1848 Illinois gubernatorial election

The Illinois gubernatorial election of 1848 was the ninth election for this office. Democratic governor Augustus C. French was easily re-elected. This was the first gubernatorial election in Illinois that was held on the same date as the United States presidential election.

1848 Illinois gubernatorial election

November 7, 1848

Nominee Augustus C. French W. L. D. Morrison Charles V. Dyer Party Democratic Whig Free Soil Running mate Joseph Wells Unknown Henry H. Snow[1] Popular vote 67,828 5,659 4,692 Percentage 86.76% 7.24% 6.00%

County Results French:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      90-100% Morrison:      40-50%      50-60% Unknown/No Vote:

Governor before election Augustus C. French Democratic Elected Governor Augustus C. French Democratic

This was the first election in which any governor was elected to a second term. The Illinois Constitution of 1818, which had been replaced this same year, prohibited more than one consecutive term as governor, and Thomas Duncan was the only governor ever to attempt a second term, though it was not consecutive.

At this time in Illinois history the Lieutenant Governor was elected on a separate ballot from the governor. This would remain so until the 1970 constitution.

Results

1848 gubernatorial election, Illinois

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Democratic	Augustus C. French	67,828	86.76%	+28.56%
	Whig	W. L. D. Morrison	5,659	7.24%	-29.45%
	Free Soil	Charles V. Dyer	4,692	6.00%	+6.00%
Majority			62,169	79.52%	N/A
Turnout			78,179	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. Theodore Clarke Smith (1897), The Liberty and Free Soil Parties in the Northwest, p. 135

• Illinois Blue Book 1899