Democratic nominee and former United States Senator from Georgia Herschel V. Johnson defeated Constitutional Union nominee and former Attorney General of Georgia Charles J. Jenkins by a slim margin.

[3] The results of the 1852 presidential election confirmed Georgian's support for the compromise, but that they would demand more specific recognition of "Southern Rights" basis for the future.

[4] Significantly, the party refused to endorse Cobb's administration or his Senate candidacy, departing from the idea of compromise in the sectional conflict.

The Whigs were left with the option of either merging into the Democrats or attempting to rebuild their party as a state organization.

[4] On election day, 3 October 1853, Democratic nominee Herschel V. Johnson won the election by a margin of 510 votes against his opponent Union nominee Charles J. Jenkins, thereby gaining Democrats control over the office of Governor.