1842 Maine gubernatorial election

1842 Maine gubernatorial election
← 1841 September 12, 1842 1843 →
	County results; Fairfield: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%; Robinson: 50–60%
Governor before election; John Fairfield; Democratic	Elected Governor ; John Fairfield; Democratic

The 1842 Maine gubernatorial election was held on September 12, 1842, in order to elect the Governor of Maine. Incumbent Democratic Governor John Fairfield won re-election against Whig nominee and former U.S. Representative Edward Robinson and Liberty Party candidate James Appleton.^[1]

Candidates

James Appleton, former vice president of the American Anti-Slavery Society, former member of the Maine and Massachusetts state legislatures (Liberty)^[2]
John Fairfield, incumbent governor, former U.S. Representative, unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1840 (Democratic)^[3]
Edward Robinson, former U.S. representative from Maine's 3rd congressional district, former Maine state senator (Whig)^[4]

General election

On election day, September 12, 1842, Democratic nominee John Fairfield won re-election by a margin of 14,110 votes against his foremost opponent Whig nominee Edward Robinson, thereby retaining Democratic control over the office of Governor. Fairfield was sworn in for his second consecutive and fourth overall term on January 5, 1843.^[5]

Results

Maine gubernatorial election, 1842
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John Fairfield (incumbent)	40,855	56.92	1.95
	Whig	Edward Robinson	26,745	37.26	5.44
	Liberty	James Appleton	4,080	5.68	3.63
	Write-in		100	0.14	0.15
Total votes			71,780	100.00	16.68
	Democratic hold

Aftermath

Fairfield resigned from the office of governor on March 7, 1843 in order to fill a vacancy in the United States senate caused by the resignation of Senator Reuel Wiliams.^[6]^[7] Maine does not have a lieutenant governor, so according to the rules of succession President of the Maine Senate Edward Kavanagh was sworn in as governor.^[8]

References

↑ The Letters of John Fairfield, p. xxvi.
↑ Johnson, Reinhard O. (February 11, 2021). "The Liberty Party in Maine, 1840-1848: The Politics of Antislavery Reform". University of Maine Digital Collections. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
↑ "John Fairfield". National Governors Association. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
↑ "Robinson, Edward". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
↑ "ME Governor". ourcampaigns.com. April 22, 2005. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
↑ "Williams, Reuel". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
↑ "Fairfield, John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
↑ "Edward Kavanagh". National Governors Association. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2026-07-17.

Works cited

Fairfield, John (1922). Staples, Arthur G. (ed.). The Letters of John Fairfield. Lewiston, ME: Lewiston Journal Company.

[FOOTNOTE''The_Letters_of_John_Fairfield''xxvi-1] The Letters of John Fairfield, p. xxvi.

[:0-2] Johnson, Reinhard O. (February 11, 2021). "The Liberty Party in Maine, 1840-1848: The Politics of Antislavery Reform". University of Maine Digital Collections. Retrieved 2026-07-20.

[3] "John Fairfield". National Governors Association. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2026-07-14.

[4] "Robinson, Edward". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2026-07-20.

[GBN-5] "ME Governor". ourcampaigns.com. April 22, 2005. Retrieved 2023-11-13.

[6] "Williams, Reuel". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2026-07-17.

[7] "Fairfield, John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2026-07-17.

[8] "Edward Kavanagh". National Governors Association. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2026-07-17.

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