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 County results Jackson: 40–50% Smith: 30–40% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The1806 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 2 April 1806 in order to elect thegovernor of Rhode Island.Federalist nomineeRichard Jackson Jr. won a plurality of the vote againstincumbentDemocratic-Republican governorHenry Smith andDemocratic-Republican candidate and incumbentchief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme CourtPeleg Arnold. However, as no candidate received a majority of the total votes cast as was required by Rhode Island law, the election was forwarded to theRhode Island legislature. When the legislature was also unable to elect a governor, it was decided thatDemocratic-Republicanlieutenant governor-electIsaac Wilbour would serve out the term asacting governor.[1][2]
On election day, 2 April 1806,Federalist nomineeRichard Jackson Jr. led the field by a margin of 565 votes against his foremost opponent incumbentDemocratic-Republican governorHenry Smith. As he however did not receive a majority of all votes cast, the race was ultimately awarded toDemocratic-Republicanlieutenant governor-electIsaac Wilbour, who would serve out the term asacting governor, thereby retainingDemocratic-Republican control over the office of governor. Wilbour was sworn in as the acting 6thgovernor of Rhode Island on 7 May 1806.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federalist | Richard Jackson Jr. | 1,662 | 43.07 | |
| Democratic-Republican | Henry Smith (incumbent) | 1,097 | 28.43 | |
| Democratic-Republican | Peleg Arnold | 1,094 | 28.35 | |
| Scattering | 6 | 0.15 | ||
| Total votes | 3,859 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic-Republicanhold | ||||
