1846 Maine gubernatorial election

1846 Maine gubernatorial election
September 14, 1846
 
Nominee John W. Dana David Bronson Samuel Fessenden
Party Democratic Whig Liberty
Electoral vote (Elected)
Popular vote 36,031 29,557 9,398
Percentage 47.62% 39.06% 12.42%
County results
Dana:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Bronson:      40–50%      50–60%
Governor before election

Hugh J. Anderson
Democratic

 Elected Governor

John W. Dana
Democratic

The 1846 Maine gubernatorial election was held on September 14, 1846, in order to elect the Governor of Maine. Former acting governor and Democratic nominee John W. Dana defeated the Whig nominee, State Senator David Bronson, and Liberty Party candidate Samuel Fessenden. However, as no candidate received a majority of the total votes cast as was required by Maine law, the election was forwarded to the Maine legislature, who chose Dana as governor.[1]

Candidates

  • David Bronson, state senator, former U.S. Representative from Maine's 4th district, former member of the Maine House of Representatives (Whig)[2]
  • John Winchester Dana, former president of the Maine Senate and acting governor for a day in 1844 (Democrat)[1]
  • Samuel Fessenden, lawyer, abolitionist, and former member of the Massachusetts and Maine state legislatures, nominee for governor in 1845 (Liberty)[3][4]

General election

On election day, September 14, 1846, former Democratic acting governor John W. Dana won the election by a margin of 6,474 votes against his foremost opponent Whig nominee David Bronson, thereby retaining Democratic control over the office of governor. Dana was sworn in as the 21st governor of Maine on May 12, 1847.[5]

Results

Maine gubernatorial election, 1846
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John W. Dana 36,031 47.62 Decrease3.88
Whig David Bronson 29,557 39.06 Decrease0.02
Liberty Samuel Fessenden 9,398 12.42 Increase3.72
Write-in 678 0.90 Increase0.18
Total votes 75,664 100.00 Increase12.25
Democratic hold

References

  1. 1 2 "John Winchester Dana". National Governors Association. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  2. ↑ "Bronson, David". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  3. ↑ "Samuel Fessenden - Legislator Profile". history.mainelegislature.org. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
  4. ↑ Johnson, Rossiter (1906). Biographical dictionary of America . Robarts - University of Toronto. Boston, American Biographical Society. p. 89.
  5. ↑ "ME Governor". ourcampaigns.com. April 21, 2005. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
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