The Democratic state convention met on September 11 in Syracuse and nominated Hunker Seymour and Barnburners Church, Mather, Angel and Benton.

After the nominations of Hunt (the sitting State Comptroller), Cornell, Blakely, Baker and Smith had been made, the majority of the convention passed a resolution approving the political course of United States Senator William H. Seward, and the minority, led by Granger, withdrew from the convention and re-assembled elsewhere.

This faction, the conservative Whigs which favored a compromise on the slavery question and supported President Millard Fillmore's course, became known as the "Silver Grays", after Granger's white hair.

The Anti-Rent state convention met in Albany and nominated a cross-endorsed ticket with Whigs Hunt and Blakely, and Democrats Church, Angel and Benton.

Four out of five candidates on the cross-endorsed Anti-Rent ticket were elected, showing their still present but waning influence.