Governor of Massachusetts
For the next four years he unsuccessfully sought the governorship of Massachusetts. His opponent in these races, Caleb Strong, was a popular moderate Federalist, whose party dominated the state's politics despite a national shift toward the Republicans. Republican James Sullivan won the governor's seat from Strong in 1807, but his successor was unable to hold the seat in the 1809 election, which went to Federalist Christopher Gore. Gerry stood for election again in 1810 against Gore, and won a narrow victory. A temporary lessening in the threat of war with Britain aided Gerry in the win, as did Republican criticisms of Gore's ostentatious lifestyle (which contrasted significantly with Gerry's more somber ways). The two battled again in 1811, with Gerry once again victorious.
Gerry's first year as governor was less controversial than his second. He preached moderation in the political discourse, noting that it was important that the nation present a unified front in its dealings with foreign powers. In his second term he became notably more partisan, purging much of the state government of Federalist appointees. He and the Republican-controlled legislature also enacted "reforms" of the court system that resulted in an increase in the number of judicial appointments. Infighting within the party and a shortage of qualified candidates, however, played against Gerry, and the Federalists scored points by complaining vocally about the partisan nature of the reforms.
In 1812 the state adopted new constitutionally mandated electoral district boundaries. The Republican-controlled legislature had created district boundaries designed to enhance their party's control over state and national offices, leading to some oddly shaped legislative districts. Although Gerry does not seem to have been directly involved in the drafting of the district, the shape of one of the districts (not far from his home in Essex County) resembled a salamander, leading a local Federalist newspaper to print a political cartoon calling it a "Gerry-mander". Ever since, the creation of such districts has been called gerrymandering. The redistricting controversy contributed to Gerry's defeat in 1812 (once again at the hands of Caleb Strong, whom the Federalists had brought out of retirement).
Read more about this topic: Elbridge Gerry
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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“Three years ago, also, when the Sims tragedy was acted, I said to myself, There is such an officer, if not such a man, as the Governor of Massachusetts,—what has he been about the last fortnight? Has he had as much as he could do to keep on the fence during this moral earthquake?... He could at least have resigned himself into fame.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)