1863 Alabama gubernatorial election

The 1863 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on August 3, 1863^[1] in order to elect the governor of Alabama. Whig Thomas Hill Watts won his first term as governor.^[2]

1863 Alabama gubernatorial election

← 1861 August 3, 1863 1865 →

Nominee Thomas Hill Watts John Gill Shorter Party Whig Democratic Popular vote 28,221 9,664 Percentage 71.71% 24.56%

County results Watts:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90% Shorter:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      >90%      Returns Rejected

Governor before election John Gill Shorter Democratic Elected Governor Thomas Hill Watts Whig

Candidates

Whig Party

• Thomas H. Watts, 3rd Confederate States Attorney General^[1]

Democratic Party

• John Gill Shorter, Deputy from Alabama to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States; incumbent 17th Governor of Alabama^[3]
• James F. Dowdell, member of the House of Representatives from Alabama, 1853–1859; colonel in the Confederate Army^[4]

Election

Statewide

1863 Alabama gubernatorial election^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Thomas Hill Watts	28,221	71.71	29.08
	Democratic	John Gill Shorter	9,664	24.56	−32.81
	Democratic	James F. Dowdell	1,371	3.74	3.74
Total votes			39,256	100.00
	Whig gain from Democratic