The 1851 California gubernatorial election was held on September 3, 1851, to elect the
governor of California.
During the 1851 convention, the Democratic Party refused to renominate incumbent
John McDougall as the party's choice for governor. Instead, state Democrats nominated Assembly Speaker John Bigler.
^Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. p. 13.
ISBN9780786414390.