The 1866 New York state election was held on November 6, 1866, to elect the governor, the lieutenant governor, a Canal Commissioner and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly. Besides, the voters were asked if a Constitutional Convention should be held in 1867, which was answered in the affirmative with 352,854 votes for, and 256,364 against the convention.The Constitutional Convention was held, but the changes were rejected by the voters.

History The delegates to the Conservative Union state convention arrived on September 10 at Albany, New York. This convention was the result of the still ongoing party re-alignment after the American Civil War. The convention was an attempt by allies of President Andrew Johnson to unite Conservative Republicans and Democrats in a new party. Thurlow Weed was a delegate. John Adams Dix was talked of to be nominated for governor.THE ALBANY CONVENTION in NYT on September 11, 1866 The convention met on September 11 and 12 at Tweddle Hall. Sanford E. Church was temporary chairman and president. Mayor of New York John T. Hoffman (a Democrat of Tammany Hall) was nominated for governor by acclamation. Robert H. Pruyn (a Republican) was nominated for lieutenant governor on the first ballot (vote: Pruyn 169, Harlow L. Comstock 85). William W. Wright (who had been Canal Commissioner from 1862 to 1863) for Canal Commissioner, and Francis B. Gallagher for prison inspector, were also nominated by acclamation.NEW YORK STATE CONVENTION in NYT on September 13, 1866

Result The whole Republican ticket was elected in a tight race, with a majority of about 14,000 votes out of more than 700,000.

The incumbent Governor Fenton was re-elected.

82 Republicans and 46 Democrats were elected for the session of 1865 to the New York State Assembly.

+ 1866 state election results Office Republican ticket Conservative Union ticketGovernorReuben E. Fenton 366,315John T. Hoffman 352,526Lieutenant GovernorStewart L. Woodford 366,970Robert H. Pruyn 351,947Canal CommissionerStephen T. Hayt 367,194William W. Wright 351,643Inspector of State PrisonsJohn Hammond 367,345Francis B. Gallagher 359,072

See also New York gubernatorial elections

Notes

Sources Result in The Tribune Almanac compiled by Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune Result in NEW-YORK.; Official Declaration of the Vote at the November Election in NYT on December 6, 1866