1843 Maine gubernatorial election

1843 Maine gubernatorial election
September 11, 1843
 
Nominee Hugh J. Anderson Edward Robinson
Party Democratic Whig
Popular vote 32,034 20,975
Percentage 50.25% 32.90%
 
Nominee James Appleton Edward Kavanagh
Party Liberty Independent Democrat
Popular vote 6,746 3,221
Percentage 10.58% 5.05%
County results
Anderson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Robinson:      40–50%      50–60%
Governor before election

Edward Kavanagh
Democratic

 Elected Governor

Hugh J. Anderson
Democratic

The 1843 Maine gubernatorial election was held on September 11, 1843, in order to elect the Governor of Maine. Democratic nominee and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Hugh J. Anderson defeated his primary opponent Whig nominee and former U.S. Representative Edward Robinson. Minor candidates also included Liberty Party nominee and former member of the Maine House of Representatives James Appleton and incumbent governor Edward Kavanagh.[1]

Background

Governor John Fairfield resigned from the office of governor on March 7, 1843, in order to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate caused by the resignation of Senator Reuel Wiliams.[2][3] Maine does not have a lieutenant governor, so according to the rules of succession President of the Maine Senate Edward Kavanagh was sworn in as governor.[4]

Candidates

General election

On election day, September 11, 1843, Democratic nominee Hugh J. Anderson won the election by a margin of 11,059 votes against his foremost opponent Whig nominee Edward Robinson, thereby retaining Democratic control over the office of governor. Anderson was sworn in as the 20th Governor of Maine on January 5, 1844.[9]

Results

Maine gubernatorial election, 1843
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hugh J. Anderson 32,034 50.25 Decrease6.67
Whig Edward Robinson 20,975 32.90 Decrease4.36
Liberty James Appleton 6,746 10.58 Increase4.90
Independent Democrat Edward Kavanagh (incumbent) 3,221 5.05 N/A
Write-in 770 1.22 Increase1.08
Total votes 63,746 100.00 Decrease11.19
Democratic hold

Aftermath

Governor Kavanagh served until January 1844 when he also resigned, leading to Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives David Dunn serving as governor.[10] Dunn only served as governor for three days before he also resigned on the day that governor-elect Anderson was sworn in. However Dunn resigned prior to Anderson actually being sworn in, so President of the Maine Senate John W. Dana served as governor during the interim.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Gov. Hugh Johnston Anderson". nga.org. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  2. ↑ "Williams, Reuel". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
  3. ↑ "Fairfield, John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
  4. ↑ "Edward Kavanagh". National Governors Association. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
  5. ↑ "Hugh Johnson Anderson". National Governors Association. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
  6. ↑ Johnson, Reinhard O. (February 11, 2021). "The Liberty Party in Maine, 1840-1848: The Politics of Antislavery Reform". University of Maine Digital Collections. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  7. ↑ "Edward Kavanagh". National Governors Association. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
  8. ↑ "Robinson, Edward". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  9. ↑ "ME Governor". ourcampaigns.com. April 22, 2005. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  10. ↑ "David Dunn". National Governors Association. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
  11. ↑ "John Winchester Dana". National Governors Association. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
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