1806 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

The 1806 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on 2 April 1806 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Federalist nominee Richard Jackson Jr. won a plurality of the vote against incumbent Democratic-Republican governor Henry Smith and Democratic-Republican candidate and incumbent chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Peleg Arnold. However, as no candidate received a majority of the total votes cast as was required by Rhode Island law, the election was forwarded to the Rhode Island legislature. When the legislature was also unable to elect a governor, it was decided that Democratic-Republican lieutenant governor-elect Isaac Wilbour would serve out the term as acting governor.^[1][2]

1806 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

← 1805 2 April 1806 1807 →

Nominee Richard Jackson Jr. Henry Smith Peleg Arnold Party Federalist Democratic-Republican Democratic-Republican Popular vote 1,662 1,097 1,094 Percentage 43.07% 28.43% 28.35%

County results Jackson:      40–50% Smith:      30–40%      50–60%

Governor before election Henry Smith Democratic-Republican Elected Governor Isaac Wilbour Democratic-Republican

General election

On election day, 2 April 1806, Federalist nominee Richard Jackson Jr. led the field by a margin of 565 votes against his foremost opponent incumbent Democratic-Republican governor Henry Smith. As he however did not receive a majority of all votes cast, the race was ultimately awarded to Democratic-Republican lieutenant governor-elect Isaac Wilbour, who would serve out the term as acting governor, thereby retaining Democratic-Republican control over the office of governor. Wilbour was sworn in as the acting 6th governor of Rhode Island on 7 May 1806.^[3]

Results

Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 1806

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Federalist	Richard Jackson Jr.	1,662	43.07
	Democratic-Republican	Henry Smith (incumbent)	1,097	28.43
	Democratic-Republican	Peleg Arnold	1,094	28.35
		Scattering	6	0.15
Total votes			3,859	100.00
	Democratic-Republican hold