1866 New York gubernatorial election

November 6, 1866
 
Nominee Reuben E. Fenton John T. Hoffman
Party Republican Conservative Union
Popular vote 366,315 352,526
Percentage 50.96% 49.04%

Governor before election

Reuben E. Fenton
Republican

Elected Governor

Reuben E. Fenton
Republican

The 1866 New York state election was held on November 6, 1866, to elect the governor, the lieutenant governor, a Canal Commissioner and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly. Besides, the voters were asked if a Constitutional Convention should be held in 1867, which was answered in the affirmative with 352,854 votes for, and 256,364 against the convention.[1]

History

The delegates to the "Conservative Union" state convention arrived on September 10 at Albany, New York. This convention was the result of the still ongoing party re-alignment after the American Civil War. It was called by the Democratic Party with the intention to give the War Democrats, who had joined the Republicans in the National Union, and other conservative Republicans, an opportunity to return to the Democratic Party. Thurlow Weed was a delegate. John Adams Dix was talked of to be nominated for governor.[2] The convention met on September 11 and 12 at Tweddle Hall. Sanford E. Church was temporary chairman and president. Mayor of New York John T. Hoffman (a Democrat of Tammany Hall) was nominated for governor by acclamation. Robert H. Pruyn (a Republican) was nominated for lieutenant governor on the first ballot (vote: Pruyn 169, Harlow L. Comstock 85). William W. Wright (who had been Canal Commissioner from 1862 to 1863) for Canal Commissioner, and Francis B. Gallagher for prison inspector, were also nominated by acclamation.[3]

Result

The whole Republican ticket was elected in a tight race, with a majority of about 14,000 votes out of more than 700,000.

The incumbent Governor Fenton was re-elected.

82 Republicans and 46 Democrats were elected for the session of 1865 to the New York State Assembly.

1866 state election results
Office Republican ticket Conservative Union ticket
Governor Reuben E. Fenton 366,315 John T. Hoffman 352,526
Lieutenant Governor Stewart L. Woodford 366,970 Robert H. Pruyn 351,947
Canal Commissioner Stephen T. Hayt 367,194 William W. Wright 351,643
Inspector of State Prisons John Hammond 367,345 Francis B. Gallagher 359,072

Notes

  1. The Constitutional Convention was held, but the changes were rejected by the voters.
  2. THE ALBANY CONVENTION in NYT on September 11, 1866
  3. NEW YORK STATE CONVENTION in NYT on September 13, 1866

Sources

See also

New York gubernatorial elections

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