1850 Iowa gubernatorial election

The 1850 Iowa gubernatorial election was held on August 5, 1850.
Incumbent Democratic governor Ansel Briggs declined to stand for re-election.
Democratic nominee Stephen P. Hempstead defeated Whig nominee James L. Thompson and Free Soil nominee William Penn Clark with 52.94% of the vote.

General election

Candidates

William Penn Clark, Free Soil, lawyer, former newspaper editor
Stephen P. Hempstead, Democratic, former president of the Iowa Territory Legislative Council
James L. Thompson, Whig, Methodist preacher