1852 Chicago mayoral election

Chicago mayoral election, 1852

Candidate Walter S. Gurnee James Curtiss Party Democratic Independent Popular vote 1,741 1,295 Percentage 39.04% 29.05%   Candidate Amos G. Throop Peter Page Party Temperance Mechanics Popular vote 1,153 271 Percentage 25.85% 6.08%

Mayor before election Walter S. Gurnee Democratic Elected mayor Walter S. Gurnee Democratic

In the 1852 Chicago mayoral election, incumbent Democrat Walter S. Gurnee defeated former mayor James Curtiss (running as an independent) as well as Temperance candidate Amos G. Throop and Mechanics candidate Peter Page by a ten-point margin.

Campaign

B.W. Raymond was the initial nominee of the Temperance (Prohibition) Party. However, for unspecified reasons, his candidacy was withdrawn in late February in favor of Throop.

The election was an energetic one, particularly due to the debate over liquor.

Other issues that were debated in the election were the reduction of taxes, avoiding an increase in city debt, preventing lawyers from obtaining gratuities, eliminating connection between the city government and private corporations, and suffrage.

It was alleged during the campaign that a candidate in the previous election had spent $3,000 in buying voters liquor.

Results

1852 Chicago mayoral election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Walter S. Gurnee (incumbent)	1,741	39.04
	Independent politician	James Curtiss	1,295	29.05
	Temperance Party	Amos G. Throop	1,153	25.85
	Mechanics	Peter Page	271	6.08
Turnout			4,460