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1856 United States House of Representatives election in Florida
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February 2026
September 2023
1856 United States House of Representatives election in Florida Florida presidential no United States House of Representatives election in Florida, 1854 1854 United States House of Representatives election in Florida, 1858 1858 October 6, 1856 x150px George Sydney Hawkins Democratic Party (United States) 6,392 53.08% x150px James McNair Baker Know Nothing 5,650 46.92% 1855 Florida US House Results by County.png 300px County Results
Hawkins
#9ecae1 50–59%
#6baed6 60–69%
#4292c6 70–79%
#2171b5 80–89%
Baker
#bcbddc 50–59%
#9e9ac8 60–69%
#807dba 70–79%
No Votes
#bdbdbd No Votes Representative Augustus Maxwell Democratic Party (United States) George Sydney Hawkins Democratic Party (United States) Flag_of_the_United_States_(1851–1858).svg
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.Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - Oct 06, 1856 https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=287204 2020-10-19 www.ourcampaigns.com
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
April 2022
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 Florida1856-03-08 Judge George Sydney Hawkins 2 Pensacola Gazette https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61426421/judge-george-sydney-hawkins/ 2020-10-19
Withdrawn
Frederick L. Villepigue, secretary of state of Florida1856-04-26 1856 Florida Democratic Convention 2 Pensacola Gazette https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61426593/1856-florida-democratic-convention/ 2020-10-19
Know Nothing
Nominee
James McNair Baker, state attorney for the Columbia County Circuit Court1856-06-21 Our Candidate 2 Pensacola Gazette https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61428242/our-candidate/ 2020-10-19
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.1856-08-19 Col. Baker in Pensacola 2 Pensacola Gazette https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61428194/col-baker-in-pensacola/ 2020-10-19 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.1856-08-12 Grand Rally! 2 Pensacola Gazette https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61428214/grand-rally/ 2020-10-19
General election
Results
Florida's at-large congressional district election, 1856FL At Large - 1856 https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=287204 Our Campaigns October 19, 2020
Democratic Party (United States)
George Sydney Hawkins
6,392
53.08%
-2.18%
Know Nothing James McNair Baker 5,650 46.92% N/A
742 6.16% -4.37%
12,042 100.00%
Democratic Party (United States)
Results by County
CountyJones James S. November 29, 1856 Official Vote for Governor 3 Floridian & Journal https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00079928/00515/images/2 September 12, 2022George 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
1856
Florida
United States House of Representatives