1845–46_Massachusetts_gubernatorial_election References

The 1845–46 Massachusetts gubernatorial election consisted of an initial popular election held on November 10, 1845^[1] that was followed by a legislative vote held on January 12, 1846. The ultimate task of electing the governor had been placed before the Massachusetts General Court because no candidate received the majority of the vote required for a candidate to be elected through the popular election. Incumbent Whig Governor George N. Briggs defeated Democratic nominee Isaac Davis, Liberty Party nominee Samuel E. Sewall and Know Nothing nominee Henry Shaw.

General election

Candidates

George N. Briggs, incumbent Governor (Whig)
Isaac Davis, member of the Massachusetts Senate from Worcester (Democratic)
Frederick Robinson, former President of the Massachusetts Senate (Independent Democratic)
Samuel E. Sewall, lawyer and candidate for Governor in 1842, 1843, and 1844 (Liberty)
Henry Shaw, former U.S. Representative from Lanesboro (Native American)^[2]^[3]

Results

1845 Massachusetts gubernatorial election^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Whig	George N. Briggs	51,638	48.75%
	Democratic	Isaac Davis	37,427	35.33%
	Liberty	Samuel E. Sewall	8,316	7.85%
	Know Nothing	Henry Shaw	8,089	7.64%
	Independent Democrat	Frederick Robinson	368	0.35%
	Scattering		86	0.08%
Majority			14,211	13.42%
Turnout			105,924

Legislative election

As no candidate received a majority of the vote, the Massachusetts General Court was required to decide the election. Under Article III of the Constitution of Massachusetts, the House of Representatives chose two candidates from the top four vote-getters, the Senate electing the Governor from the House's choice.^[9]

The House sent the names of Briggs and Davis to the Senate on January 10.^[10]^[11]^[12]

The legislative election was held on January 12, 1846.^[11]^[13]

Legislative election^[10]^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Whig	George N. Briggs	unanimous
	Whig hold

References

^ "Elections". Mobile register and journal. Mobile, Ala. November 10, 1845. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
^ "Massachusetts". American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. Baltimore, Md. August 4, 1845. p. 4. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
^ "Political". The New York herald. New York, N.Y. August 7, 1845. p. 1. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
^ "MA Governor, 1845". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
^ Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Westport, CT: Meckler Books. pp. 142–143. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
^ Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. p. 58. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
^ Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.
^ Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S., eds. (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Vol. I. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, Inc. p. 277. ISBN 0-379-00665-0.
^ "Massachusetts Constitution". The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S., eds. (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Vol. I. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, Inc. p. 294. ISBN 0-379-00665-0.
^ ^a ^b "Massachusetts". New-York daily tribune. New-York, N.Y. January 13, 1846. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Massachusetts". Weekly national intelligencer. Washington, D.C. January 17, 1846. p. 4. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
^ "Massachusetts". Der Lecha Patriot und Northampton Demokrat. Allentaun, Pa. January 28, 1846. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.

[1] "Elections". Mobile register and journal. Mobile, Ala. November 10, 1845. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.

[2] "Massachusetts". American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. Baltimore, Md. August 4, 1845. p. 4. Retrieved October 31, 2022.

[3] "Political". The New York herald. New York, N.Y. August 7, 1845. p. 1. Retrieved October 31, 2022.

[4] "MA Governor, 1845". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 31, 2022.

[5] Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Westport, CT: Meckler Books. pp. 142–143. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.

[6] Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. p. 58. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.

[7] Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.

[8] Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S., eds. (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Vol. I. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, Inc. p. 277. ISBN 0-379-00665-0.

[9] "Massachusetts Constitution". The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved October 31, 2022.

[kallenbach-10] Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S., eds. (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Vol. I. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, Inc. p. 294. ISBN 0-379-00665-0.

[newyorkdailytribune-11] "Massachusetts". New-York daily tribune. New-York, N.Y. January 13, 1846. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.

[weeklynationalintelligencer-12] "Massachusetts". Weekly national intelligencer. Washington, D.C. January 17, 1846. p. 4. Retrieved October 31, 2022.

[13] "Massachusetts". Der Lecha Patriot und Northampton Demokrat. Allentaun, Pa. January 28, 1846. p. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2022.

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v t e State elections in Massachusetts
General	1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1982 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Governor	1780 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 (April) 1831 (November) 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1868 1869 1870 1871 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Mass. Senate	1787 1788 ... 1824 ... 1908 ... 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Mass. House	2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Gov.'s Council	2002 2006 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
"s/" = Special election See also: Political party strength in Massachusetts For federal elections, see Template:Federal elections in Massachusetts footer.