The 1856 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on August 2, 1852, the Democratic nominee, Trusten Polk, defeated Know-Nothing candidate Robert C. Ewing (running under the American Party label), and former Senator Thomas H. Benton. Benton ran as an Independent Democrat under the label "Benton Democrat."
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 County Results Polk: 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% >90% Ewing: 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% Benton: 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% No Data | |||||||||||||||||||||
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In February 1857, Trusten Polk would be elected to the United States Senate; he therefore resigned the governorship, was replaced by Lt. Gov. Hancock Lee Jackson, and forced a special election to be called for August 1857 to fill the remainder of the term.[1]
General election
editCandidates
edit- Thomas Hart Benton, former U.S. Senator (1821–51) and U.S. Representative (1853–55) from St. Louis (Benton Democratic)
- Robert C. Ewing (American)
- Trusten Polk, St. Louis attorney (Democratic)
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Trusten Polk | 46,993 | 40.79 | −17.93 | |
| Know Nothing | Robert C. Ewing | 40,589 | 35.23 | +35.23 | |
| "Benton Democrat" | Thomas H. Benton | 27,618 | 23.97 | +23.97 | |
| Majority | 6,404 | 5.56 | −11.88 | ||
| Turnout | 115,200 | 16.89 | |||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
References
edit- ^ "SOS, Missouri – State Archives: Governors". Sos.mo.gov. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ^ Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. pp. 141–142. ISBN 9780786414390.