1858 Delaware gubernatorial election

1858 Delaware gubernatorial election

November 2, 1858

Nominee William Burton James S. Buckmaster Party Democratic People's Party Popular vote 6,941 6,244 Percentage 52.64% 47.36%

Burton:      50–60% Buckmaster:      50–60%

Governor before election Peter F. Causey Know Nothing Elected Governor William Burton Democratic

The 1858 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1858. Incumbent Know Nothing Governor Peter F. Causey was unable to seek re-election. His 1854 opponent, William Burton, once again ran as the Democratic nominee. James S. Buckmaster, the former State Treasurer,[1] ran as the People's Party[a] candidate. Burton narrowly defeated Buckmaster to win back the governorship for the Democratic Party.[3]

General election

Results

1858 Delaware gubernatorial election[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William Burton	7,758	50.67%	+3.31%
	People's Party	James S. Buckmaster	7,554	49.33%	—
Majority			204	1.33%	−3.95%
Turnout			15,312	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Know Nothing

References

1. Conrad 1908, p. 250.
2. Hancock, Harold Bell (1961). Delaware During the Civil War: A Political History (PDF) (ePub ed.). Historic Society of Delaware. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-924117-43-5. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
3. Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware: From the Earliest Settlements to the Year 1907. Vol. 1. Lancaster, Pa.: Wickersham Company, Printers and Binders. pp. 194–95.
4. 1859 House Journal, p. 56

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
• Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.
• Delaware House Journal, 67th General Assembly, 1st Reg. Sess. (1859).

Notes

1. The people's party was founded in 1858 for this election. It was a confederation of the burgeoning Republican Party and the declining Whig Party and Know Nothings.[2]