1851 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

1851 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

11 March 1851

Nominee Samuel Dinsmoor Jr. Thomas E. Sawyer John Atwood Party Democratic Whig Free Soil Popular vote 27,425 18,458 12,049 Percentage 47.19% 31.76% 20.73%

County results Dinsmoor:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60% Sawyer:      40–50%

Governor before election Samuel Dinsmoor Jr. Democratic Elected Governor Samuel Dinsmoor Jr. Democratic

The 1851 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on 11 March 1851 in order to elect the governor of New Hampshire. Incumbent Democratic governor Samuel Dinsmoor Jr. won re-election against Whig nominee Thomas E. Sawyer and Free Soil Party nominee John Atwood. Since no candidate received a majority in the popular vote, Dinsmoor was elected by the New Hampshire General Court per the state constitution.

General election

On election day, 11 March 1851, incumbent Democratic governor Samuel Dinsmoor Jr. won re-election by a margin of 8,967 votes against his foremost opponent Whig nominee Thomas E. Sawyer, but because no candidate received a majority of the popular vote, a separate election was held by the New Hampshire General Court, which chose Governor Dinsmoor as the winner. He thereby retained Democratic control over the office of governor. Dinsmoor was sworn in for his third term on 3 June 1851.

Results

New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 1851

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Samuel Dinsmoor Jr. (incumbent)	27,425	47.19
	Whig	Thomas E. Sawyer	18,458	31.76
	Free Soil	John Atwood	12,049	20.73
		Scattering	179	0.32
Total votes			58,111	100.00
	Democratic hold