1852 New York gubernatorial election
The 1852 New York gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1852. Incumbent Governor Washington Hunt ran for re-election to a second term in office. In a rematch of the 1850 race, Hunt was defeated by Horatio Seymour, who was elected to the first of two non-consecutive terms as governor.
Democratic nomination
Candidates
- John P. Beekman, former State Senator from Kinderhook
- George W. Clinton, former mayor of Buffalo and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York
- Erastus Corning, former State Senator and mayor of Albany
- Zadock Pratt, former U.S. Representative from Prattsville and candidate for governor in 1848
- Augustus Schell, attorney and railroad investor
- Horatio Seymour, former Speaker of the New York Assembly and mayor of Utica and nominee for governor in 1850
- John Vanderbilt, State Senator from Flatbush
- Aaron Ward, former U.S. Representative from Mount Pleasant
Results
The Democratic state convention met on September 1 and 2 in Syracuse. On the first ballot, Seymour led with 59 votes, but was five short of a majority. Seymour was nominated for governor on the second ballot with 78 votes against 21 for Schell.Whig nomination
The Whig state convention met on September 22 at the City Hall in Syracuse. Governor Hunt was re-nominated by acclamation.Free Democratic nomination
The Free Democratic state convention met on September 29 in Syracuse and passed a series of strong free soil resolutions. They nominated Minthorne Tompkins for governor.General election
Candidates
- Washington Hunt, incumbent Governor since 1851
- Horatio Seymour, former Speaker of the New York Assembly and mayor of Utica
- Minthorne Tompkins, former State Senator from Castleton, Staten Island and son of Daniel D. Tompkins