The 1856 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1856. William A. Newell, running on a fusion ticket opposed to the Franklin Pierce administration, defeated Democratic nominee William Cowper Alexander with 51.29% of the vote.
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 County Results Newell: 50-60% 60–70% 70–80% Alexander: 50–60% 60–70% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Nominations
editFusion
editA group of thirty-four legislators opposed to the administration of President Franklin Pierce called for a mass meeting to nominate an opposition candidate for Governor. On Wednesday, June 4 at Temperance Hall in Trenton, Whigs, Republicans, Know-Nothings, and Free-Soilers joined to nominate former U.S. Representative William A. Newell for Governor by acclamation. The meeting was presided over by William Dayton with William Pennington and Theodore Frelinghuysen among those in attendance.[1][2]
Newell's nomination was later ratified at a meeting of Fillmore-Donelson supporters in Jersey City on July 9.[3] He was also co-ratified by supporters of the Republican Fremont-Dayton ticket on July 11 in New Brunswick. Their resolution referred to Newell as the "opposition candidate."[4]
Democratic
editThe Democratic Party met in Trenton on August 6 and nominated New Jersey Senate President William Cowper Alexander for Governor.[5]
The names of John W. Fennimore, Joseph C. Potts, Edwin R. V. Wright, Joseph Kille, and Charles Skelton were also placed in nomination, though Skelton's name was immediately withdrawn by Philemon Dickinson. Wright's name was also withdrawn by his request, communicated to the convention by Edmund Charles. As voting continued and Alexander built a majority, the names of Fennimore, Potts, and Kille were also successively withdrawn, leaving Alexander as the convention's unanimous nominee.[6]
General election
editCandidates
edit- William Cowper Alexander, State Senator from Mercer County (Democratic)
- William A. Newell, former U.S. Representative from Allentown (Opposition)
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | William A. Newell | 50,803 | 51.29% | +51.29% | |
| Democratic | William Cowper Alexander | 48,246 | 48.71% | −3.89% | |
| Majority | 2,457 | 2.58% | N/A | ||
| Turnout | |||||
| Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | ||||
References
edit- ^ "NEW JERSEY: Great Meeting at Trenton—Nomination of William A. Newell for Governor of New Jersey—Fusion of Parties to Oppose the Administration". New York Daily Times. June 6, 1856. p. 3.
- ^ "Great Meeting at Trenton—Nomination of William A. Newell for Governor of New Jersey". New York Daily Times. June 5, 1856. p. 8.
- ^ "NEW JERSEY: State Convention of United Americans". New York Daily Times. July 11, 1856. p. 6.
A State Convention of Delegates from the Chapters of the Order of United Americans in New Jersey was held in Jersey City on Wednesday, at which the nominations of Millard Fillmore for President, Andrew Jackson Donelson for Vice President, and Wm. A. Newell for Governor, were ratified.
- ^ "Republicanism in New Jersey: Fremont and Dayton Ratification Meeting in New Brunswick". New York Daily Times. July 12, 1856. p. 1.
- ^ "Democratic Convention in New Jersey". The Boston Herald. August 7, 1856. p. 4.
- ^ "NEW JERSEY: Democratic State Convention". New York Daily Times. August 7, 1856. p. 1.
- ^ Kalb, Deborah (December 24, 2015). Guide to U.S. Elections. ISBN 9781483380353. Retrieved February 17, 2016.