1860 United States House of Representatives election in Florida
October 1, 1860
 
Nominee Robert Benjamin Hilton Benjamin F. Allen
Party Democratic Opposition
Popular vote 7,722 5,172
Percentage 59.89% 40.11%
County Results
Representative before election

George Sydney Hawkins
Democratic

 Elected Representative

Robert Benjamin
Hilton
Democratic

The 1860 United States House of Representatives election in Florida was held on Monday, October 1, 1860 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 37th Congress. The election coincided with the elections of other offices, including the presidential election, 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, 1861, to March 4, 1863.[1]

Hilton was never seated in Congress, however, as Florida had seceded from the Union before his term began.

Candidates

Democratic

Nominee

Eliminated at party convention

Opposition

Nominee

Campaign

By 1860, the secession of the South from the Union was nearly inevitable. Both Hilton and Allen were secessionists; the only question that remained was what ideology would an independent Florida prefer: the conservatism of the Democratic Party or the Whiggism of the Opposition Party. Due to Hilton's close ties with Vice President John C. Breckinridge, the Democratic nominee for president, it was all but guaranteed that he would ride on Breckinridge's coattails.[2]

Hilton soundly defeated Allen in the general election, receiving 60% of the vote to Allen's 40%.

General election

Results

Florida's at-large congressional district election, 1860[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Benjamin Hilton 7,722 59.89% -2.54%
Opposition Benjamin F. Allen 5,172 40.11% N/A
Majority 2,550 19.78% -5.08%
Turnout 12,894 100.00%
Democratic hold

Results by County

County[9] Robert Benjamin Hilton
Democratic		 Benjamin F. Allen
Opposition		 Total votes
#  % #  %
Alachua 516 74.67% 175 25.33% 691
Brevard 0 0% 0 0% 0
Calhoun 88 88.0% 12 12.0% 100
Clay 85 43.59% 110 51.73% 195
Columbia 237 48.27% 254 51.73% 491
Dade 0 0% 0 0% 0
Duval 263 53.46% 229 46.54% 492
Escambia 173 30.73% 390 69.27% 563
Franklin 155 85.16% 27 14.84% 182
Gadsden 387 48.99% 403 51.01% 790
Hamilton 247 58.39% 176 41.61% 423
Hernando 216 72.0% 84 28.0% 300
Hillsborough 347 90.36% 37 9.64% 384
Holmes 75 46.88% 85 53.13% 160
Jackson 511 51.88% 474 48.12% 985
Jefferson 450 74.38% 155 25.62% 605
Lafayette 110 55.56% 88 44.44% 198
Leon 427 56.26% 332 43.74% 759
Levy 181 69.35% 80 30.65% 261
Liberty 93 51.38% 88 48.62% 181
Madison 422 64.53% 232 35.47% 654
Manatee 79 94.05% 5 5.95% 84
Marion 435 73.36% 158 26.64% 593
Monroe 156 78.0% 44 22.0% 200
Nassau 252 81.82% 56 18.18% 308
New River 211 61.34% 133 38.66% 344
Orange 58 36.02% 103 63.98% 161
Putnam 162 63.28% 94 36.72% 256
Santa Rosa 251 44.27% 316 55.73% 567
St. Johns 202 67.79% 96 32.21% 298
Sumter 108 59.67% 73 40.33% 181
Suwannee 135 49.63% 137 50.37% 272
Taylor 86 50.59% 84 49.41% 170
Volusia 49 69.01% 22 30.99% 71
Wakulla 173 54.75% 143 45.25% 316
Walton 210 51.98% 194 48.02% 404
Washington 172 67.45% 83 32.55% 255
Totals 7,722 59.89% 5,172 40.11% 12,894

Aftermath

Florida seceded from the Union on January 10, 1861, meaning Hilton was not able to take his seat in Congress. However, Hilton won election to the Confederate States House of Representatives later in 1861, representing Florida's 2nd congressional district.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - Oct 01, 1860". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Florida's U.S. Representative nomination 1860". The Florida Peninsular. June 23, 1860. p. 2. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Democratic nominations for governor and U.S. representative, 1860". The Florida Peninsular. June 30, 1860. p. 2. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Dilworth-Barnhill House - Monticello, FL". Old Georgia Homes. March 8, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 The People of Lawmaking in Florida 1822 - 2019 (PDF). Tallahassee: Florida House of Representatives. 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  6. ↑ "The Pope Family". The Madison Enterprise-Recorder. No. 38. Madison: Greene Publishing. May 22, 2009. p. 9. Retrieved November 7, 2020 – via University of Florida.
  7. ↑ Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County 1845-2020 (PDF). Tallahassee: Florida House of Representatives. 2020. p. 149. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  8. ↑ "FL At Large - 1860". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  9. ↑ Dyke; Carlisle (November 17, 1860). "VOTE FOR CONGESSMAN BY COUNTIES". Floridian & Journal. p. 3. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  10. ↑ McConville, Michael Paul (2012). "The Politics Of Slavery And Secession In Antebellum Florida, 1845-1861". University of Central Florida: 75. Retrieved November 7, 2020 – via STARS.
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