1817 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

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1817 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg
  1814 October 14, 1817 (1817-10-14) 1820  
  WFindley.jpg Joseph Hiester.jpg
Nominee William Findlay Joseph Hiester
Party Democratic-Republican Federalist
Popular vote66,33159,272
Percentage52.8%47.2%

1817 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County Results
Findlay:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%
Hiester:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Governor before election

Simon Snyder
Democratic-Republican

Elected Governor

William Findlay
Democratic-Republican

The 1817 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election occurred on October 14, 1817. Incumbent Democratic-Republican governor Simon Snyder was not a candidate for re-election. Simon's preferred successor, State Treasurer William Findlay, was nominated as the Democratic Republican candidate by a caucus of legislative leaders. Conversely, U.S. Representative Joseph Hiester was chosen as a candidate by the Democratic Republicans' first popular nominating convention; he additionally gained the endorsement of the declining Federalists.

The two men ran starkly different campaigns. Findlay sought to continue aggressive policies of infrastructural investment and economic intervention while maintaining the patronage system for governmental employment. Hiester, a former Revolutionary War captain, called for a reduction in spending, an expansion in liberal economic policies, and an investigation into corruption in state government. Findlay was ultimately victorious by an approximately six point margin, as his dominance in the state's rural counties counteracted support for Hiester in the cities.

Results

Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1817 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic-Republican William Findlay 66,420 52.77
Federalist Joseph Hiester 59,417 [lower-alpha 1] 47.21
None Nathaniel Boileau 30.00
NoneNicholas Wiseman30.00
NoneBenjamin R. Morgan20.00
None Andrew Gregg 10.00
NoneAaron Hanson10.00
NoneMoses Palmer10.00
NoneHiram Plum10.00
NoneJohn Seffer10.00
NoneSeth Thomas10.00
Federalist William Tilghman10.00
NoneRoswell Wells10.00
Total votes125,853 100.00

Related Research Articles

References

  1. Lampi, Philip J. "Pennsylvania 1817 Governor". A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787-1825. American Antiquarian Society. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  1. Includes two votes for "Joseph Hester."
Political cartoon about the election Democracy against the unnatural union. Trial Octr. 14th 1817. - designed and executed by one who has neither place nor pension. LCCN2008661725.jpg
Political cartoon about the election