On election day, 8 November 1853, John J. McRae won by a margin of 4,837 votes against his opponent Francis M. Rogers and would go on to become the 21st Governor of Mississippi.[2] Retaining democratic control of the office of Governor following the resignation of previous Union Democratic Party governor Henry S. Foote at noon on 5 January 1854 after he had grown bitter and angry over the election results, and being succeeded by the Democratic president of the Mississippi senateJohn J. Pettus at noon on 7 January 1854.[3] McRae was sworn in on 10 January 1854.[4]