Colonel William A. Phillips

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The 1870 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1870, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican Governor Dewitt Clinton Senter did not seek re-election. Democratic candidate and former Confederate Army officer John C. Brown defeated Republican candidate and former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives William H. Wisener with 65.55% of the vote.[1]

Background

Although John C. Brown had been a Whig before the Civil War, Brown joined the Democratic Party after the war, and was nominated as the party's candidate for governor in 1870. Since the 1870 Constitution of Tennessee restored voting rights to ex-Confederates, Brown easily defeated his Republican opponent, William H. Wisener of Shelbyville, by a 78,979 to 41,500 vote.[2]

General election

1870 Tennessee gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John C. Brown 78,979 65.55%
Republican William H. Wisener 41,500 34.45%
Total votes 120,479 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - TN Governor Race - Nov 08, 1870 UNOFFICIAL RESULTS". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  2. ^ Tennessee Blue Book (1890), p. 54.