▁William ▁L . ▁Mar cy ' s ▁governor ship , ▁in ▁Alb any . ▁ ▁Background ▁Under ▁the ▁prov isions ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Constitution ▁of ▁ 1 8 2 1 , ▁ 3 2 ▁Sen ators ▁were ▁elected ▁on ▁general ▁tick ets ▁in ▁eight ▁sen atorial ▁districts ▁for ▁four - year ▁terms . ▁They ▁were ▁divided ▁into ▁four ▁classes , ▁and ▁every ▁year ▁eight ▁Senate ▁seats ▁came ▁up ▁for ▁election . ▁Assembly men ▁were ▁elected ▁count yw ide ▁on ▁general ▁tick ets ▁to ▁a ▁one - year ▁term , ▁the ▁whole ▁Assembly ▁being ▁renew ed ▁ann ually . ▁ ▁State ▁Senator ▁John ▁Sud am ▁died ▁on ▁April ▁ 1 3 , ▁ 1 8 3 5 ; ▁and ▁State ▁Senator ▁John ▁G . ▁St ower ▁res igned ▁on ▁September ▁ 2 9 , ▁ 1 8 3 5 ; ▁leaving ▁vac an cies ▁in ▁the ▁Second ▁and ▁Fif th ▁District . ▁ ▁Canal ▁Commission er ▁Michael ▁Hoff man ▁res igned ▁on ▁May ▁ 6 , ▁ 1 8 3 5 . ▁On ▁May ▁ 9 , ▁the ▁Legisl ature ▁elected ▁H eman ▁J . ▁Red field ▁to ▁succeed ▁Hoff man , ▁but ▁Red field ▁decl ined ▁to ▁take ▁office . ▁During ▁the ▁re cess ▁of ▁the ▁Legisl ature , ▁G ov . ▁Mar cy ▁appointed ▁John ▁Bow man ▁to ▁fill ▁the ▁vac ancy ▁tempor arily . ▁ ▁At ▁this ▁time ▁there ▁were ▁two ▁political ▁parties : ▁the ▁Democratic ▁Party ▁and ▁the ▁Wh ig ▁Party . ▁ ▁E lections ▁The ▁State ▁election ▁was