1838 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election: Difference between revisions
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{{1838 United States elections}} |
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[[Category:Pennsylvania gubernatorial elections|1835]] |
[[Category:Pennsylvania gubernatorial elections|1835]] |
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Revision as of 14:18, 30 December 2022
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 County Results Porter: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% Ritner: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Pennsylvania |
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 Government |
The 1838 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was a statewide contest for the office of Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the United States.
Incumbent Governor Joseph Ritner, who was the last governor to serve under Pennsylvania's Constitution of 1790, ran as an Anti-Masonic candidate.[1] He was defeated by Jacksonian Democrat David R. Porter by less than 5,500 votes, following a divisive campaign marred by rising public prejudice against Freemasonry and a disinformation campaign that distributed biographical booklets with inaccurate information about Porter.[2][3]
Unhappy with the election's outcome, a group of Ritner supporters subsequently challenged the election results, sparking statewide violence that culminated in the Buckshot War.[4][5]
History
The last governor to serve under Pennsylvania's Constitution of 1790, incumbent Governor Joseph Ritner, ran for re-election as an Anti-Masonic candidate against Jacksonian Democrat David R. Porter.[6][7]
The campaign was an unusually divisive one, fueled both by disinformation about Porter that was spread by Ritner supporters,[8] and public prejudice against Freemasonry that had been increasing since the 1833 passage of a new state law which made it illegal for fraternal organizations to require their members to keep their rituals secret from the public.[9][10][11]
When Ritner was defeated by Porter by less than 5,500 results, supporters of Ritner challenged the election results, sparking statewide violence that culminated in the Buckshot War, which was finally ended by legislative action, enabling Porter to take office as the first governor under the State Constitution of 1838.[12][13]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | David R. Porter | 127,821 | 51.10 | |
| Anti-Masonic | Joseph Ritner (incumbent) | 122,325 | 48.90 | |
| Total votes | 250,146 | 100.00 | ||
See also
References
- ^ "Governor Joseph Ritner" (biography). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, retrieved online December 30, 2022.
- ^ "Governor David Rittenhouse Porter" (biography). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, retrieved online December 30, 2022.
- ^ Pinsker, Matthew. "Be Kind, Rewind: My Time with Microfilm," in "History 204, 'Introduction to Historical Methods.'" Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College, October 20, 2017 (retrieved online December 30, 2022).
- ^ "Governor Joseph Ritner, " Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
- ^ "Governor David Rittenhouse Porter," Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
- ^ "Governor Joseph Ritner, " Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
- ^ "Governor David Rittenhouse Porter," Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
- ^ Pinsker, "Be Kind, Rewind: My Time with Microfilm," in "History 204, 'Introduction to Historical Methods,'" Dickinson College, October 20, 2017.
- ^ "Governor Joseph Ritner, " Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
- ^ "Governor David Rittenhouse Porter," Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
- ^ "George Wolf Historical Marker." Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, retrieved online December 30, 2022.
- ^ "Governor Joseph Ritner, " Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
- ^ "Governor David Rittenhouse Porter," Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
- ^ Smull, John A. (1870). Pennsylvania Legislative Handbook. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: State of Pennsylvania. p. 207. hdl:2027/mdp.39015067301161.