| Election name | 1853 Georgia gubernatorial election |
|---|---|
| Country | Georgia (U.S. state) |
| Ongoing | no |
| Previous election | 1851 Georgia gubernatorial election |
| Previous year | 1851 |
| Next election | 1855 Georgia gubernatorial election |
| Next year | 1855 |
| Election date | October 3, 1853 |
| Nominee 1 | Herschel V. Johnson |
| Party 1 | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular vote 1 | 47,638 |
| Percentage 1 | 50.27% |
| Nominee 2 | Charles J. Jenkins |
| Party 2 | Constitutional Union |
| Color 2 | ffaadd |
| Popular vote 2 | 47,128 |
| Percentage 2 | 49.73% |
| Before election | Howell Cobb |
| Before party | Union Party (United States, 1850) |
| After election | Herschel V. Johnson |
| After party | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1853 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on October 3, 1853, in order to elect the Governor of Georgia. Democratic nominee and former United States Senator from Georgia Herschel V. Johnson defeated Constitutional Union nominee and former Attorney General of Georgia Charles J. Jenkins by a slim margin.[1]
Background
In the aftermath of the Compromise of 1850, Union Democrats, led by Howell Cobb, and Georgia Whigs had merged to form the Constitutional Union Party in support of the compromise. This coalition of parties was instrumental in securing Cobb's governorship in 1851.[2]
The results of the 1852 presidential election confirmed Georgian's support for the compromise, but that they would demand more specific recognition of "Southern Rights" basis for the future. In its aftermath, the Southern Rights Party was accepted into the national Democratic Party, causing it to drop the former title. The Democrats nominated Herschel V. Johnson.[3]
Significantly, the party refused to endorse Cobb's administration or his Senate candidacy, departing from the idea of compromise in the sectional conflict. The Union Whigs, left with the option of either merging with the Democrats or attempting to rebuild their party as a state organization, chose the latter, nominating Charles J. Jenkins.[3]
General election
On election day, October 3, 1853, Democratic nominee Herschel V. Johnson won the election by a margin of 510 votes against his opponent Union nominee Charles J. Jenkins, thereby gaining Democrats control over the office of Governor. Johnson was sworn in as the 41st Governor of Georgia on November 9, 1853.[4]
References
- ^ "Gov. Herschel Vespasian Johnson". National Governors Association. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
- ^ Greene, Helen (1946). "Politics in Georgia, 1853–54: The Ordeal of Howell Cobb". The Georgia Historical Quarterly. 30 (3): 185–186. JSTOR 40577037
- ^ Murray, Paul. "Party Organization in Georgia Politics 1825–1853". The Georgia Historical Quarterly. 29 (4): 209. JSTOR 40576991
- ^ "GA Governor". ourcampaigns.com. March 14, 2005. Retrieved 2023-12-09.