1856 United States House of Representatives election in Florida

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1856 United States House of Representatives election in Florida
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg
←  1854 October 6, 1856 1858  →
  Rep George Sydney Hawkins.jpg James McNair Baker.png
Nominee George Sydney Hawkins James McNair Baker
Party Democratic Know Nothing
Popular vote6,3925,650
Percentage53.08%46.92%
1855 Florida US House Results by County.png
County Results
Representative before election

Augustus Maxwell
Democratic

Elected Representative


George Sydney Hawkins
Democratic

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]

Contents

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

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

Democratic

Nominee

Withdrawn

Know Nothing

Nominee

Campaign

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

Results

Florida's at-large congressional district election, 1856 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic George Sydney Hawkins 6,392 53.08% -2.18%
Know Nothing James McNair Baker 5,65046.92%N/A
Majority7426.16%-4.37%
Turnout 12,042100.00%
Democratic hold

Results by County

County [8] George Sydney Hawkins
Democratic		James McNair Baker
Know Nothing		Total votes
# %#%
Alachua 33763.83%19136.17%528
Brevard 1066.67%533.33%15
Calhoun 11262.57%6737.43%179
Columbia 41945.05%51154.95%930
Dade 00%00%0
Duval 26835.26%49264.74%760
Escambia 26052.42%23647.58%496
Franklin 17867.17%8732.83%265
Gadsden 38549.23%39750.77%782
Hamilton 19548.03%21151.97%406
Hernando 12258.65%8641.35%208
Hillsborough 31667.09%15532.91%471
Holmes 4429.93%10370.07%147
Jackson 41447.48%45852.52%872
Jefferson 37471.37%15028.63%524
Leon 43856.88%33243.12%770
Levy 5744.53%7155.47%128
Liberty 9756.73%7443.27%171
Madison 46948.91%49051.09%959
Manatee 2442.11%3357.89%57
Marion 36158.13%26041.87%621
Monroe 23580.20%5819.80%293
Nassau 10653.54%9246.46%198
Orange 5152.58%4647.42%97
Putnam 11750.87%11349.13%230
Santa Rosa 20640.71%30059.29%506
St. Johns 19574.43%6725.57%262
Sumter 9358.13%6741.88%160
Volusia 2638.24%4261.76%68
Wakulla 15545.72%18454.28%339
Walton 17751.60%16648.40%343
Washington 15153.08%10646.92%257
Totals6,39253.08%5,65046.92%12,042

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - Oct 06, 1856". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  2. ↑ "Judge George Sydney Hawkins". Pensacola Gazette. 1856-03-08. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  3. ↑ "1856 Florida Democratic Convention". Pensacola Gazette. 1856-04-26. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  4. ↑ "Our Candidate". Pensacola Gazette. 1856-06-21. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  5. ↑ "Col. Baker in Pensacola". Pensacola Gazette. 1856-08-19. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  6. ↑ "Grand Rally!". Pensacola Gazette. 1856-08-12. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  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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