The 1853 California gubernatorial election was held on September 7, 1853, to elect the governor of California. Incumbent governor John Bigler successfully ran for reelection, winning over Whig nominee William Waldo in a close race.
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Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Bigler (incumbent) | 38,940 | 50.97 | +0.49% | |
| Whig | William Waldo | 37,454 | 49.03 | -0.48% | |
| Total votes | 76,394 | 100 | N/A | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||