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| Elections in Vermont |
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The 1830 Vermont gubernatorial election took place in September and October, and resulted in the election of Samuel C. Crafts to a one-year term as governor.[1]
In the mid-1820s, the Democratic-Republicans, the only major party following the demise of the Federalists after the War of 1812, began to splinter into supporters and opponents of President Andrew Jackson.[2] The opponents of Jackson were called National Republicans, and adopted the name Whig after the 1832 presidential election.[2] The pro-Jackson party was still referred to as the Democratic-Republican Party, but adopted the name Democratic Party prior to the 1832 elections.[2] The Anti-Masonic Party, which formed in the late 1820s, continued to gather supporters, and had more influence in Vermont than in most other states.[3]
The Vermont General Assembly met in Montpelier on October 14.[1] The Vermont House of Representatives appointed a committee to review the votes of the freemen of Vermont for governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, and members of the governor's council.[1] The committee determined that no candidate had won a majority for governor or lieutenant governor.[1] In accordance with the Vermont Constitution, the General Assembly was required to choose.[1]
The popular vote for governor was reported as: Total votes, 30,721; Samuel C. Crafts (National Republican), 13,476 (43.9%); William A. Palmer (Anti-Masonic),[4] 10,923 (35.6%); Ezra Meech (Democratic-Republican), 6,285 (20.4%); scattering, 37 (0.01%).[1]
In the election for lieutenant governor, the popular vote totals were: Total votes, 29,847; Mark Richards (National Republican), 12,779 (42.8%); Lebbeus Egerton (Anti-Masonic),[4] 10,594 (35.5%); John Roberts (Democratic-Republican), 6,405 (21.4%); scattering, 69 (0.02%).[1] After numerous ballots over several days failed to produce winners, on Tuesday, October 19 the General Assembly chose Crafts for governor and Richards for lieutenant governor.[1]
With 224 legislators and councilors casting votes for governor on the 32nd ballot, 113 were required for a majority.[5] Crafts received 115, Palmer received 72, and Democratic-Republican William Czar Bradley received 37.[5] For lieutenant governor, 211 members of the General Assembly voted on the third ballot, so 106 were necessary for victory.[5] Richards received 117, Egerton received 57, and Roberts 37.[5]
Benjamin Swan won election to a one-year term as treasurer, his thirty-first.[1] Though he had nominally been a Federalist, Swan was usually endorsed by the Democratic-Republicans and even after the demise of the Federalist Party he was frequently unopposed.[6] In 1830, he was endorsed by the National Republicans[7] and Democratic-Republicans,[8] and opposed by Anti-Masonic candidate Augustine Clarke.[4] In the treasurer's race, the popular vote was reported as: Total votes cast, 28,917; Swan, 18,544 (64.1%); Clarke, 10,325 (35.7%); scattering, 48 (0.02%).[9]