1857 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1857 Massachusetts gubernatorial election Massachusetts presidential No 1856 Massachusetts gubernatorial election 1856 1858 Massachusetts gubernatorial election 1858 1857 11 3 x150px File:Nathaniel Banks pre-war (cropped).jpg Nathaniel Banks Republican Party (United States) 60,797 46.58% GovHenryJGardner.jpg Henry J. Gardner Know Nothing 37,596 28.81% Erasmus D. Beach.png Erasmus Beach Democratic Party (United States) 31,760 24.33% 1857 Massachusetts gubernatorial election results map by county.svg County resultsBanks: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70%Gardner: #f2dffc 30–40% Governor Henry J. Gardner Know Nothing Nathaniel Prentiss Banks Republican Party (US) The 1857 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3. Incumbent Know-Nothing governor Henry J. Gardner ran for a fourth term in office, but lost the support of the Republican Party, which nominated Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nathaniel P. Banks. Banks prevailed over Gardner to become the first Republican governor of Massachusetts. Gardner's loss also began an informal tradition of no governor serving more than three consecutive one-year terms, which persisted until 1920, when the governor's term was extended to two years. The only exception to this tradition was made for Governor John Albion Andrew, who held office during the Civil War. General election Candidates Nathaniel Prentiss Banks, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (Republican) Erasmus Beach, nominee for governor in 1855 and 1856 (Democratic) Henry J. Gardner, incumbent governor (American) Caleb Swan ("Straight Republican") Results 1857 Massachusetts gubernatorial electionDubin Michael J. United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County McFarland & Company 2003 9780786414390 Jefferson 119 Republican Party (United States) Nathaniel Prentiss Banks 60,797 46.58% N/A Know-Nothing Henry J. Gardner (incumbent) 37,596 28.81% 30.11 Democratic Party (United States) Erasmus D. Beach 31,760 24.33% 1.21 Independent Republican (United States) Caleb Swan 213 0.16% 3.43 130,366 100.00% Republican Party (US) Know Nothing See also 1857 Massachusetts legislature References Governor 1857 Massachusetts Category:November 1857