A presidential election was held in Maryland on January 7, 1789, as part of the 1788–1789 United States presidential election to elect the first President. Voters chose eight representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. However, two electors did not vote.

Early elections were quite different from modern ones. Voters voted for individual electors, who were pledged to vote for certain candidates. Often, which candidate an elector intended to support was unclear.[1] Prior to the ratification of the 12th amendment, each elector did not distinguish between a vote cast for president and Vice President and simply cast two votes.[2]

All electors were pledged to Washington, but there was a Federalist slate which supported Robert Hanson Harrison for vice president and an Anti-Federalist slate which supported George Clinton for vice president. Additionally, there were two electors supported by both parties. Maryland chose the Federalist electors over the Anti-Federalist electors by a large margin. The two highest electors John Rogers and George Plater, were supported by both parties, with both electors receiving 7,665 and 7,573 total votes respectively. John Rogers voted for federalist Robert Hanson Harrison, while George Plater and one other elected candidate, William Richardson, did not cast a vote. Despite not casting a vote, George was still a federalist.[3] The highest Federalist elector, Alexander C. Hanson, received 5,596 votes. The highest Anti-Federalist elector, Jeremiah T. Chase, received 2,278 votes.[4][5]

Results

1788-89 United States presidential election in Maryland[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent George Washington 8,472 100.00%
Total votes 8,472 100.00%

Results by county

1788–89 United States presidential election in Maryland[1][5]
County George Washington

Federalists

 George Washington

Anti-Federalists

 Margin Total

votes[a]

# % # % # %
Anne Arundel 246 30.87% 551 69.13% -305 -38.26% 797
Baltimore 152 18.65% 663 81.35% -511 -62.70% 815
Baltimore Town 491 56.44% 379 43.56% 112 12.88% 870
Calvert 168 62.92% 99 37.08% 69 25.84% 267
Caroline 128 99.22% 1 0.78% 127 98.44% 129
Cecil 519 100.00% 0 0.00% 519 100.00% 519
Charles 152 91.02% 15 8.98% 137 82.04% 167
Dorchester 114 62.64% 68 37.36% 46 25.28% 182
Frederick 790 99.62% 3 0.38% 787 99.24% 793
Harford 439 64.56% 241 35.44% 198 29.12% 680
Kent 209 79.77% 53 20.23% 156 59.54% 262
Montgomery 321 87.95% 44 12.05% 277 75.90% 365
Prince George's 273 52.91% 243 47.09% 30 5.82% 516
Queen Anne's 51 51.00% 49 49.00% 2 2.00% 100
St. Mary's 100 71.94% 39 28.06% 61 43.88% 139
Somerset 212 99.07% 2 0.93% 210 98.14% 214
Talbot 254 100.00% 0 0.00% 254 100.00% 254
Washington 1,164 100.00% 0 0.00% 1,164 100.00% 1,164
Worcester 154 64.44% 85 35.56% 69 28.88% 239
Total 5,937 70.08% 2,535 29.92% 3,402 40.16% 8,472

Results by district

1788-89 United States presidential election in Maryland[1]
District E.V. George Washington

Federalists

 George Washington

Anti-Federalists

 Margin Total

votes[b]

# % E.V. # % E.V. # %
1 8 405 78.03% 6 114 21.97% 0 291 56.06% 519
2 1,032 91.01% 102 8.99% 930 82.02% 1,134
3 515 39.80% 779 60.20% -264 -20.40% 1,294
4 1,048 45.04% 1,279 54.96% -231 -9.92% 2,327
5 605 85.82% 100 14.18% 505 71.64% 705
6 2,273 97.97% 47 2.03% 2,226 95.94% 2,320
Total 8 5,878 70.83% 6 2,421 29.17% 0 3,457 41.66% 8,299

Results by elector

1788-89 United States presidential election in Maryland[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Fusion John Rogers 7,665 12.51%
Fusion George Plater[c] 7,573 12.36%
Federalists William Tilghman 5,746 9.38%
Federalists Alexander C. Hanson 5,596 9.14%
Federalists Philip Thomas 5,456 8.91%
Federalists Robert Smith 5,455 8.91%
Federalists William Richardson[c] 5,402 8.82%
Federalists William Matthews 5,291 8.64%
Anti-Federalists Jeremiah T. Chase 2,278 3.72%
Anti-Federalists John Seney 2,209 3.61%
Anti-Federalists Charles Ridgely 2,199 3.59%
Anti-Federalists James Shaw 2,130 3.48%
Anti-Federalists Henry Waggaman 1,669 2.72%
Anti-Federalists Lawrence O'Neale 1,241 2.03%
Anti-Federalists Thomas Johnson 718 1.17%
Federalists John Done 165 0.27%
Anti-Federalists Moses Rawlings 157 0.26%
Anti-Federalists William Thomas Jr. 125 0.20%
Anti-Federalists William Paca 83 0.14%
Federalists Nathaniel Ramsey 70 0.11%
Anti-Federalists John A. Thomas 19 0.03%
Federalists George Dent 1 0.00%
Total votes 61,248 100.00%

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Results are taken from the highest voted Federalist, and Anti-Federalist elector for each county.[1]
  2. ↑ Results are taken from the highest voted Federalist, and Anti-Federalist elector for each district.[1]
  3. 1 2 The electoral vote from this elected candidate was never submitted or recorded.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "A New Nation Votes". elections.lib.tufts.edu. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Electoral College & Indecisive Elections | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Maryland State Archives". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  4. ↑ "A New Nation Votes". elections.lib.tufts.edu. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "County Project (WIP)". Google Docs. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1788–89_United_States_presidential_election_in_Maryland