1840 Maine gubernatorial election

none January 2025 December 2025 ly 1840 Maine gubernatorial election Maine Presidential no 1839 Maine gubernatorial election 1839 1841 Maine gubernatorial election 1841 September 14, 1840 125px Edward Kent Whig Party (United States) (Elected) 45,574 49.98% 125px John Fairfield Democratic Party (United States) 45,507 49.91% 1840 Maine gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 200px County resultsKent: #FED463 50–60% #FE9929 60–70% #EC7014 70–80% Fairfield: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% #584CDE 70–80% No Data/Vote: #808080 Governor John Fairfield Democratic Party (United States) Edward Kent Whig Party (United States) The 1840 Maine gubernatorial election took place on September 14, 1840. In a rematch of the previous two elections, the Whig nominee, former governor Edward Kent, defeated the incumbent Democratic governor John Fairfield, who was seeking a third term.Dubin 2003 91 This was the first time a former governor had successfully staged a political comeback to the office.Ostermeier Dr Eric 2021-07-05 Paul LePage and a Brief History of Maine Gubernatorial Comeback Bids https://smartpolitics.lib.umn.edu/2021/07/04/paul-lepage-and-a-brief-history-of-maine-gubernatorial-comeback-bids/ 2026-07-15 Smart Politics en-US The election was closely watched by national press in the context of the 1840 United States presidential election and the narrow vote count separating the candidates resulted in the Maine legislature holding a contingent election to select the governor as neither candidate secured a majority of the vote. Background Unlike other states, Maine held their statewide elections months prior to the 1840 United States presidential election, with the Maine state elections attracting national attention for their potential to foretell the outcome of the national contest. A fierce partisan campaign ensued, in which the Whigs sought to capitalize on the grassroots enthusiasm for their national ticket, headed by the former major general and United States senator from Ohio, William Henry Harrison by donning log cabin badges and other emblems of Harrison's presidential campaign.The Letters of John Fairfield 274–76 Candidates John Fairfield, incumbent governor, former U.S. Representative (Democratic)2011-01-05 John Fairfield https://www.nga.org/governor/john-fairfield/ 2026-07-14 National Governors Association Edward Kent, former governor, former mayor of Bangor, former state representative, unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1836, 1838, and 1839 (Whig)Inmagic® Presto - Legislator Profile https://history.mainelegislature.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=ODgyNDUwY2YtMzg1Ny00OWNhLWJhOTItYzE5YTYxNzIwZjdh&rID=Njg4Mg==&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=KExlZ2lzbGF0b3JzLkFsbFRleHQ6KGVkd2FyZCBrZW50KSk=&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ== 2026-07-14 history.mainelegislature.org2011-01-05 Edward Kent https://www.nga.org/governor/edward-kent/ 2026-07-14 National Governors Association Election On election day, early returns variously showed either Kent or Fairfield narrowly ahead, with neither candidate conceding defeat. Democrats alleged that 28 votes cast for Hannibal Hamlin, the Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Maine's 6th congressional district, had been intended for Fairfield which with the addition of other contested votes from unincorporated areas would give him a narrow majority. The legislature found that Kent had outpolled Fairfield by fewer than 70 votes, but it was less than a majority of the total electorate, with 98 votes for other candidates. State law required that if no candidate received a majority that the election would be referred to the Maine Senate, where the Whig majority elected Kent.The Letters of John Fairfield 274–76 Results 1840 Maine gubernatorial election Whig Party (United States) Edward Kent 45,574 49.98 4.25 Democratic Party (United States) John Fairfield (incumbent) 45,507 49.91 4.09 Scattering 98 0.11 0.16 91,179 100.00 19.98 Whig Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Aftermath The importance of the Maine gubernatorial election and its building momentum for the presidential campaign would be repeated in future elections. Maine's status as a bellweather state resulted in the slogan "As Maine goes, so goes the nation."TIME 1957-09-23 MAINE: As the Nation Goes https://time.com/archive/6828715/maine-as-the-nation-goes/ 2026-07-15 TIME en References Works cited Fairfield John Staples Arthur G. 1922 The Letters of John Fairfield https://archive.org/details/lettersofjohnfai00fairrich/page/n5 Lewiston, ME Lewiston Journal Company The Letters of John Fairfield Dubin Michael J. United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County 2003 McFarland Jefferson, N.C. 0786414391 https://archive.org/details/unitedstatesgube0000dubi/page/91/mode/2up Category:1840 Maine elections Category:Maine gubernatorial elections Category:September 1840 Maine