1851 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

The 1851 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 2 April 1851 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Democratic nominee and former member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Philip Allen defeated Whig nominee Josiah Chapin and Free Soil nominee Edward Harris.

1851 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

2 April 1851

Nominee Philip Allen Josiah Chapin Edward Harris Party Democratic Whig Free Soil Popular vote 6,935 6,106 184 Percentage 52.37% 46.11% 1.39%

County results Allen:      50–60% Chapin:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Henry B. Anthony Whig Elected Governor Philip Allen Democratic

General election

Incumbent Whig governor Henry B. Anthony declined to seek re-election to a third term, so his party instead nominated Josiah Chapin in order to keep the office of governor under Whig control. Meanwhile Free Soil candidate Edward Harris was nominated for a third consecutive time after his election losses during the 1849 and 1850 Rhode Island gubernatorial election. On election day, 2 April 1851, democratic nominee Philip Allen won the election by a margin of 829 votes against his foremost opponent Josiah Chapin. Allen was sworn in as the 22nd governor of Rhode Island on 6 May 1851.

Results

Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 1851

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Philip Allen	6,935	52.37
	Whig	Josiah Chapin	6,106	46.11
	Free Soil	Edward Harris	184	1.39
	Scattering		17	0.13
Total votes			13,242	100.00
	Democratic gain from Whig