1853 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

Last updated
1853 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
  1851 November 8, 1853 1855  
  William A Barstow by William F Cogswell, c1850s.jpg EdwardDwightHolton.png Henry S. Baird.jpg
Nominee William A. Barstow Edward D. Holton Henry S. Baird
Party Democratic Free Soil Whig
Popular vote30,40521,8863,304
Percentage54.60%39.31%5.93%

1853 Wisconsin gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Barstow:     30–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Holton:     30–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Baird:     30–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

Leonard J. Farwell
Whig

Elected Governor

William A. Barstow
Democratic

The 1853 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1853. Democratic candidate William A. Barstow won the election with 55% of the vote, winning his first term as Governor of Wisconsin. Barstow defeated Free Soil Party candidate Edward D. Holton and Whig candidate Henry S. Baird. [1] This would be the last Wisconsin gubernatorial election in which there was a Whig candidate on the ballot.

Contents

Democratic Party

William A. Barstow was a resident of Waukesha County, and had previously served as Wisconsin's Secretary of State. Before Wisconsin became a state, he was instrumental in creating Waukesha County from what had been the western half of Milwaukee County.

The Wisconsin Democratic Party Convention was held in Janesville in September 1853. Barstow did not intend to seek the nomination for Governor, and, in fact, was supporting A. Hyatt Smith for the nomination. Nevertheless, Barstow's popularity resulted in him receiving five votes on the first ballot, and after Smith deadlocked with Jairus C. Fairchild for seven ballots, Smith withdrew his name and instead endorsed Barstow. Barstow received the nomination on the 13th ballot. [2] [3]

Other candidates

Free Soil Party

Edward D. Holton was a resident of Milwaukee. He was a businessman and banker, interested in building a railroad to stretch from Milwaukee to the Mississippi River. He was an avowed abolitionist, first as a member of the Liberty Party, and then its successor the Free Soil Party. He was also a supporter of temperance legislation in Wisconsin.

Whig Party

Henry S. Baird was a resident of Green Bay, and was said to be the first practicing lawyer in the Wisconsin Territory. He had served as Attorney General of the Wisconsin Territory, appointed by Territorial Governor Henry Dodge, and served on the Territorial Council. He was a delegate to Wisconsin's first Constitutional Convention.

Results

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election, 1853 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
General Election, November 8, 1853
Democratic William A. Barstow 30,405 54.60% +5.24%
Free Soil Edward D. Holton 21,88639.31%
Whig Henry S. Baird 3,3045.93%-44.57%
Scattering880.16%
Plurality8,51915.30%+14.15%
Total votes55,683 100.0% +26.01%
Democratic gain from Whig Swing 49.82%

Results by County

Barstow
Democratic
Holton
Free Soil
Baird
Whig
MarginCounty Total [4]
County# %# %# %# %#
Adams12256.22%3817.51%5726.27%6529.95%217
Bad Ax20871.23%72.40%7726.37%13144.86%292
Brown25440.90%335.31%33453.78%8012.88%621
Calumet25057.74%9020.79%9321.48%15736.26%433
Columbia81647.22%70640.86%20611.92%1106.37%1,728
Crawford11869.01%2414.04%2916.96%8952.05%171
Dane1,62053.45%1,23440.71%1775.84%38612.74%3,031
Dodge1,99257.89%1,41841.21%310.90%57416.68%3,441
Fond du Lac1,48954.01%1,21744.14%511.85%2729.87%2,757
Grant98844.73%1,02646.45%1958.83%381.72%2,209
Green76946.05%74844.79%1539.16%211.26%1,670
Iowa40245.68%46452.73%141.59%627.05%880
Jackson11388.98%1411.02%00.00%9977.95%127
Jefferson1,49046.72%1,59149.89%1083.39%1013.17%3,189
Kenosha59041.96%81257.75%40.28%22215.79%1,406
La Crosse27655.53%16032.19%6112.27%11623.34%497
Lafayette1,02659.44%42024.33%28016.22%60635.11%1,726
Manitowoc85488.31%464.76%676.93%78781.39%967
Marathon20549.16%40.96%20849.88%30.72%417
Marquette64142.53%85256.54%140.93%21114.00%1,507
Milwaukee4,18475.50%1,33424.07%240.43%2,85051.43%5,542
Oconto9042.86%00.00%12057.14%3014.29%210
Outagamie26754.38%20641.96%183.67%6112.42%491
Ozaukee1,15586.58%17913.42%00.00%97673.16%1,334
Pierce7167.62%00.00%3432.38%3735.24%105
Portage36757.10%569.71%15426.69%21336.92%577
Racine1,23950.39%1,21449.37%60.24%251.02%2,459
Richland18556.92%12739.08%134.00%5817.85%325
Rock1,37538.80%1,83251.69%3379.51%45712.90%3,544
Sauk64154.88%47240.41%554.71%16914.47%1,168
Sheboygan1,38967.13%67632.67%40.19%71334.46%2,069
Walworth1,06237.28%1,58455.60%2037.13%52218.32%2,849
Washington1,46282.51%31017.49%00.00%1,15265.01%1,772
Waukesha1,59448.93%1,61049.42%541.66%160.49%3,258
Waupaca21751.79%15236.28%5011.93%6515.51%419
Waushara13536.68%23263.04%10.27%9726.36%368
Winnebago71036.69%1,00856.34%713.97%29816.66%1,789

