1785 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

The 1785 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on 4 April 1785 in order to elect the Governor of Massachusetts. Candidate James Bowdoin won a plurality of the vote against incumbent Acting Governor Thomas Cushing, candidate and former United States Secretary of War Benjamin Lincoln and candidate Oliver Prescott. However, as no candidate received a majority of all votes cast, the Massachusetts General Court elected Bowdoin Governor.

General election
On election day, 4 April 1785, Candidate James Bowdoin won the election by a margin of 505 votes against his foremost opponent incumbent Acting Governor Thomas Cushing, however as no candidate received a majority of the vote, the Massachusetts General Court elected Bowdoin Governor. Bowdoin was sworn in as the 2nd Governor of Massachusetts on 26 May 1785.