The Whig state convention met in Raleigh on 2/22/1848, with former U.S. Rep. Richard Hines serving as chairman. Charles Manly of Chatham County was nominated unanimously for Governor.

Democratic Nomination

The Democratic state convention on 4/12/1848 nominated former U.S. Rep. David S. Reid of Rockingham County, apparently unanimously.

Campaign

Early in the campaign, Reid set forth his single new campaign issue. He proposed the expansion of the franchise for voting for a state senator. At that time, a man had to own 50 acres of land in order to vote for state senator. Reid proposed to allow any man who owned land to vote for state senator. Manly, who sought to wage the campaign on national issues, rejected this idea, stating that such a change would be the same as dropping all property requirements. As the campaign progressed, Whigs in the western portion of the state also began to come out in favor of reducing the property requirements for voting for a state senator, proving the popularity of the issue.

Result

Although Whig sentiment remained strong in the state, the state elections of 1848 proved to be very close. Manly was narrowly elected governor over Reid, and both houses of the legislature were evenly divided.

Source: Norman D. Brown, Edward Stanly: Whiggery's Tarheel 'Conqueror', pp. 106-112.