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur MacArthur Sr.</span> American judge

Arthur MacArthur Sr. was a Scottish-American immigrant, lawyer, and judge. He was the fourth Governor of Wisconsin and was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. He was the father of General Arthur MacArthur Jr., and the grandfather of General Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur is the modern spelling used by his descendants, but in documents from his own time his name was spelled McArthur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William A. Barstow</span> 3rd Governor and 2nd Secretary of State of Wisconsin. Union Army brigadier general.

William Augustus Barstow was an American businessman, politician, and public administrator. He was the third governor and second Secretary of State of Wisconsin, and served as a Union Army officer during the American Civil War. Before Wisconsin became a state, he was instrumental in the creation of Waukesha County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coles Bashford</span> American politician and pioneer, Governor of Wisconsin (1816–1878)

Coles Bashford was an American lawyer and politician who became the fifth governor of Wisconsin, and one of the founders of the U.S. Republican Party. His one term as governor ended in a bribery scandal that ended in him fleeing Wisconsin, but he was later instrumental in the government of the newly formed Arizona Territory.

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is currently headed by chair Ben Wikler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election</span> Election

The 1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Michael Dukakis was elected Governor of Massachusetts for a third term. He defeated Republican George Kariotis by a 69–31% margin. This would be the last time a Democrat was elected governor until 2006. This remains the last time that the Democrats won more than two consecutive gubernatorial elections in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libertarian Party of Wisconsin</span> State affiliate of the Libertarian Party

The Libertarian Party of Wisconsin is the Wisconsin affiliate of the Libertarian Party. Founded in 1973, it is one of the oldest state affiliates in the Libertarian Party. In 2002, Ed Thompson, brother of Tommy Thompson and the Mayor of Tomah, Wisconsin, ran for Governor of Wisconsin, garnering over 10% of the vote. This was a record for a Libertarian gubernatorial candidate in Wisconsin running against both a Democratic and Republican candidate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Baldwin Smith</span> American lawyer and politician (1823–1879)

George Baldwin Smith was an American lawyer and Democratic politician. He was the 4th Attorney General of Wisconsin, and the 3rd and 16th mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jairus C. Fairchild</span> American Democratic politician, first Wisconsin State Treasurer, first Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin

Jairus Cassius Fairchild was an American Democratic politician and businessman. He was the first State Treasurer of Wisconsin and the first Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. He was the father of Wisconsin's tenth governor, Lucius Fairchild. In historical documents, he is often referred to as "J. C. Fairchild" and his first name is sometimes misspelled "Jarius".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Taylor (Wisconsin judge)</span> 19th century American lawyer and judge, justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court

