1856 Missouri gubernatorial election

1856 Missouri gubernatorial election

August 4, 1856

Nominee Trusten Polk Robert C. Ewing Thomas H. Benton Party Democratic Know Nothing Independent Democrat Popular vote 46,993 40,589 27,618 Percentage 40.79% 35.23% 23.97%

County Results Polk:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90% Ewing:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70% Benton:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      No Data

Governor before election Sterling Price Democratic Elected Governor Trusten Polk Democratic

The 1856 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on August 2, 1852, the Democratic nominee, Trusten Polk, defeated Know-Nothing candidate Robert C. Ewing (running under the American Party label), and former Senator Thomas H. Benton. Benton ran as an Independent Democrat under the label "Benton Democrat."

In February 1857, Trusten Polk would be elected to the United States Senate; he therefore resigned the governorship, was replaced by Lt. Gov. Hancock Lee Jackson, and forced a special election to be called for August 1857 to fill the remainder of the term.

General election

Candidates

• Thomas Hart Benton, former U.S. Senator (1821–51) and U.S. Representative (1853–55) from St. Louis (Benton Democratic)
• Robert C. Ewing (American)
• Trusten Polk, St. Louis attorney (Democratic)

Results

1856 gubernatorial election, Missouri

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Trusten Polk	46,993	40.79	−17.93
	Know Nothing	Robert C. Ewing	40,589	35.23	+35.23
	"Benton Democrat"	Thomas H. Benton	27,618	23.97	+23.97
Majority			6,404	5.56	−11.88
Turnout			115,200	16.89
	Democratic hold		Swing