1863 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

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1863 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
Flag of the United States (1861-1863).svg
  1862 April 2, 1863 1864  
  GovJamesYSmithRI.jpg William C. Cozzens.jpg
Nominee James Y. Smith William C. Cozzens
Party Republican Democratic
Alliance Constitutional Union
Popular vote10,7497,672
Percentage58.4%41.6%

1863 Rhode Island gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Smith:      50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

William C. Cozzens
Democratic

Elected Governor

James Y. Smith
Republican

A gubernatorial election was held in Rhode Island on April 2, 1863. The Republican former mayor of Providence James Y. Smith defeated the Democratic incumbent governor William C. Cozzens. [1]

Contents

William Sprague IV won the 1860 Rhode Island gubernatorial election leading a coalition of Conservative Republicans, former Whigs, and Democrats. [2] Following the election, Sprague's supporters coalesced in the Constitutional Union Party. [3] Sprague underwent a political transformation during his tenure as governor, which coincided with the American Civil War. He attempted to build a new political party composed of Republicans, War Democrats, and his old conservative allies. When this effort failed, Sprague threw his support behind the Republicans. [4] Following his election to the United States Senate, he used his influence to encourage conservatives to back Smith, whom Sprague had defeated in his 1861 re-election bid. [2] Cozzens ran jointly as the Democratic and Constitutional Union candidate on a platform that endorsed the war effort and condemned emancipation. [5] [6]

General election

1863 Rhode Island gubernatorial election [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican James Y. Smith 10,749 58.35
Democratic William C. Cozzens (incumbent)7,67241.65
Total votes18,421 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic

Notes

  1. 1 2 Dubin 2014, p. 2.
  2. 1 2 Smith 2006, p. 90.
  3. Smith 2017, p. 184.
  4. Dell 1975, p. 237.
  5. Dell 1975, p. 237; DeSimone & Schofield 2015, Figs. 1-289, 1-290.
  6. "Gov. Hoppin of Rhode Island [...]". Portland Daily Press. March 24, 1863.

Bibliography