Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1805

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Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1805
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg
  1802 November 5, 1805 (1805-11-05) 1808  

  Thomas McKean by Charles Willson Peale.jpg SimonSnyder.jpg
Nominee Thomas McKean Simon Snyder
Party Independent Democratic-Republican
Popular vote43,644 38,483
Percentage53.1% 46.9%

Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election Results by County, 1805.svg

County results key:
  Simon Snyder
  Thomas McKean
  Results unknown

Governor before election

Thomas McKean
Independent

Elected Governor

Thomas McKean
Independent

The Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 1805 occurred on November 5, 1805. Incumbent governor Thomas McKean won a contentious election over the endorsed Democratic-Republican candidate, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Simon Snyder.

Thomas McKean American politician

Thomas McKean was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware and Philadelphia. During the American Revolution he was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. McKean served as a President of Congress. He was at various times a member of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties. McKean served as President of Delaware, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, and Governor of Pennsylvania.

Simon Snyder Governor of Pennsylvania

Simon Snyder was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, serving three terms from 1808 to 1817. He led the state through the War of 1812.

Although the Democratic-Republicans united behind the McKean ticket in each of the prior two election cycles, by 1805, the party had divided into moderate and radical wings. The former sought to balance the political power of the traditional elite and the lower classes; this group additionally supported liberal economic policies. The latter sought to directly increase political and economic opportunities for poor and working men. After the radicals took control of the state legislature under Snyder, they clashed with the moderate aligned McKean. Democratic-Republican newspapers were dominated by radical interests, and the press vociferously denounced McKean's support for strong executive and judicial power. The governor formed a working alliance with the Federalists called "the quids" and began to purge radicals from appointed offices. McKean ultimately won reelection by a six point margin.

Results

Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1805 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Independent Thomas McKean 43,644 53.14
Democratic-Republican Simon Snyder 38,483 46.86
Total votes82,127100.00

Related Research Articles

References

  1. "PA Governor General Election". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 3 July 2012.