The election to the United States House of Representatives in Florida was held on November 8, 1870 for the 42nd Congress, the last election in which Florida had a single Representative.
Background Florida had been readmitted to the Union following Reconstruction in 1868, with representation starting July 1, 1868
Initial election results +1870 United States House election resultsElection details from Ourcampaigns.com Republican DemocraticCalled the Conservative Party Josiah T. Walls 12,439 51.3% Silas L. Niblack 11,812 48.7%
Results County Josiah T. Walls Republican Silas L. Niblack Democratic Total votes # % # %Alachua1,28164.86% 694 35.14% 1,975Baker 36 16.98% 176 83.02% 212Bradford14323.79% 458 76.21% 601Brevard* 0 0% 0 0% 0Calhoun* 0 0% 0 0% 0Clay 47 20.09% 187 79.91% 234Columbia 487 41.24% 694 58.76% 1,181Dade* 0 0% 0 0% 0Duval 898 65.60% 471 34.40% 1,369Escambia 569 56.39% 440 43.61% 1,009Franklin 81 37.67% 134 62.33% 215Gadsden84650.27% 837 49.73% 1,683Hamilton 130 23.21% 430 76.79% 560Hernando 132 29.33% 318 70.67% 450Hillsborough8718.91% 373 81.09% 460Holmes 6 3.02% 193 96.98% 199Jackson 878 50.11% 874 49.89% 1,752Jefferson 1,374 71.56% 546 28.44% 1,920Lafayette* 0 0% 0 0% 0Leon1,54373.30% 562 26.70% 2,105Levy 86 21.45% 315 78.55% 401Liberty 66 33.0% 134 67.0% 200Madison 1,239 66.47% 625 33.53% 1,864Manatee* 0 0% 0 0% 0Marion 1,058 73.73% 377 26.27% 1,864Monroe* 0 0% 0 0% 0Nassau 510 58.02% 369 41.98% 879Orange 17 4.96% 326 95.04% 343Polk 0 0% 284 100% 284Putnam 229 54.27% 193 45.73% 422Santa Rosa24643.93%31456.07% 560St. Johns 183 35.06% 339 64.94% 522Sumter* 0 0% 0 0% 0Suwannee* 0 0% 0 0% 0Taylor* 0 0% 0 0% 0Volusia 63 25.51% 184 74.49% 247Wakulla 178 37.16% 301 62.84% 479Walton 27 6.40% 395 93.60% 422Washington 0 0% 270 100% 270Actual Totals12,44051.29%11,81348.71%24,253Official Totals**12,43951.29%11,81248.71%24,251*Votes were rejected by State Board Canvass **Official results from the State of Florida is different from actual results
Contested election The election was contested, and on January 29, 1873, Niblack was declared the winner of the 1870 election and was seated in Congress.Recount from Ourcampaigns.com +1870 United States House election results recount Republican Democratic Josiah T. Walls 13,260 49.74% Silas L. Niblack 13,397 50.26%
Results County Josiah T. Walls Republican Silas L. Niblack Democratic Total votes # % # %Alachua1,28164.86% 694 35.14% 1,975Baker 36 16.98% 176 83.02% 212Bradford14323.79% 458 76.21% 601Brevard* 0 0% 0 0% 0Calhoun 62 38.04% 101 61.96% 163Clay 47 20.09% 187 79.91% 234Columbia 487 41.24% 694 58.76% 1,181Dade* 0 0% 0 0% 0Duval 910 63.24% 529 36.76% 1,439Escambia 569 56.39% 440 43.61% 1,009Franklin 81 37.67% 134 62.33% 215Gadsden87551.11% 837 48.89% 1,712Hamilton 130 23.21% 430 76.79% 560Hernando 132 29.33% 318 70.67% 450Hillsborough8718.91% 373 81.09% 460Holmes 6 3.02% 193 96.98% 199Jackson 878 50.11% 874 49.89% 1,752Jefferson 1,374 71.56% 546 28.44% 1,920Lafayette 0 0% 68 100% 68Leon1,54373.30% 562 26.70% 2,105Levy 86 21.45% 315 78.55% 401Liberty 66 33.0% 134 67.0% 200Madison 1,239 66.47% 625 33.53% 1,864Manatee 0 0% 192 100% 192Marion 1,058 73.73% 377 26.27% 1,864Monroe 428 54.38% 359 45.62% 787Nassau 510 58.02% 369 41.98% 879Orange 17 4.96% 326 95.04% 343Polk 0 0% 284 100% 284Putnam 229 54.27% 193 45.73% 422Santa Rosa24643.93%31456.07% 560St. Johns 183 35.06% 339 64.94% 522Sumter 60 35.06% 314 83.96% 374Suwannee 230 41.97% 318 58.03% 548Taylor 0 0% 177 100% 177Volusia 63 25.51% 184 74.49% 247Wakulla 178 37.16% 301 62.84% 479Walton 27 6.40% 395 93.60% 422Washington 0 0% 270 100% 270Actual Totals13,26149.74%13,40050.26%26,661Official Totals**13,26051.29%13,39748.71%26,657*Votes was rejected by US House of Representatives **Official results from the US House of Representatives is different from actual results
See also United States House of Representatives elections, 1870
References