1851 Kentucky gubernatorial election

1851 Kentucky gubernatorial election

4 August 1851

Nominee Lazarus W. Powell Archibald Dixon Party Democratic Whig Popular vote 54,821 54,023 Percentage 48.78% 48.07%

Powell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Dixon:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election John L. Helm Whig Elected Governor Lazarus W. Powell Democratic

The 1851 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on 4 August 1851 in order to elect the Governor of Kentucky. Democratic nominee and former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives Lazarus W. Powell defeated Whig nominee and former Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky Archibald Dixon.

General election

On election day, 4 August 1851, Democratic nominee Lazarus W. Powell won the election by a margin of 798 votes against his foremost opponent Whig nominee Archibald Dixon, thereby gaining Democratic control over the office of Governor. Powell was sworn in as the 19th Governor of Kentucky on 2 September 1851.

Results

Kentucky gubernatorial election, 1851

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Lazarus W. Powell	54,821	48.78
	Whig	Archibald Dixon	54,023	48.07
	Emancipation-Anti Slave State	Cassius Marcellus Clay	3,531	3.14
Total votes			112,375	100.00
	Democratic gain from Whig