1855 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

1855 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

13 March 1855

Nominee Ralph Metcalf Nathaniel B. Baker James Bell Party Know Nothing Democratic Whig Popular vote 32,779 27,050 3,436 Percentage 50.71% 41.84% 5.32%

County results Metcalf:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Baker:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election Nathaniel B. Baker Democratic Elected Governor Ralph Metcalf Know Nothing

The 1855 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on 13 March 1855 in order to elect the governor of New Hampshire. Know Nothing nominee and former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives Ralph Metcalf defeated incumbent Democratic governor Nathaniel B. Baker, Whig nominee and former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives James Bell and Free Soil Party nominee Asa Fowler.

General election

On election day, 13 March 1855, Know Nothing nominee Ralph Metcalf won the election by a margin of 5,729 votes against his foremost opponent incumbent Democratic governor Nathaniel B. Baker, thereby gaining Know Nothing control over the office of governor. Metcalf was sworn in as the 25th governor of New Hampshire on 7 June 1855.

Results

New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 1855

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Know Nothing	Ralph Metcalf	32,779	50.71
	Democratic	Nathaniel B. Baker (incumbent)	27,050	41.84
	Whig	James Bell	3,436	5.32
	Free Soil	Asa Fowler	1,187	1.84
		Scattering	193	0.29
Total votes			64,645	100.00
	Know Nothing gain from Democratic