The 1777 New York gubernatorial election was held in June 1777 to elect the Governor

Governor of New York

The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...

 and the Lieutenant Governor

Lieutenant Governor of New York

The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...

.

History

The election began on June 1, but due to the American Revolution

American Revolution

The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...

 it took some time to collect and count the votes, and the official result was announced on July 9. George Clinton accepted the office of Governor on July 11 and assumed its duties immediately, pending to take the oath as soon as he could safely leave his military command. He took the oath of office on July 30.

There were no parties yet, the Democratic-Republican and Federalist Parties appeared only in 1789, until then the candidacies were personal. Besides, the candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were not "running mates", all candidates ran independently. The New York Committee of Safety

Committee of Safety (American Revolution)

Many Committees of Safety were established throughout Colonial America at the start of the American Revolution. These committees started to appear in the 1760s as means to discuss the concerns of the time, and often consisted of every male adult in the community...

 endorsed Philip Schuyler for Governor and George Clinton for Lieutenant Governor.

Result

George Clinton was elected both Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Clinton formally resigned the lieutenant governorship, leaving a vacancy. State Senator Pierre Van Cortlandt

Pierre Van Cortlandt

Pierre Van Cortlandt was the first Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York.He was born in New York, the son of Philip Van Cortlandt and Catherine DePeyster...

 was elected President pro tempore of the State Senate, and acted as Lieutenant Governor until the end of the legislative year. Van Cortlandt was then elected in a special election and took office as Lieutenant Governor on June 30, 1778.

1777 state election results

Governor	Vote	Lieutenant Governor	Vote
George Clinton George Clinton (vice president) George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...	1,828	George Clinton George Clinton (vice president) George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...	1,647
Philip Schuyler Philip Schuyler Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...	1,199	Pierre Van Cortlandt Pierre Van Cortlandt Pierre Van Cortlandt was the first Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York.He was born in New York, the son of Philip Van Cortlandt and Catherine DePeyster...	1,098
John Morin Scott John Morin Scott John Morin Scott was a lawyer, military officer, and statesman before, during and after the American Revolution.-Ancestry:...	368	Abraham Ten Broeck Abraham Ten Broeck Abraham Ten Broeck was a New York politician, businessman, and militia Brigadier General of Dutch descent. He was twice Mayor of Albany, New York and built one of the largest mansions in the area that still stands more than 200 years later.-Early life:Ten Broeck was the son of Dirck Ten Broeck...	748
John Jay John Jay John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....	367
Robert R. Livingston Robert Livingston (1746-1813) Robert R Livingston was an American lawyer, politician, diplomat from New York, and a Founding Father of the United States. He was known as "The Chancellor," after the office he held for 25 years....	7
Philip Livingston Philip Livingston Philip Livingston was an American merchant and statesman from New York City. He was a delegate for New York to the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1778, and signed the Declaration of Independence.-Family history:...	5

See also

• New York gubernatorial elections