With the question of slavery in the background, Mississippi politics slowly became dominated by the issue. Joseph W. Matthews, an outspoken defender of slavery and military leader, was nomianted as the Democratic candidate. Alexander B. Bradford, major of the Mississippi militia in the Mexican-American War and lawyer, was nomianted for the Whig ticket, a party with a reputation for infrastructure improvements and a moderate slavery stance. Matthews won by a two-to-one margin.[2][3]
^Busbee, Westley F. (2015). Mississippi: A History (1st ed.). John Wiley and Sons. p. 166.
^ abDublin, Michael J. (2011). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860 : The Official Results by State and County. McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers. p. 133. ISBN9780786453245.