1861 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
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County results Sprague: 50–60% Smith: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1861 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held April 3, 1861 to elect the governor of Rhode Island. William Sprague IV, the incumbent governor, was reelected, defeating his Republican rival, MayorJames Y. Smith of Providence.[1] Sprague was nominated by the Union Party, a coalition of Democrats, conservative Republicans, and ex-Whigs that had supported him in 1860.[2][3]
General election
On election day, 3 April 1861, incumbent Governor William Sprague IV won re-election by a margin of 1,644 votes against his opponent Republican nominee James Y. Smith, thereby retaining Unionist control over the office of Governor. Sprague was sworn in for his second term on 5 May 1861.[4]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Union | William Sprague IV (incumbent) | 11,844 | 53.69 | |
Republican | James Y. Smith | 10,200 | 46.23 | |
Scattering | 18 | 0.08 | ||
Total votes | 22,062 | 100.00 | ||
Union hold |
References
- ^ "William Sprague". National Governors Association. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ Smith, Adam I. P. (2006). No Party Now: Politics in the Civil War North. New York: Oxford University. p. 90.
- ^ "The Rhode Island Election". Willimantic Journal. April 5, 1861.
- ^ "RI Governor". ourcampaigns.com. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2024.