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 County results Allen: 50–60% Chapin: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The1851 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on April 2, 1851, in order to elect thegovernor of Rhode Island.Democratic nominee and former member of theRhode Island House of RepresentativesPhilip Allen defeatedWhig nomineeJosiah Chapin andFree Soil nomineeEdward Harris.[1]
IncumbentWhiggovernorHenry B. Anthony declined to seek re-election to a third term, so his party instead nominatedJosiah Chapin in order to keep the office of governor under Whig control. MeanwhileFree Soil candidateEdward Harris was nominated for a third consecutive time after his election losses during the1849 and1850 Rhode Island gubernatorial election. On election day, April 2, 1851, democratic nomineePhilip Allen won the election by a margin of 829 votes against his foremost opponentJosiah Chapin. Allen was sworn in as the 22nd governor of Rhode Island on May 6, 1851.[2]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Philip Allen | 6,935 | 52.37 | |
| Whig | Josiah Chapin | 6,106 | 46.11 | |
| Free Soil | Edward Harris | 184 | 1.39 | |
| Scattering | 17 | 0.13 | ||
| Total votes | 13,242 | 100.00 | ||
| Democraticgain fromWhig | ||||
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