1856 United States presidential election in Delaware

1856 United States presidential election in Delaware

November 4, 1856
 
Nominee James Buchanan Millard Fillmore
Party Democratic Know Nothing
Home state Pennsylvania New York
Running mate John C. Breckinridge Andrew Jackson Donelson
Electoral vote 3 0
Popular vote 8,004 6,275
Percentage 54.83% 42.99%

County results
Buchanan
  50–60%


President before election

Franklin Pierce
Democratic

Elected President

James Buchanan
Democratic

The 1856 United States presidential election in Delaware took place on November 4, 1856, as part of the 1856 United States presidential election. Voters chose three representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

Delaware voted for the Democratic candidate, James Buchanan, over the Republican candidate, John C. Frémont, and the Know Nothing candidate, Millard Fillmore.

Buchanan won the state by a margin of 11.84%.

Results

General Election Results[1][2][3]
Party Pledged to Elector Votes
Democratic Party James Buchanan Henry Ridgeley 8,004
Democratic Party James Buchanan George C. Gordon 8,003
Democratic Party James Buchanan Charles Wright 8,000
American Party Millard Fillmore James P. Wild 6,275
American Party Millard Fillmore John Whitby 6,274
American Party Millard Fillmore Mannen Gum 6,271
Republican Party John C. Frémont John R. Latimer 310
Republican Party John C. Frémont Thomas M. Rodney 306
Republican Party John C. Frémont William P. Nickerson 306
Write-in Scattering 9
Votes cast[a] 14,598

Results by county

County[1][2][3] James Buchanan
Democratic
Millard Fillmore
Know Nothing
John C. Frémont
Republican
Margin Total votes cast[a]
# % # % # % # %
Kent 2,083 57.61% 1,530 42.31% 3 0.08% 553 15.29% 3,616
New Castle 3,577 54.08% 2,725 41.20% 306 4.63% 852 12.88% 6,614[b]
Sussex 2,344 53.66% 2,020 46.25% 1 0.02% 324 7.42% 4,368[c]
Totals 8,004 54.83% 6,275 42.99% 310 2.12% 1,729 11.84% 14,598

Counties that flipped from Whig to Democratic

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Based on highest elector on each ticket
  2. ^ Includes 6 Scattering votes
  3. ^ Includes 3 Scattering votes

References

  1. ^ a b "Returns of New Castle County". Delaware Weekly Republican. Wilmington. November 13, 1856. pp. 3–4. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  2. ^ a b The Tribune Almanac and Political Register for 1857. New York: Greeley & McElrath. 1857. p. 50. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Burnham, W. Dean (1955). Presidential Ballots, 1836-1892. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press. p. 320. Retrieved December 17, 2025.