1871 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

The 1871 Rhode Island gubernatorial election took place on April 7, 1871 in order to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Republican candidate and incumbent governor Seth Padelford won his third one-year term as governor against Democratic candidate Thomas Steere.

Republican Party

 * Seth Padelford, the Republican nominee, was the incumbent governor. He had previously served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives for two years, ran and lost in the 1860 Rhode Island gubernatorial election as the Republican nominee, and was the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1863 to 1865 under James Y. Smith.

Democratic Party

 * Thomas Steere was the Democratic nominee.