1854 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

• Nathaniel Prentiss Banks, U.S. Representative from Waltham
• Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
• Samuel Hoar, former U.S. Representative from Concord
• Stephen C. Phillips, former U.S. Representative and Mayor of Salem
• Henry Wilson, former President of the Massachusetts Senate and Free Soil candidate for Governor in 1853

All of the candidates were considered free-soilers, except Samuel Hoar, though he had founded the Free Soil Party.[1]

A Democrat, Increase Sumner of Great Barrington, was nominated for Lieutenant Governor.[1]

A platform was adopted opposing the acquisition of Cuba or any other territory without a free vote of its residents, denouncing the Boston Municipal Government for the arrest of Anthony Burns and calling for state intervention, and pledging "to make the question of freedom paramount to all other political questions." The platform proposed the repeal of the Fugitive Slave Act, restoration of abolition in Kansas and Nebraska, prohibition of slavery in all territories, refusal of admission for new slave states, and abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia.[1]

• Henry W. Bishop

Henry Bishop was nominated by acclamation, despite his letter declining the nomination.[2]

A state party platform was passed endorsing the national Democratic platform of 1852, the Pierce administration, the principle of democratic self-government, and a recent act of Congress "changing the superintendence of our National armories from the military to the civil." The platform also included a plank emphasizing the freedom of religion.[2]

• Simon Brown, publisher of the New England Farmer
• Nahum F. Bryant
• Henry J. Gardner, businessman and member of the Boston Common Council
• Eli Thayer, founder of the Oread Institute and Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company
• Marshall Pinckney Wilder, merchant, amateur horticulturalist, and former President of the Massachusetts Senate
• Henry Wilson, former President of the Massachusetts Senate and Republican and Free Soil candidate for Governor
• Ephraim M. Wright, Secretary of the Commonwealth

After the contentious first ballot, Henry Wilson withdrew his name from consideration. A motion was passed disqualifying any person who had joined the party within the prior month, effectively eliminating front-runner Marshall Wilder as well.[3] There was some accusation that the Boston Whig Party had inordinate influence at the convention.[3]

After balloting was concluded, the party secretary was instructed to misinform the Boston newspapers as to which candidates had been nominated.[3]

• Henry W. Bishop, candidate for Governor in 1852 and 1853 (Democratic)
• Bradford L. Wales, candidate for Governor in 1853 (Democratic Hunker)
• Charles Allen, former U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 5th congressional district (Independent Free Soil)
• Henry Wilson, former President of the Massachusetts Senate and candidate for Governor in 1853 (Free Soil, Republican[4])
• Henry J. Gardner, Member of the Boston City Council (Native American)
• Emory Washburn, incumbent Governor (Whig)

A dominant issue in the campaign was the Fugitive Slave Act. Allen and Wilson both strongly opposed it and Allen charged Gardner with having supported it, which he denied. Gardner advocated for the repeal or modification of the law and said that he had, in the past, favored a fusion between the Whig and Free Soil parties.[5]