The 1859 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on August 1, 1859, to elect the lieutenant governor of Texas. Independent candidate Edward Clark defeated the Democratic incumbent Francis R. Lubbock to become the seventh lieutenant governor of the state.

Background

Since the 1848 election, the Democratic Party had become the dominant political apparatus in the state.[1] The party continued with the nominating convention process that had been developed in the previous election and at the 1859 convention the incumbents for statewide office were renominated, including Francis Lubbock for lieutenant governor.[2]

The state Democratic party increasing embrased the rhetoric of sectionalist fire eaters who threatened secession should the federal government interfere with the institution of slavery. This radical rhetoric was concerning to southern unionists in the state and Sam Houston announced that he would attempt another independent campaign for governor.[3] Houston's allies put forward Edward Clark, a Democratic state official, to join the Houston campaign as his lieutenant governor.[4]

Campaign

The gubernatorial race dominated the headlines and as such the lieutenant gubernatorial race was more closely contested from lower turnout and ticket spliting. In addtiton to the personal nature of the gubernatorial candidates, protection from Indian raids and the question of reopening the trans-atlantic slave trade were the two of the most pressing issues of the campaign. The Houston ticket also attracted former Know Nothings to his campaign.[3][5][6]

General election

On election day, Clark narrowly defeated Lubbock with just under 51% of the vote. The legislature certified the election on November 11, 1859 and Lubbock was sworn into office on December 21, 1859.[7]

Candidates

  • Edward Clark, lawyer, state commissioner of claims, former Texas Secretary of State, veteran of the Mexican-American War, former state senator and representative, delegate at the Constitutional Convention of 1845 (Independent)[4][8]
  • Francis Lubbock, rancher, incumbent lieutenant governor (Democrat)[9]

Results

Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1859[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Edward Clark 31,458 50.90
Democratic Francis Lubbock 30,325 49.06
Write-in 24 0.00
Total votes 61,807 100.00
Independent gain from Democratic

Aftermath

Despite Houston's position as a staunch unionist, following the election of Abraham Lincoln, the Texas became involved in the Secession crisis as fire eaters remained in control of the legislature. There was a campaign for Texas to call a convention to vote on the issue, but only the Governor can call a special session of the legislature. Governor Sam Houston was a unionist and refused. A secession convention was organized without government apporoval and Houston called fro a special legislative session in January 1861 in the hopes that the legislature would declare the rogue convention illegal. This plan backfired and a convention was legalized which approved a Ordinance of Secession. When secession was approved by referendum, Houston refused to swear an oath of loyalty to the newly formed Confederate States of America. The legislature in turn removed Houston from office and Clark was sworn in as governor.[11][12][13]

References

  1. ↑ "The Evolution of the Democratic Party in Texas: A Historical Overview". tshaonline.org. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  2. ↑ Winkler, Ernest William (September 20, 1916). Platforms of Political Parties in Texas (PDF). University of Texas. pp. 77–80.
  3. 1 2 Kreneck, Thomas H. (1952). "Sam Houston: A Legacy of Leadership in Texas History". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Wooster, Ralph A. (1976). "Edward Clark: Governor of Texas and Civil War Leader". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Politics and Society: the Popular Response to Political Rhetoric in Texas,1857-1860". Sfasu.org. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  6. ↑ "The Time Sam Houston lost an Election". News.Journal.com. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  7. ↑ Journal of the Senate of Texas, Eighth Legislature (PDF). Austin : John Marshall & Co. 1860. pp. 44–47.
  8. ↑ "E.M. Pease Nominates for Lieut. Governor to the Sam Houston Ticket Ed Clark..." The Democratic Platform. Austin. July 14, 1859. p. 3.
  9. ↑ Mitchell, Louis (1952). "Francis R. Lubbock: Governor of Texas and Confederate Leader". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  10. ↑ Journal of the Senate of Texas, Eighth Legislature (PDF). Austin : John Marshall & Co. 1860. pp. 44–47.
  11. ↑ Timmons, Joe T. (October 1973). "The Referendum in Texas on the Ordinance of Secession, February 23, 1861: The Vote". East Texas Historical Journal. 11 (2).
  12. ↑ "Sam Houston, 1859–1861". Friends of the Governor's Mansion. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  13. ↑ Buenger, Walter L. (1952). "Texas Secession Convention of 1861: A Historical Overview". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 22, 2026.



source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1859_Texas_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election