1863 Mississippi gubernatorial election

The 1863 Mississippi gubernatorial election was held on October 5, 1863, to elect the governor of Mississippi. Charles Clark, a Democrat, won against Democrat A. M. West and Fire-Eater Democrat Reuben Davis.[1]

1863 Mississippi gubernatorial election
← 1861 October 5, 1863 1865 →
 
Nominee Charles Clark Absolom M. West Reuben Davis
Party Democratic Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 16,428 4,863 2,009
Percentage 70.5% 20.9% 8.6%

County results
Clark:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90%
West:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%
     No vote      Unknown

Governor before election

John J. Pettus
Democratic

Elected Governor

Benjamin G. Humphreys
Democratic

General election

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The elections of 1863 in Mississippi marked a shift towards peace during the American Civil War, as Governor Pettus, a fire-eating secessionist, became ineligible for a consecutive third term. Reuben Davis, an outspoken prowar Democrat and Pettus's political ally, was expected to succeed him but faced opposition from Charles Clark, a Delta Whig-turned-Democrat and war supporter.[2][3] Clark, a veteran of the War with Mexico, had opposed secession in the 1850s but rose to the rank of brigadier general in the state and Confederate armies.[2] Another candidate, Absalom West, a Democrat of "Whiggish bent" who had been a Unionist before the war, represented the peace movement.[1][2][3] While Davis was an initial favorite, he lost his popularity from a failed military campaign in Kentucky in 1861 and criticizing Confederate war policy.[4]

Despite being on crutches due to war wounds, Clark won the gubernatorial election, signaling a victory for conservatives turning away from earlier fire-eater ideologies. The election results were seen as indicative of a growing desire for peace in the midst of the Civil War.[2] However, compared to earlier elections, turnout rates dropped as the 1863 campaign was considered "unlively."[4]

Results

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Mississippi gubernatorial election, 1863[1][5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles Clark 16,428 70.5%
Democratic Absolom M. West 4,863 20.9%
Democratic Reuben Davis 2,009 8.6%
Total votes 23,300[a] 100.00
Democratic hold

Notes

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  1. ^ The official returns totaled 16,737, as several counties were rejected by the secretary of state; however, the legislature listed them without comment.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Westport, CT: Meckler Books. pp. 168–169.
  2. ^ a b c d Busbee, Westley F. (2015). Mississippi: A History (1st ed.). John Wiley and Sons. pp. 201–202.
  3. ^ a b Yearns, W. Buck (2010). The Confederate Governors. University of Georgia Press. p. 127. ISBN 9780820335575.
  4. ^ a b Wade, John Coleman Jr., "Charles Clark: Confederate General and Mississippi Governor" (1949). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1973.
  5. ^ a b Dublin, Michael J. (2010). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County (1st ed.). McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers. p. 322. ISBN 9780786456468.