Andrew 's popularity made him the choice to head the Massachusetts delegation to the 1860 Republican National Convention . He was nominated for governor at the state convention that year , despite an attempt by the more moderate Governor Banks to secure the nomination for Henry L. Dawes . Banks sought to put off the announcement of his retirement until the last possible moment , but state Republican chairman William Claflin leaked the news to Andrew supporters . Andrew won the nomination by a wide margin , and defeated Constitutional Union Party candidate Amos A. Lawrence in the general election
1860 Republican National Convention
1860 Republican National Convention
John Albion Andrew