 He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1823 to 1824, but was defeated when running for re-election on the ticket with Samuel Young in 1824.However, in March–April 1824, Erastus Root was honored with two votes at the Democratic-Republican Party Caucus to be the party's candidate for U.S. Vice President at the election later that year.He was again a member of the State Assembly (Delaware Co.) in 1826, 1827, 1828 and 1830; and was Speaker in 1827, 1828 and 1830.