1851 Chicago mayoral election
{{short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Chicago mayoral election, 1851
| country =
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_year = 1850
| next_year = 1852
| election_date =
| image1 = 150x150px
| candidate1 = Walter S. Gurnee
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| running_mate1 =
| colour1 =
| popular_vote1 = 3,032
| percentage1 = 56.66%
| image2 = 150x150px
| candidate2 = Eli B. Williams
| party2 =
| colour2 =
| running_mate2 =
| popular_vote2 = 1,092
| percentage2 = 20.41%
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = Mayor
| before_election = James Curtiss
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = Walter S. Gurnee
| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| image3 = File:Jamescurtis (1).jpeg
| candidate3 = James Curtiss
| party3 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote3 = 1,001
| percentage3 = 18.71%
}}
{{ElectionsIL}}
In the 1851 Chicago mayoral election, Walter S. Gurnee defeated incumbent mayor James Curtiss as well as Eli B. Williams and Edward K. Rogers by a landslide 36.25% margin.
The Whig Party decided against nominating a ticket in the 1851 Chicago municipal elections.
Results
Gurnee defeated incumbent Democrat James Curtiss as well as Eli B. Williams and Edward K. Rogers.{{cite web | title= RaceID=486030 | work= Our Campaigns | url= http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=486030 | access-date= 2018-12-16}}
Owing to a large number of the city's residents not being in compliance with new election laws, an unprecedented number of prospective voters were refused tickets.
Gurnee received a plurality of votes from all major political parties. It is believed that his vote total from Whigs was as great as his vote total from Democrats. Many political analysts treated the election (which unseated incumbent Democrat James Curtiss) as a "Whig Party victory".
{{Election box begin no change| title=1851 Chicago mayoral election{{cite book |last1=Goodspeed |first1=Weston A. |title=The History of Cook County, Illinois |date=Feb 6, 2017 |publisher=Jazzybee Verlag}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Walter S. Gurnee
|votes = 3,032
|percentage = 56.66
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|party =
|candidate = Eli B. Williams
|votes = 1,092
|percentage = 20.41
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = James Curtiss (incumbent)
|votes = 1,001
|percentage = 18.71
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|party =
|candidate = Edward K. Rogers
|votes = 226
|percentage = 4.22
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes = 5,351
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Illinois elections}}
{{Mayors of Chicago|state=collapsed}}