1856 Missouri gubernatorial election
The Missouri gubernatorial election of 1856 was Missouri's 11th gubernatorial election. In the election, which was held on August 2, 1852, the Democratic nominee, Trusten Polk, defeated Know-Nothing candidate Robert C. Ewing, and former Senator Thomas H. Benton. Benton ran as an Independent Democrat under the label "Benton Democrat."
In February 1857, Trusten Polk would be elected to the United States Senate; he therefore resigned the governorship, was replaced by Lt. Gov. Hancock Lee Jackson, and forced a special election to be called for August 1857 to fill the remainder of the term.Results
