On election day, 11 March 1856, incumbent
Know Nothing Governor
Ralph Metcalf won re-election by a margin of 88 votes against his foremost opponent
Democratic nominee
John S. Wells, but because no candidate received a majority of the popular vote, a separate election was held by the
New Hampshire General Court, which chose Governor Metcalf as the winner. He thereby retained
Know Nothing control over the office of Governor. Metcalf was sworn in for his second term on 7 June 1856.[2]