1851 Connecticut gubernatorial election

The 1851 Connecticut gubernatorial election was held on April 2, 1851. It was a rematch of the 1850 Connecticut gubernatorial election. Incumbent governor and Democratic Party nominee Thomas H. Seymour defeated former state legislator and Whig nominee Lafayette S. Foster with 48.94% of the vote.

1851 Connecticut gubernatorial election

April 2, 1851

Nominee Thomas H. Seymour Lafayette S. Foster Party Democratic Whig Electoral vote 122 121 Popular vote 30.077 28,856 Percentage 48.94% 46.95%

Governor before election Thomas H. Seymour Democratic Elected Governor Thomas H. Seymour Democratic

Seymour won a plurality of the vote, but he did not receive a majority. As a result, the Connecticut General Assembly elected the governor, per the state constitution. The Whig Party had a majority in the Connecticut State house, but they were divided over their choice. Seymour won the vote over Foster by a mere one-vote margin, 122 to 121, in the General Assembly, and became the governor.[1]

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Thomas H. Seymour, Democratic
• Lafayette S. Foster, Whig

Minor party candidates

• John Boyd, Free Soil

Results

1851 Connecticut gubernatorial election[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Thomas H. Seymour	30,077	48.94%
	Whig	Lafayette S. Foster	28,856	46.95%
	Free Soil	John Boyd	2,530	4.12%
Plurality			1,221
Turnout

1851 Connecticut gubernatorial election, contingent General Assembly election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Thomas H. Seymour	122	50.21%
	Whig	Lafayette S. Foster	121	49.79%
Majority			1
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "Memorial Sketch of Lafayette S. Foster", Franklin Press (1881),
2. "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 2020-09-15.