David W. Taylor was an American attorney, judge, and Republican politician. He was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for the last 13 years of his life (1878–1891). Previously, he served ten years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge, and was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward George Ryan</span> American judge, 5th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Edward George Ryan was an Irish American immigrant, lawyer, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the 5th chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward D. Holton</span> American politician

Edward Dwight Holton was a nineteenth century Wisconsin political and business leader. Holton was Milwaukee's first sheriff and was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, but despite never holding a higher office he was influential in the early political development of the state. He was a candidate in the pivotal 1857 gubernatorial campaign, and was well known as an important leader on the subjects of abolitionism and temperance. He also had a strong influence on the development of the state through his involvement in the banking, railroad and insurance businesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satterlee Clark</span> 19th century American politician.

Satterlee Clark was an American attorney, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served ten years in the Wisconsin State Senate (1862–1872), representing eastern Dodge County, and also served two years in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He wrote a historical essay of his memories of Fort Winnebago and the Black Hawk War in pre-statehood Wisconsin. In his lifetime, he was widely known by the nickname Sat Clark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1849 Wisconsin gubernatorial election</span> 2nd Wisconsin gubernatorial election, Nelson Dewey re-elected

The 1849 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1849. Democrat Nelson Dewey won the election with 52% of the vote, winning his second term as Governor of Wisconsin. Dewey defeated Whig Party candidate Alexander L. Collins and Free Soil Party candidate Warren Chase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the eight U.S. representatives from the state of Wisconsin, one from each of the state's eight congressional districts. The elections coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The Wisconsin Partisan Primary was held on August 14, 2018, with the governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, odd-numbered Wisconsin State Senate seats, and all Wisconsin Assembly seats on the ballot. Wisconsin was notable in 2018 for being the only state in which the party receiving the majority of votes held a minority of congressional seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8th Wisconsin Legislature</span> Wisconsin legislative term for 1855

The Eighth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 10, 1855, to April 2, 1855, in regular session.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1857 Wisconsin gubernatorial election</span>

The 1857 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1857. Republican Party candidate Alexander Randall won the election with just over 50% of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate James B. Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander L. Collins</span> American pioneer, first Governor of Wisconsin

Alexander Lynn Collins was an American lawyer, judge, and politician. He was an important leader of the Whig Party in the early years of Wisconsin, serving as party chairman, nominee for United States Congress, for United States Senate, and for Governor of Wisconsin. He also served as a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge and a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. In historical documents, his middle name is sometimes spelled "Linn" and he is sometimes referred to as "A. L. Collins."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1948 Wisconsin gubernatorial election</span> Election

The 1948 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Wisconsin elections</span> Elections in the state of Wisconsin in 2022

The 2022 Wisconsin fall general election was held in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on November 8, 2022. All of Wisconsin's partisan executive and administrative offices were up for election, as well as one of Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seats, Wisconsin's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives, the seventeen odd-numbered seats in the Wisconsin State Senate, and all 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly. The 2022 Wisconsin fall primary was held on August 9, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1877 Wisconsin gubernatorial election</span> American election

The 1877 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1877. Under internal party pressure, incumbent Republican Governor Harrison Ludington, who had barely won the 1875 election, was pressured to not seek a second term. Former State Assembly Speaker William E. Smith, a longtime figure in Wisconsin politics, was selected as the Republican nominee, and Milwaukee County Municipal Judge Thomas A. Mallory won a protracted battle for the nomination at the Democratic convention. Smith and Mallory were joined in the general election by Greenback nominee Edward Phelps Allis. Ultimately, though the Republican vote share shrunk relative to 1875, the Democratic vote share shrunk more, and Smith won a larger victory than Ludington did, though only with a 44% plurality.

References

  1. 1 2 Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, Wisconsin Legislature (2015). Wisconsin Blue Book 2015-2016. Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Department of Administration. pp. 699–701. ISBN   978-0-9752820-7-6.
  2. "State Ticket". River Times. Fort Winnebago, Wisconsin. September 17, 1853. p. 2. Retrieved June 1, 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Democratic State Convention". River Times. Fort Winnebago, Wisconsin. September 17, 1853. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 1, 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  4. Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States gubernatorial elections, 1776-1860. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland.