During the New York Democratic Party's factional dispute between the Barnburners and Hunkers, Bouck was identified with the conservative Hunker faction, causing him to fall out with President Martin Van Buren, who was the leader of the Barnburners.
 In November 1840, Bouck was the Democratic nominee for governor and Daniel S. Dickinson the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, and they were defeated by the Whig incumbents, William H. Seward and Luther Bradish.

In November 1842, Bouck and Dickinson ran again.
They won the November general election by defeating Whig candidates Bradish for governor and Gabriel Furman for lieutenant governor.
 Bouck's term was occupied primarily with the state's response to the Anti-Rent War.
 Tenants who held perpetual leases under the patroon system first implemented when New York was a Dutch colony objected to the "quarter sale" provision of their leases.
 Under this provision if a tenant sold his lease, he had to pay his patroon one quarter of the sale price or one additional year's rent.
In addition, while the wealthiest patroon, Stephen Van Rensselaer, had generally proved a benevolent landlord usually willing to accept partial or late payments rather than evict tenants who fell behind on their rent, after his death in 1839 his heirs attempted to collect long-overdue payments.
 When the tenants could not pay and could not negotiate for favorable repayment terms, they were threatened with eviction and a revolt ensued.
 Bouck was sympathetic to the tenants, but as part of the effort to restore order during a violent demonstration, near the end of his term he sent units of the state militia to Hudson, which was viewed unfavorably by the tenants and their supporters.

In 1844, the Democratic Party desired to nominate a candidate who would consistently enforce the law against the rioters.
 Rather than renominate Bouck, they nominated Silas Wright, who won the general election.
 During his term, Wright also used the militia to restore order, and in 1846 he was defeated for a second term by Whig nominee John Young, who had taken the side of the tenants.
During the New York Democratic Party's factional dispute between the Barnburners and Hunkers, Bouck was identified with the conservative Hunker faction, causing him to fall out with President Martin Van Buren, who was the leader of the Barnburners.  In November 1840, Bouck was the Democratic nominee for governor and Daniel S. Dickinson the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, and they were defeated by the Whig incumbents, William H. Seward and Luther Bradish.
In November 1842, Bouck and Dickinson ran again. They won the November general election by defeating Whig candidates Bradish for governor and Gabriel Furman for lieutenant governor.  Bouck's term was occupied primarily with the state's response to the Anti-Rent War.  Tenants who held perpetual leases under the patroon system first implemented when New York was a Dutch colony objected to the "quarter sale" provision of their leases.  Under this provision if a tenant sold his lease, he had to pay his patroon one quarter of the sale price or one additional year's rent. In addition, while the wealthiest patroon, Stephen Van Rensselaer, had generally proved a benevolent landlord usually willing to accept partial or late payments rather than evict tenants who fell behind on their rent, after his death in 1839 his heirs attempted to collect long-overdue payments.  When the tenants could not pay and could not negotiate for favorable repayment terms, they were threatened with eviction and a revolt ensued.  Bouck was sympathetic to the tenants, but as part of the effort to restore order during a violent demonstration, near the end of his term he sent units of the state militia to Hudson, which was viewed unfavorably by the tenants and their supporters.
In 1844, the Democratic Party desired to nominate a candidate who would consistently enforce the law against the rioters.  Rather than renominate Bouck, they nominated Silas Wright, who won the general election.  During his term, Wright also used the militia to restore order, and in 1846 he was defeated for a second term by Whig nominee John Young, who had taken the side of the tenants.
William C. Bouck