1846 Delaware gubernatorial special election

The 1846 Delaware gubernatorial special election was held on November 3, 1846. A year into the term of Whig Governor Thomas Stockton, elected in 1844, he died, elevating State Senate Speaker Joseph Maull to the governorship. Maull, in turn, also died, making State House Speaker William Temple Governor. Former State Representative Peter F. Causey ran as the Whig nominee to succeed Temple, and faced former State Senator William Tharp, the Democratic nominee from 1844. Tharp narrowly defeated Causey, returning the Governorship to the Democratic Party.[1]

1846 Delaware gubernatorial special election

← 1844 November 3, 1846 1850 →
 
Nominee William Tharp Peter F. Causey
Party Democratic Whig
Popular vote 6,148 6,012
Percentage 50.56% 49.44%

Tharp:      50–60%

Governor before election

William Temple
Whig

Elected Governor

William Tharp
Democratic

General election

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Results

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1846 Delaware gubernatorial special election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic William Tharp 6,148 50.56% +0.74%
Whig Peter F. Causey 6,012 49.44% −0.74%
Majority 136 1.12% +0.75%
Turnout 12,160 100.00%
Democratic gain from Whig

References

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  1. ^ Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware: From the Earliest Settlements to the Year 1907. Vol. 1. Lancaster, Pa.: Wickersham Company, Printers and Binders. p. 186.
  2. ^ Dubin 2003, p. 28.

Bibliography

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  • Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
  • Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
  • Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.