# 1852–53 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

"none" is preferred when the title alone is adequate; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
Elections in Massachusetts :
General
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
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1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
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2006
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Federal government
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1788–89
1792
1796
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1804
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1824
1828
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1984
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2004
Dem
GOP
2008
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GOP
2012
2016
Dem
GOP
2020
Dem
GOP
2024
Dem
GOP
U.S. Senate
Class 1: 1788
1790
1796 (S)
1796
1798
1800 (S)
1803
1808 (S)
1810 (S)
1811
1813 (S)
1815
1815 (S)
1816 (S)
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February 1841 (S)
1845
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2010 (S)
2012
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2024
Class 2: 1788
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1800 (S)
1803 (S)
1805
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1811 (S)
1816
1822 (S)
1826 (S)
1828
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1841
1845 (S)
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1873 (S)
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1905 (S)
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1918
1924
1930
1936
1942
1944 (S)
1948
1954
1960
1966
1972
1978
1984
1990
1996
2002
2008
2013 (S)
2014
2020
U.S. House
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1790/1792
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1794/1795
1796/1797
1798/1799
1800/1801
1802/1803
1804
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1810/1811
1812/1813
1814/1815
3rd
1816/1817
1818/1819
1820/1821
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1982
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1991 (1st)
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2001 (9th)
2002
2004
2006
2007 (5th)
2008
2010
2012
2013 (5th)
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
State government
Governor
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State Senate
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2008
2010
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Governor's Council
2006
2010
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2018
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Ballot measures
1980: Proposition 2½
2002: English Language Education in Public Schools
2006: 2008
Greyhound Protection
Sensible Marijuana Policy
State Income Tax Repeal
2010: No Sales Tax for Alcohol
Sales Tax Relief
Comprehensive Permits and Regional Planning
2012: Right to Repair
Death with Dignity
Medical Marijuana
2014: Automatic Gas Tax Increase Repeal
Expansion of Bottle Deposits
Casino Repeal
Paid Sick Days
2016: Expand Slot Machine Gaming
Charter School Expansion
Farm Animal Confinement
Legalization, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana
2018: Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination
2020: pending :
Boston
Mayor
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1824
Apr 1825
Dec 1825
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Dec 1845
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1853–54
Dec 1854
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Springfield
Mayor
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1957
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2023 :
Worcester
Mayor
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1991
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Massachusetts portal :
vte :
The 1852–53 Massachusetts gubernatorial election consisted of an initial popular vote held on November 8, 1852, followed by a legislative vote conducted on January 12, 1853, which elected Whig Party nominee John H. Clifford. The ultimate task of electing the governor had been placed before the Massachusetts General Court because no candidate received the majority of the vote required for a candidate to be elected through the popular election.
Incumbent Democratic governor George S. Boutwell declined to run for a third term in office.

## Democratic nominations
### Candidates

* Henry W. Bishop, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
* David Henshaw, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy

### Convention and split

With the imminent presidential election creating an increased emphasis on national politics, the Democratic Party became divided over the issue of slavery and its expansion in the western territories. Coalitionists favored a moderate approach which allowed the party to reconcile with its ally in the past three elections, the Free Soil Party. Without the Free Soilers, the party likely had no chance at winning. The Coalitionists held the majority of the party and nominated Henry W. Bishop of Lenox for governor in September. A breakaway faction calling themselves "National Democrats" rejected the Bishop ticket. The National Democrats nominated David Henshaw, a long-time ally of John C. Calhoun who had served as Secretary of the Navy in the John Tyler administration.

## General election
### Candidates

* Henry W. Bishop, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Democratic)
* John H. Clifford, Attorney General of Massachusetts (Whig)
* David Henshaw, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy (National Democratic)
* Horace Mann, U.S. representative from Newton (Free Soil)
* Edward A. Vose (Independent)

### Results

1852 Massachusetts gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John H. Clifford | 62,233 | 44.95 | 1.98 |
| | Democratic | Henry W. Bishop | 38,763 | 28.00 | 3.93 |
| | Free Soil | Horace Mann | 36,740 | 26.54 | 5.69 |
| | National Democratic | David Henshaw | 357 | 0.26 | N/A |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 195 | 0.14 | 0.05 |
| | Independent | Edward A. Vose | 148 | 0.11 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 138,436 | 100.00 | |

### Legislative vote

As a result of the failure for a candidate to secure the needed majority to be elected through the popular vote, the election of the governor was placed before the two chambers of the state legislature: the Massachusetts General Court. The process for the legislature to elect a governor saw the Massachusetts House of Representatives first hold votes to select two candidates from which the Massachusetts State Senate would then select a winner. The House balloting to select candidates required a candidate to receive a simple majority in a ballot round in order for that candidate to be successfully selected as one of the two candidates for consideration by the Senate. The General Court held its votes to elect the governor on January 12, 1853.
Massachusetts House of Representatives vote to select the first candidate to be placed before the Massachusetts State Senate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | John H. Clifford | 148 | 52.30 |
| | Democratic | Henry W. Bishop | 84 | 29.68 |
| | Free Soil | Horace Mann | 51 | 18.02 |
| | Independent | Edward A. Vose | 0 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 283 | 100.00 |
Massachusetts House of Representatives vote to select the second candidate to be placed before the Massachusetts State Senate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Henry W. Bishop | 189 | 75.90 |
| | Free Soil | Horace Mann | 59 | 23.69 |
| | Independent | Edward A. Vose | 1 | 0.40 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 249 | 100.00 |
| | Spoilt vote | J.S. Wiggin (not an eligible candidate) | 1 | N/A |
Massachusetts State Senate Senate vote for governor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | John H. Clifford | 29 | 87.88 |
| | Democratic | Henry W. Bishop | 4 | 12.12 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33 | 100.00 |