The 1860 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on August 2, 1860, in order to elect the governor of North Carolina. Incumbent Democratic governor John Willis Ellis won re-election against Whig nominee and former member of the North Carolina Senate John Pool.
On election day, August 2, 1860, incumbent Democratic governor John Willis Ellis won re-election by a margin of 6,093 votes against his opponent Whig nominee John Pool, thereby retaining Democratic control over the office of governor. Ellis was sworn in for his second term on January 1, 1861.