Hendricks had represented Indiana in the United States Congress since the state's admission to the Union in 1816.[4] The outgoing governor, Jonathan Jennings, had been reelected by an overwhelming margin in 1819 only to be sharply criticized for the poor condition of the state's finances following the Panic of 1819.[5] Despite extremely modest expenditures, the state's expenses had exceeded its total revenue in every year since 1816; the insolvency of the state banking system, resulting in the depreciation of paper currency, further exacerbated a difficult situation. By 1822, a series of new taxes had yielded an increase in revenue, and the state's finances appeared to be improving.[6]
Hendricks resigned his congressional seat in May, signaling his willingness to become a candidate for governor. By this time his name had already been for some months before the public. No other candidates were nominated in opposition. In the early years of statehood, the Democratic-Republican Party was dominant nationally, and the state's politics were conducted on a nonpartisan basis. Hendricks' candidacy was supported by public meetings and newspaper endorsements lauding his "able, faithful, and energetic services" to the state. The equal enthusiasm with which editors from eastern and western counties regarded his candidacy signaled the end of the geographic factionalism which had typified politics of the territorial era. On election day, Hendricks was elected without a single dissenting vote recorded.[7]
Shortly after the election, Governor Jennings resigned to seek the congressional seat vacated by Hendricks, briefly elevating Lieutenant Governor Ratliff Boon to the governorship.[8]
The official returns appear to have been lost.[11] In light of the unanimity of Hendricks' election, many newspapers felt it unnecessary to publish the full results of the election.[12]
The surviving results, as compiled in A New Nation Votes, are as follows.[13]
Lampi, Philip. "Indiana 1822 Governor". A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787-1825. American Antiquarian Society. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
