1831 Georgia gubernatorial election

1831 Georgia gubernatorial election
	October 3, 1831
	Results by County; Lumpkin: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%; Gilmer: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%; Cherokee territory:
Governor before election; George R. Gilmer; Jacksonian	Elected Governor ; Wilson Lumpkin; Jacksonian

The 1831 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on October 3, 1894, to elect the governor of Georgia. Incumbent Jacksonian Troup Governor George Rockingham Gilmer, first elected in the 1829 election, ran for re-election to a second term. He was narrowly defeated by the Jacksonian Union nominee, U.S House Representative Wilson Lumpkin.^[1]^[2]

Background

During this time, Georgian politics were dominated by two local parties, the Union party and the Troup party. The Union party was the product of the forces of liberal democracy that brought white manhood suffrage and popular elections in the 1800s. The Troup party, on the other hand, was a political anomaly whose conservative politics and organization were more closely related to those of the late 1800s.^[2]

Union Party

Following the previous election in 1829, the Union party grew rapidly with the help of several newspapers such as the Macon Telegraph, the Savannah Mercury, The Argus, The Democrat, The Federal Union, The Augusta Chronicle, and the Mcdonough Jacksonian. Many columnists for these newspapers attacked what they called the "Troup aristocracy".^[2]

Another contribution to its growth was the emergence of competent leaders who were fed up with the undemocratic nature of the Troup party and its severe competition in the leadership arena.^[2]

U.S House Representative Wilson Lumpkin had the choice of nomination for Governor by either state party caucus but chose the Union party nomination.^[2]

Troup Party

After his election in 1829, Governor George R. Gilmer had been discredited in the eyes of the new democracy by his seeming desertion of his Union supporters that had helped him win the previous election. Another problem for his reputation was his belief that lands containing gold should be withheld from the land lottery.^[2]

The Troup party as a whole wasn't safe from controversy either. The party, through much manipulation, had kept the nearly senile William H. Crawford as judge of the Northern Circuit, which brought great discredit to the caucus. Despite these controversies, the party was able to hold on to life by reorganizing itself into being more in line with the rising opposition to President Andrew Jackson and becoming increasingly anti-tariff.^[2]

The Troup party renominated Governor Gilmer.^[2]

Election

1831 Georgia gubernatorial election^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Jacksonian	Wilson Lumpkin	27,305	51.35
	Jacksonian	George R. Gilmer	25,867	48.65
Total votes			53,172	100

Aftermath

Under the leadership of Wilson Lumpkin, the Union party was able to sweep into power.^[2]

References

1 2 3 Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776 1860: The Official Results By State And County. McFarland. pp. 32–33. ISBN 9780786414390.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Murray, Paul. "Party Organization in Georgia Politics 1825-1853". The Georgia Historical Quarterly. 29 (4): 197–198 – via JSTOR.

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[:Results-1] 1 2 3 Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776 1860: The Official Results By State And County. McFarland. pp. 32–33. ISBN 9780786414390.

[:GHQ-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Murray, Paul. "Party Organization in Georgia Politics 1825-1853". The Georgia Historical Quarterly. 29 (4): 197–198 – via JSTOR.

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