1872 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

1872 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
	County results; Washburn: 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%
Governor before election; William B. Washburn; Republican	Elected Governor ; William B. Washburn; Republican

The 1872 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1872. Republican governor William B. Washburn was re-elected to a second term in office over businessman Francis W. Bird, a Liberal Republican nominated with support of the Democratic Party.^[1]

Republican nomination

Candidates

Benjamin Butler, U.S. Representative from Lowell and candidate for governor in 1871
William B. Washburn, incumbent governor

Convention

With an incumbent seeking re-election, the Republican convention was far less contentious than the open race of 1871.^[2] Nevertheless, supporters of Benjamin F. Butler placed his name in opposition to Washburn and a vote was taken.

1872 Massachusetts Republican Convention^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	William B. Washburn (incumbent)	563	67.10%
	Republican	Benjamin Butler	259	30.87%
	Republican	Scattering	17	2.03%
Total votes			839	100.00%

Washburn's renomination was then made unanimous. A subsequent inquiry found that Butler's totals were inflated by "ballot-stuffing and other improper devices."^[2] In the only other contested race, Thomas Talbot defeated Elijah B. Stoddard by 643 to 395 for lieutenant governor.^[2]

General election

Results

1872 Massachusetts gubernatorial election^[3]^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	William B. Washburn (incumbent)	133,900	69.10%	14.18
	Liberal Republican	Francis W. Bird	59,626	30.77%	N/A
	Write-in		254	0.13%	0.12
Total votes			193,780	100.00%

References

^ Biographical History of Massachusetts - Biographies and Autobiographies of the Leading men in the State (PDF). 1913. pp. 43–44.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICANS: Results of the State Convention Renomination of Gov. Washburn List of Resolutions The Liquor Law to be Enforced". The New York Times. August 28, 1872. p. 5. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
^ "MA Governor, 1872". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
^ "1872 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Massachusetts". US Election Atlas. Retrieved February 28, 2021.

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[1] Biographical History of Massachusetts - Biographies and Autobiographies of the Leading men in the State (PDF). 1913. pp. 43–44.

[rconv-2] "MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICANS: Results of the State Convention Renomination of Gov. Washburn List of Resolutions The Liquor Law to be Enforced". The New York Times. August 28, 1872. p. 5. Retrieved January 20, 2022.

[3] "MA Governor, 1872". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 28, 2021.

[4] "1872 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Massachusetts". US Election Atlas. Retrieved February 28, 2021.

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