.09%
	Independent Democratic	O'Connor	8	6.96%
	Independent Democratic	Greene C. Bronson	3	2.61%
	Independent Democratic	Brown	2	1.74%
	Independent Democratic	Lawrence	1	0.87%
	Independent Democratic	Kemble	1	0.87%
	Independent Democratic	G. J. Tucker	1	0.87%
Total votes			115	100.00%

Douglas Democratic nomination

The majority faction of the Democratic Party, which supported Stephen A. Douglas for president, met in Syracuse one week later, on August 15. They nominated William Kelly. ^[4]

General election

Candidates

• James T. Brady, New York City attorney (Breckinridge Democratic)
• William Goodell, founder of the American Anti-Slavery Society (Radical Abolitionist) ^[5]
• Edwin D. Morgan, incumbent Governor since 1859 (Republican)
• William Kelly, former State Senator from Rhinebeck (Douglas Democratic)

Results

1860 New York gubernatorial election ^{[6] [7]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Edwin D. Morgan (incumbent)	358,272	53.24%
	Democratic	William Kelly	294,812	43.81%
	Independent Democratic	James T. Brady	19,841	2.95%
Total votes			672,925	100.00%

See also

• New York gubernatorial elections
• 1860 United States elections

References

1. "GENERAL TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.; NEW-YORK POLITICS. The Constitutional Union Convention at Utica. Reports of the Delegates to Baltimore Speeches of Ex-Gov. Hunt, James Brooks, and Others. State Committee for the Selection of an Electoral Ticket". The New York Times . July 13, 1860. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
2. POLITICAL MOVEMENTS - The Breckinridge and Lane Democratic State Convention in NYT on August 9, 1860
3. THE BRECKINRIDGE DEMOCRACY - James T. Brady's Acceptance of the Nomination for Governor in NYT on August 30, 1860
4. Hon. William Kelly Accepts the Nomination for Governor. in NYT on September 11, 1860
5. THE ELECTION TO-MORROW
6. The Tribune Almanac 1861
7. The Official State Canvass