1820 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

The 1820 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election occurred on October 10, 1820. Incumbent Democratic-Republican governor William Findlay sought re-election but was defeated by U.S. Representative Joseph Hiester. Findlay entered the race with significantly reduced popularity. He had been renounced in the press as an opponent of democracy due to his nomination during the 1817 campaign by a group of party insiders. He additionally faced allegations of corruption over the misappropriation of funds during his tenure as State Treasurer, although all charges were dismissed during impeachment proceedings before the State Legislature. For this campaign, Findlay was nominated at a popular convention of Democratic Republicans; Hiester was selected at a separate convention of Federalists and "Old School Democrats" (i.e. allies of former governor Thomas McKean). The sour state of the economy was a key factor in the defeat of the incumbent, as Pennsylvania was reeling from the effects of the Panic of 1819.[1][2]

1820 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

← 1817 October 10, 1820 (1820-10-10) 1823 →
 
Nominee Joseph Hiester William Findlay
Party Federalist Democratic-Republican
Popular vote 67,905 66,300
Percentage 50.59% 49.39%

County Results
Hiester:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Findlay:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Governor before election

William Findlay
Democratic-Republican

Elected Governor

Joseph Hiester
Federalist

Results

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Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1820[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Federalist Joseph Hiester 68,242 50.53
Democratic-Republican William Findlay (incumbent) 66,766 49.44
N/A Others 46 0.03
Total votes 135,054 100.00

References

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  1. ^ Lampi, Philip J. "Pennsylvania 1820 Governor". A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787-1825. American Antiquarian Society. Retrieved April 30, 2024.