1806 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

1806 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

← 1805 2 April 1806 1807 →
 
Nominee Richard Jackson Jr. Henry Smith Peleg Arnold
Party Federalist Democratic-Republican Democratic-Republican
Popular vote 1,662 1,097 1,094
Percentage 43.07% 28.43% 28.35%

County results
Jackson:      40–50%
Smith:      30–40%      50–60%

Governor before election

Henry Smith
Democratic-Republican

Elected Governor

Isaac Wilbour
Democratic-Republican

The 1806 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 2 April 1806 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Federalist nominee Richard Jackson Jr. won a plurality of the vote against incumbent Democratic-Republican governor Henry Smith and Democratic-Republican candidate and incumbent chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Peleg Arnold. However, as no candidate received a majority of the total votes cast as was required by Rhode Island law, the election was forwarded to the Rhode Island legislature. When the legislature was also unable to elect a governor, it was decided that Democratic-Republican lieutenant governor-elect Isaac Wilbour would serve out the term as acting governor.[1][2]

General election

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On election day, 2 April 1806, Federalist nominee Richard Jackson Jr. led the field by a margin of 565 votes against his foremost opponent incumbent Democratic-Republican governor Henry Smith. As he however did not receive a majority of all votes cast, the race was ultimately awarded to Democratic-Republican lieutenant governor-elect Isaac Wilbour, who would serve out the term as acting governor, thereby retaining Democratic-Republican control over the office of governor. Wilbour was sworn in as the acting 6th governor of Rhode Island on 7 May 1806.[3]

Results

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Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 1806
Party Candidate Votes %
Federalist Richard Jackson Jr. 1,662 43.07
Democratic-Republican Henry Smith (incumbent) 1,097 28.43
Democratic-Republican Peleg Arnold 1,094 28.35
Scattering 6 0.15
Total votes 3,859 100.00
Democratic-Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "Isaac Wilbour". National Governors Association. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Rhode Island 1806 Governor". elections.lib.tufts.edu. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  3. ^ "RI Governor". ourcampaigns.com. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2024.