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1856 United States House of Representatives election in Florida

The 1856 United States House of Representatives election in Florida was held on Monday, October 6, 1856 to elect the single United States Representative from the state of Florida, one from the state's single at-large congressional district, to represent Florida in the 35th Congress. The election coincided with the elections of other offices, including the presidential election, the senatorial election, the gubernatorial election, and various state and local elections.[1]

1856 United States House of Representatives election in Florida
← 1854 October 6, 1856 1858 →
 
Nominee George Sydney Hawkins James McNair Baker
Party Democratic Know Nothing
Popular vote 6,392 5,650
Percentage 53.08% 46.92%
County Results
Representative before election

Augustus Maxwell
Democratic

Elected Representative


George Sydney Hawkins
Democratic

The winning candidate would serve a two-year term in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1857, to March 4, 1859.

Background

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Florida's single seat in the House of Representatives had been held by the Democrats since 1852. In the 1854 election, the Democratic Party made key gains in the former Whig strongholds of Pensacola and Jacksonville. By 1856, the Whig Party had collapsed, and they were replaced in the South by the Know Nothing Party, also known as the American Party, which was serving as a successor to the prior Anti-Masonic Party.

Candidates

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Democratic

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Nominee

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Withdrawn

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Know Nothing

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Nominee

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Campaign

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Baker campaigned heavily alongside the Know Nothing candidates for president and governor, former President Millard Fillmore and former Tallahassee Mayor David S. Walker, respectively.[5] However, Baker fell severely ill during the election and was not able to campaign properly for the last few months, instead relying on Walker to campaign for him. This put Baker, a political unknown, at a severe disadvantage to Hawkins, who was a popular judge throughout the state.[6]

General election

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Results

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Florida's at-large congressional district election, 1856[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic George Sydney Hawkins 6,392 53.08% −2.18%
Know Nothing James McNair Baker 5,650 46.92% N/A
Majority 742 6.16% −4.37%
Turnout 12,042 100.00%
Democratic hold

Results by County

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County[8] George Sydney Hawkins
Democratic 		James McNair Baker
Know Nothing 		Total votes
# % # %
Alachua 337 63.83% 191 36.17% 528
Brevard 10 66.67% 5 33.33% 15
Calhoun 112 62.57% 67 37.43% 179
Columbia 419 45.05% 511 54.95% 930
Dade 0 0% 0 0% 0
Duval 268 35.26% 492 64.74% 760
Escambia 260 52.42% 236 47.58% 496
Franklin 178 67.17% 87 32.83% 265
Gadsden 385 49.23% 397 50.77% 782
Hamilton 195 48.03% 211 51.97% 406
Hernando 122 58.65% 86 41.35% 208
Hillsborough 316 67.09% 155 32.91% 471
Holmes 44 29.93% 103 70.07% 147
Jackson 414 47.48% 458 52.52% 872
Jefferson 374 71.37% 150 28.63% 524
Leon 438 56.88% 332 43.12% 770
Levy 57 44.53% 71 55.47% 128
Liberty 97 56.73% 74 43.27% 171
Madison 469 48.91% 490 51.09% 959
Manatee 24 42.11% 33 57.89% 57
Marion 361 58.13% 260 41.87% 621
Monroe 235 80.20% 58 19.80% 293
Nassau 106 53.54% 92 46.46% 198
Orange 51 52.58% 46 47.42% 97
Putnam 117 50.87% 113 49.13% 230
Santa Rosa 206 40.71% 300 59.29% 506
St. Johns 195 74.43% 67 25.57% 262
Sumter 93 58.13% 67 41.88% 160
Volusia 26 38.24% 42 61.76% 68
Wakulla 155 45.72% 184 54.28% 339
Walton 177 51.60% 166 48.40% 343
Washington 151 53.08% 106 46.92% 257
Totals 6,392 53.08% 5,650 46.92% 12,042

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - Oct 06, 1856". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  2. ^ "Judge George Sydney Hawkins". Pensacola Gazette. March 8, 1856. p. 2. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  3. ^ "1856 Florida Democratic Convention". Pensacola Gazette. April 26, 1856. p. 2. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  4. ^ "Our Candidate". Pensacola Gazette. June 21, 1856. p. 2. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  5. ^ "Col. Baker in Pensacola". Pensacola Gazette. August 19, 1856. p. 2. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  6. ^ "Grand Rally!". Pensacola Gazette. August 12, 1856. p. 2. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  7. ^ "FL At Large - 1856". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  8. ^ Jones, James S. (November 29, 1856). "Official Vote for Governor". Floridian & Journal. p. 3. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
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