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.

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

George Sydney Hawkins, federal judge for the Northern District of Florida and former associate justice of the Supreme Court of Florida

Withdrawn

Frederick L. Villepigue, secretary of state of Florida

Know Nothing

Nominee

James McNair Baker, state attorney for the Columbia County Circuit Court

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. 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.

General election Results

Results by County CountyGeorge Sydney Hawkins DemocraticJames McNair Baker Know Nothing Total votes # % #%Alachua33763.83% 191 36.17% 528Brevard 10 66.67% 5 33.33% 15Calhoun 112 62.57% 67 37.43% 179Columbia 419 45.05% 511 54.95% 930Dade 0 0% 0 0% 0Duval 268 35.26% 492 64.74% 760Escambia 260 52.42% 236 47.58% 496Franklin 178 67.17% 87 32.83% 265Gadsden38549.23% 397 50.77% 782Hamilton 195 48.03% 211 51.97%406Hernando 122 58.65% 86 41.35% 208Hillsborough31667.09% 155 32.91% 471Holmes 44 29.93% 103 70.07% 147Jackson 414 47.48% 458 52.52% 872Jefferson 374 71.37% 150 28.63% 524Leon43856.88% 332 43.12% 770Levy 57 44.53% 71 55.47% 128Liberty 97 56.73% 74 43.27% 171Madison 469 48.91% 490 51.09% 959Manatee 24 42.11% 33 57.89% 57Marion 361 58.13% 260 41.87% 621Monroe 235 80.20% 58 19.80% 293Nassau 106 53.54% 92 46.46% 198Orange5152.58% 46 47.42% 97Putnam 117 50.87% 113 49.13%230Santa Rosa20640.71%30059.29% 506St. Johns 195 74.43% 67 25.57% 262Sumter 93 58.13% 67 41.88% 160Volusia 26 38.24% 42 61.76% 68Wakulla 155 45.72% 184 54.28% 339Walton 177 51.60% 166 48.40% 343Washington 151 53.08% 106 46.92% 257Totals6,39253.08%5,65046.92%12,042

See also 1856 United States presidential election in Florida United States House of Representatives elections, 1856 1856 Florida gubernatorial election

References