Florida's at-large congressional district may refer to a few different occasions when a statewide at-large district was used for elections to the United States House of Representatives from Florida. The district is obsolete.
Prior to Florida's admittance as a state of the Union in 1845, congressional delegates for Florida Territory were elected from Florida Territory's at-large congressional district. The first elected U.S. representative from the state was installed on October 6, 1845.
A single representative was elected from the state from after statehood until 1873. A second representative was elected for 1 term beginning in 1873. District representation began in 1875.
Subsequently, on occasion an at-large representative would be elected in addition to representatives being elected from districts. This would occur 1913-1915, 1933–1937, and 1943-1945.
The district became obsolete January 3, 1945.
List of members representing the district After the 1870 census, a second seat was apportioned to Florida. Briefly, for the Congress, a second at-large seat was used. After that, there were two geographic districts created.
Years Congress Seat A Seat B Member Party Electoral history Member Party Electoral history July 1, 1845 –October 6, 1845 Vacant Representative-elect David Levy Yulee declined to serve after his election to the U.S. Senate. Seat inactive October 6, 1845 –January 24, 1846 Edward C. Cabell Whig Elected to fill Levy Yulee's term.Lost contested election. January 24, 1846 –March 3, 1847 William Henry Brockenbrough Democratic Successfully contested election.Retired. March 4, 1847 –March 3, 1853 Edward C. Cabell Whig Elected in 1846.Re-elected in 1848.Re-elected in 1850.Lost re-election. March 4, 1853 –March 3, 1857 Augustus Maxwell Democratic Elected in 1852.Re-elected in 1854.Retired. March 4, 1857 –January 21, 1861 George S. Hawkins Democratic Elected in 1856.Re-elected in 1858.Re-elected in 1860.Withdrew ahead of secession. January 21, 1861 –July 1, 1868 Vacant U.S. Civil War July 1, 1868 –March 3, 1871 Charles M. Hamilton Republican Elected in 1868.Lost renomination. March 4, 1871 –January 29, 1873 Josiah T. Walls Republican Lost contested election. January 29, 1873 –March 3, 1873 Silas L. Niblack Democratic Successfully contested election.Lost re-election. March 4, 1873 –January 25, 1875 William J. Purman Republican Elected in 1872.Resigned. Josiah T. Walls Republican Elected in 1872.Redistricted to the . January 25, 1875 –March 3, 1875 Vacant March 4, 1875 –March 3, 1913 Seat inactive Seat inactive March 4, 1913 –March 3, 1915 Claude L'Engle Democratic Elected in 1912.Lost renomination. March 3, 1915 –March 3, 1933 Seat inactive March 4, 1933 –January 3, 1937 William J. Sears Democratic Elected in 1932.Re-elected in 1934.Lost renomination. January 3, 1937 –January 3, 1943 Seat inactive January 3, 1943 –November 25, 1944 Robert A. Green Democratic Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1942.Resigned to join the U.S. Navy. November 26, 1944 –January 3, 1945 Vacant January 3, 1945 Seats eliminated
References
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present