1859 Tennessee gubernatorial election

The 1859 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on August 4, 1859, to elect the governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic Governor Isham G. Harris narrowly won re-election, defeating Opposition Party John Netherland with 52.79% of the vote.

Campaign
Isham Harris ran for re-election against John Netherland, who had been nominated by a hodge-podge group of ex-Whigs, ex-Know Nothings, and disgruntled Democrats, known as the Opposition Party. Harris campaigned on fears of northern abolitionists, while Netherland argued that the U.S. Constitution provided the best protection for Southern rights, and thus, it was in the state's interest to remain in the Union.