Democrat Nelson Dewey won the election with 52% of the vote, winning his second term as Governor of Wisconsin.

He did extensive business with the lead-mining industry, which was a major component of the economy of the Wisconsin Territory.

[2] Although Dewey was renominated on the first ballot, two other names were placed in candidacy for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination at the 1849 State Democratic Convention, held in Madison: Alexander L. Collins was a prominent lawyer in Madison.

He had been the Whig Party candidate for United States Congress in the 2nd congressional district in 1848.

Chase was an abolitionist and temperance advocate, and was one of only three delegates to attend both the first and second Wisconsin constitutional conventions.