On election day, 28 October 1802, incumbent Democratic-Republican Governor Joseph Bloomfield received the same number of votes from the New Jersey General Assembly as his opponent Federalist nominee Richard Stockton, resulting in a deadlocked election. On 25 November 1802, it was decided to appoint the vice-president of the Legislative Council John Lambert as Acting Governor so he could serve out the one-year term, thereby retaining Democratic-Republican control over the office of Governor. Lambert was sworn in as Acting Governor on 25 November 1802.[2]