In Iowa, the Republican Party retained control of the governor's mansion in state elections held on this day. Samuel Merrill defeated the former Iowa chief justice and prominent anti-Lincoln Democrat Charles Mason. Merrill carried just over 57% of the ballots cast. Republicans had held the governor's office since 1858 and would do so till 1890. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
Michael J. Dubin, United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861–1911: The Official Results by State and County (Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Company, 2010), 4.