Florida's at-large congressional district

Florida's at-large congressional district may refer to a few different occasions when a statewide at-large district was used for elections to the United States House of Representatives from Florida. The district is obsolete.

Florida's at-large congressional district
Obsolete district
Created1845
1870
1910
1930
1940
Eliminated1870
1910
1930
1940
Years active1845-1875
1913-1915
1933-1937
1943-1945

Prior to Florida's admittance as a state of the Union in 1845, congressional delegates for Florida Territory were elected from Florida Territory's at-large congressional district. The first elected U.S. representative from the state was installed October 6, 1845.

A single representative was elected from the state from after statehood to 1873, when a second representative was elected for 1 term beginning in 1873. District representation began in 1875.

Subsequently, on occasion an at-large representative would be elected in addition to representatives being elected from districts. This would occur 1913-1915, 1933–1937, and 1943-1945.

The district became obsolete January 3, 1945.

List of members representing the district

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After the 1870 census, a second seat was apportioned to Florida. Briefly, for the 43rd Congress, a second at-large seat was used. After that, there were two geographic districts created.

Years Cong
ress
Seat A Seat B
Member Party Electoral history Member Party Electoral history
July 1, 1845 –
October 6, 1845
29th Vacant Representative-elect David Levy Yulee declined to serve after his election to the U.S. Senate. Seat inactive
October 6, 1845 –
January 24, 1846
 
Edward C. Cabell
(Tallahassee)
Whig Elected to fill Levy Yulee's term.
Lost contested election.
January 24, 1846 –
March 3, 1847
William Henry Brockenbrough
(Tallahassee)
Democratic Successfully contested election.
[data missing]
March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1853
30th
31st
32nd
 
Edward C. Cabell
(Tallahassee)
Whig Elected in 1846.
Re-elected in 1848.
Re-elected in 1850.
Lost re-election.
March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1857
33rd
34th
 
Augustus Maxwell
(Tallahassee)
Democratic Elected in 1852.
Re-elected in 1854.
Retired.
March 4, 1857 –
January 21, 1861
35th
36th
 
George S. Hawkins
(Pensacola)
Democratic Elected in 1856.
Re-elected in 1858.
Re-elected in 1860.
Withdrew ahead of secession.
January 21, 1861 –
July 1, 1868
36th
37th
38th
39th
40th
Vacant U.S. Civil War
July 1, 1868 –
March 3, 1871
40th
41st
 
Charles M. Hamilton
(Jacksonville)
Republican Elected in 1868.
Lost renomination.
March 4, 1871 –
January 29, 1873
42nd  
Josiah T. Walls
(Gainesville)
Republican Lost contested election.
January 29, 1873 –
March 3, 1873
 
Silas L. Niblack
(Gainesville)
Democratic Successfully contested election.
Lost re-election.
March 4, 1873 –
January 25, 1875
43rd  
William J. Purman
(Tallahassee)
Republican Elected in 1872.
Resigned.
 
Josiah T. Walls
(Gainesville)
Republican Elected in 1872.
Redistricted to the 2nd district.
January 25, 1875 –
March 3, 1875
Vacant
March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1913
44th
45th
46th
47th
48th
49th
50th
51st
52nd
53rd
54th
55th
56th
57th
58th
59th
60th
61st
62nd
Seat inactive Seat inactive
March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1915
63rd  
Claude L'Engle
(Jacksonville)
Democratic Elected in 1912.
Lost renomination.
March 3, 1915 –
March 3, 1933
64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
Seat inactive
March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1937
73rd
74th
 
William J. Sears
(Jacksonville)
Democratic Elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Lost renomination.
January 3, 1937 –
January 3, 1943
75th
76th
77th
Seat inactive
January 3, 1943 –
November 25, 1944
78th  
Robert A. Green
(Starke)
Democratic Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1942.
Resigned to join the U.S. Navy.
November 26, 1944 –
January 3, 1945
Vacant
January 3, 1945   Seats eliminated

References

edit
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

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