The 1856 Connecticut lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on April 2, 1856, to elect the lieutenant governor of Connecticut. Democratic nominee John T. Wait received a plurality of the votes against Know Nothing nominee Albert Day and Republican nominee and incumbent member of the Connecticut Senate Henry Baldwin Harrison. However, since no candidate received a majority in the popular vote, Albert Day was elected by the Connecticut General Assembly per the Connecticut Charter of 1662.

General election

On election day, April 2, 1856, Democratic nominee John T. Wait won a plurality of the vote by a margin of 6,747 votes against his foremost opponent Know Nothing nominee Albert Day. However, as no candidate received a majority of the vote, the election was forwarded to the Connecticut General Assembly, who elected Albert Day, thereby gaining Know Nothing control over the office of lieutenant governor. Day was sworn in as the 47th lieutenant governor of Connecticut on May 7, 1856.[1]

Results

Connecticut lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1856
Party Candidate Votes %
Know Nothing Albert Day 25,910 38.80
Democratic John T. Wait 32,657 48.80
Republican Henry Baldwin Harrison 6,920 10.40
Scattering 1,268 2.00
Total votes 66,855 100.00
Know Nothing gain from Free Soil

References

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1856_Connecticut_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election