1831 Boston mayoral election

The 1831 Boston mayoral election saw the election of Charles Wells. The first vote, held on December 12, 1831, did not result in any candidate receiving the required majority of the vote, resulting in a second vote on December 22, 1831, which Wells won.

1831 Boston mayoral election

December 12, 1831 (first vote) December 22, 1831 (second round)

Candidate Charles Wells Theodore Lyman II William Sullivan Party National Republican Grocer's Party Independent National Republican First vote 1,851 (41.23%) 1,838 (40.94%) > 1,100 (> 24.50%) Second vote 3,316 (55.94%) 2,389 (40.30%) not a candidate in second vote

Mayor before election Charles Wells National Republican Elected mayor Charles Wells National Republican

First vote (December 12, 1831)

Charles Wells was the city's National Republican Party's nominee. William Sullivan was an independent National Republican candidate nominated by a faction of the city's National Republicans. Lyman was nominated by the Grocer's Party. Theodore Lyman II's opponents accused him of being a Jacksonian. Lyman was seen as receiving support from a number of small parties, as well as many National Republicans. Lyman also was supported by part of the Anti-Tariff Party.

Result
Sullivan received in excess of 1,100 votes, counted in the scattering

Boston mayoral election first vote (December 12, 1831)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	National Republican	Charles Wells	1,851	41.23
	Grocer's	Theodore Lyman II	1,838	40.94
	Scattering	Other (including Sullivan)	1,160	25.84
Total votes			4,849	100

Second vote (December 22, 1831)

Sullivan did not run in the second vote, making it a two-way race.

Boston mayoral election second vote (December 22, 1831)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	National Republican	Charles Wells	3,316	55.94
	Grocer's	Theodore Lyman II	2,389	40.30
	Scattering	Other	223	3.76
Total votes			5,928	100

See also

• List of mayors of Boston, Massachusetts