The 1829 Maine gubernatorial election took place on September 14, 1829. Incumbent Democratic-Republican Governor Enoch Lincoln did not run for re-election. National Republican candidate Jonathan G. Hunton defeated Democratic candidate Samuel E. Smith in an extremely close election. Hunton defeated Smith by just 324 votes, one of the narrowest margins in Maine gubernatorial history.
Results
Candidates
Jonathan G. Hunton, lawyer, member of Maine's Executive Council (National Republican) Samuel E. Smith, lawyer, associate justice for the Maine Court of Common Pleas, former state representative (Democratic)
Aftermath Governor Lincoln died in Augusta, Maine, on October 8, 1829, prior to the expiration of his term. Maine does not have a lieutenant governor so under the rules of succession the Presidents of the Maine Senate Nathan Cutler was sworn into office. However Cutler's term as President of the Senate expired on January 6, 1830 and the Maine Supreme Court ruled that Cutler's term as governor also expired. The election for a new President of the Senate was protracted due to several vacancies and an equal split of Democrats and National Republicans. Joshua Hall was elected to serve the remainder of the term until Hunton was sworn in on February 9, 1830.
References