The 1858 United States House of Representatives election in Florida was held on Monday, October 4, 1858 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 36th Congress. The election coincided with the elections of other offices, including various state and local elections.

The winning candidate would serve a two-year term in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1859, to March 4, 1861.

Candidates

Democratic

Nominee George Sydney Hawkins, incumbent U.S. representative

Independent Democratic

Declared John Westcott, former Surveyor General of Florida

Campaign This election was held in the middle of the presidency of James Buchanan, with tensions between free states of the North and slave states of the South growing to the point of irreparability. Both the Whig Party and the Know Nothing Party had already collapsed, leaving no true opposition to the Democratic Party in Florida. Hawkins was very popular in the former Whig stronghold of Pensacola, bringing the populous city firmly into the Democratic column. Though Hawkins was expected to run unopposed, he was challenged by Westcott, the former surveyor general of Florida and brother of former U.S. senator James Westcott. Westcott, running as an Independent Democrat, was opposed to the corruption in the Florida Democratic Party, perceiving the party's selection of nominees at conventions making the state's politicians open to political patronage. Westcott also promised cheap land to frontier settlers.

Westcott performed best in the frontierlands of East Florida and South Florida, where he was very popular due to his role in the Seminole Wars. Despite this, he could not make inroads into West Florida and was crushed in the general election, only receiving 38% of the vote to Hawkins' 62%.

General election Results

Results by County CountyGeorge Sydney Hawkins DemocraticJohn Westcott Independent Democratic Total votes # % # %Alachua34971.22% 141 28.78% 490Brevard 0 0% 0 0% 0Calhoun 85 61.59% 53 38.41% 138Columbia 389 42.37% 529 57.63% 918Dade 12 100% 0 0% 12Duval 0 0% 0 0% 0Escambia 304 79.58% 78 20.42% 382Franklin 220 95.24% 11 4.76% 231Gadsden41162.75% 244 37.25% 655Hamilton 283 66.28% 144 33.72% 427Hernando 99 40.08% 148 59.92% 247Hillsborough7432.60% 153 67.40% 227Holmes 75 45.18% 91 54.82% 166Jackson 482 62.19% 293 37.81% 775Jefferson 432 84.38% 80 15.63% 512Lafayette 70 33.49% 139 66.51% 209Leon38275.64% 123 24.36% 505Levy 100 54.95% 82 45.05% 182Liberty 43 46.74% 49 53.26% 92Madison 317 53.28% 278 46.72% 595Manatee 45 75.00% 15 25.00% 60Marion 254 56.82% 193 43.18% 447Monroe 158 87.78% 22 12.22% 180Nassau 237 78.48% 65 21.52% 302Orange3736.27% 65 63.73% 102Putnam 127 58.80% 89 41.20%216Santa Rosa33177.52%9622.48% 427St. Johns 180 72.58% 68 27.42% 248Sumter 0 0% 0 0% 0Taylor 75 33.78% 147 66.22% 222Volusia 30 29.70% 71 70.30% 101Wakulla 105 71.43% 42 28.57% 147Walton 200 61.16% 127 38.84% 327Washington 178 87.68% 25 12.32% 203Totals6,08462.43%3,66137.57% 9,745

Aftermath This was the last election before the American Civil War to send a U.S. representative to Congress. An election was held in 1860, but the winner of that race did not serve in Congress as Florida seceded from the Union prior to the start of the 37th Congress. Hawkins withdrew from Congress on January 21, 1861 after Florida had joined the Confederate States of America. This was the last successful congressional election in Florida until 1868.

See also United States House of Representatives elections, 1858

References