On election day, 8 November 1853, John J. McRae defeated Francis M. Rogers by a margin of 4,837 votes. McRae became the 21st Governor of Mississippi, taking office on 10 January 1854.[2] This maintained Democrat control of the office of Governor. The previous governor, Henry S. Foote, a Democrat elected for the Union Party, resigned on 5 January 1854; president of the Mississippi State SenateJohn J. Pettus served as governor for the intervening five days.[3] McRae was sworn in on 10 January 1854.[4]