1831 Boston mayoral election

The 1831 Boston mayoral election saw the election of Charles Wells. The first vote, held on December 12, 1831, did not result in any candidate receiving the required majority of the vote,[1][2] resulting in a second vote on December 22, 1831, which Wells won.[2]

1831 Boston mayoral election
← 1830December 12, 1831 (first vote)
December 22, 1831 (second round)
1832 →
 
CandidateCharles WellsTheodore Lyman IIWilliam Sullivan
PartyNational RepublicanGrocer's PartyIndependent National Republican
First vote1,851
(41.23%)
1,838
(40.94%)
> 1,100
(> 24.50%)
Second vote3,316
(55.94%)
2,389
(40.30%)
not a candidate in second vote

Mayor before election

Charles Wells
National Republican

Elected Mayor

Charles Wells
National Republican

First vote (December 12, 1831)

Charles Wells was the city's National Republican Party's nominee.[3] William Sullivan was an independent National Republican candidate nominated by a faction of the city's National Republicans.[3][1] Lyman was nominated by the Grocer's Party.[3] Theodore Lyman II's opponents accused him of being a Jacksonian.[4] Lyman was seen as receiving support from a number of small parties, as well as many National Republicans.[3] Lyman also was supported by part of the Anti-Tariff Party.[1]

Result

Sullivan received in excess of 1,100 votes,[3] counted in the scattering

Boston mayoral election first vote (December 12, 1831)[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
National RepublicanCharles Wells 1,851 41.23
Grocer'sTheodore Lyman II1,83840.94
ScatteringOther (including Sullivan)1,16025.84
Total votes4,849 100

Second vote (December 22, 1831)

Sullivan did not run in the second vote, making it a two-way race.

Boston mayoral election second vote (December 22, 1831)[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
National RepublicanCharles Wells 3,316 55.94
Grocer'sTheodore Lyman II2,38940.30
ScatteringOther2233.76
Total votes5,928 100

See also

References