1853 Georgia gubernatorial election

1853 Georgia gubernatorial election

← 1851 3 October 1853 1855 →

Nominee Herschel V. Johnson Charles J. Jenkins Party Democratic Constitutional Union Popular vote 47,638 47,128 Percentage 50.27% 49.73%

Results by County[1] Johnson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Jenkins:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Governor before election Howell Cobb Union Elected Governor Herschel V. Johnson Democratic

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v t e

The 1853 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on 3 October 1853 in order to elect the Governor of Georgia. Democratic nominee and former United States Senator from Georgia Herschel V. Johnson defeated Constitutional Unionist nominee and former Attorney General of Georgia Charles J. Jenkins by a slim margin.^[2]

In the aftermath of the Compromise of 1850, Union Democrats, led by Howell Cobb, and Georgia Whigs had merged to form the Constitutional Unionist Party in support of the compromise. This coalition of parties was instrumental in securing Cobb's governorship in 1851.^[3]

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.^[4]

Significantly, the party refused to endorse Cobb's administration or his Senate candidacy, departing from the idea of compromise in the sectional conflict. The Whigs were left with the option of either merging into the Democrats or attempting to rebuild their party as a state organization. The party chose the latter, nominating Charles J. Jenkins for the Constitutional Unionist.^[4]

On election day, 3 October 1853, Democratic nominee Herschel V. Johnson won the election by a margin of 510 votes against his opponent Unionist nominee Charles J. Jenkins, thereby gaining Democrats control over the office of Governor. Johnson was sworn in as the 41st Governor of Georgia on 9 November 1853.^[5]