after returning to political life and near the end of the reconstruction era, colquitt defeated republican candidate jonathan norcross for governor of georgia in 1876. he was one of a number of democrats elected to office as white conservatives regained power in the state, in part by an overt effort by paramilitary insurgents to disrupt and suppress republican voting, especially by freedmen. around that time, several thousand "friends" asked for about 30 open government patronage jobs. those who did not get one of the jobs tried to turn voters against colquitt. there were rumors that colquitt was involved in illegal dealings with the northeastern railroad. a legislative committee found the governor innocent.