1840 North Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1840 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on 6 August 1840 in order to elect the Governor of North Carolina. Whig nominee and former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives John Motley Morehead defeated Democratic nominee and former Attorney General of North Carolina Romulus M. Saunders.

General election
On election day, 6 August 1840, Whig nominee John Motley Morehead won the election by a margin of 8,581 votes against his opponent Democratic nominee Romulus M. Saunders, thereby retaining Whig control over the office of Governor. Morehead was sworn in as the 29th Governor of North Carolina on 1 January 1841.