1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election

1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election

April 2, 1855

Nominee William T. Minor Samuel Ingham Henry Dutton Party Know Nothing Democratic Whig Electoral vote 117 70 Popular vote 28,080 27,292 9,162 Percentage 43.51% 42.29% 14.20%

Minor:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Ingham:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Dutton:      40–50%

Governor before election Henry Dutton Whig Elected Governor William T. Minor Know Nothing

The 1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election was held on April 2, 1855. Former state legislator and American Party nominee William T. Minor defeated former congressman and Democratic nominee Samuel Ingham and incumbent governor and Whig nominee Henry Dutton with 43.51% of the vote.

The results reflected the national transition from the Second Party System to the Third Party System. The Know Nothings would win the first of two such elections, and the incumbent Whig Party's vote share collapsed, with Dutton finishing a distant third.

Although Minor won a plurality of the vote, he did not receive a majority. As a result, the Connecticut General Assembly elected the governor, per the state constitution. Minor won the vote over Ingham, 117 to 70, in the General Assembly, and became the governor.

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• William T. Minor, American or Know Nothing
• Samuel Ingham, Democratic
• Henry Dutton, Whig

Results

1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Know Nothing	William T. Minor	28,080	43.51%
	Democratic	Samuel Ingham	27,292	42.29%
	Whig	Henry Dutton (incumbent)	9,162	14.20%
Plurality			788
Turnout

1855 Connecticut gubernatorial election, contingent General Assembly election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Know Nothing	William T. Minor	117	62.57%
	Democratic	Samuel Ingham	70	37.43%
Majority			47
	Know Nothing gain from Whig		Swing