1854 United States House of Representatives election in Florida

The 1854 United States House of Representatives election in Florida was held on Monday, October 2, 1854 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 34th Congress. The election coincided with the elections of other offices, including the senatorial election and various state and local elections.[1]

1854 United States House of Representatives election in Florida

← 1852 October 2, 1854 1856 →
 
Nominee Augustus Maxwell Thomas Brown
Party Democratic Whig
Popular vote 5,638 4,564
Percentage 55.26% 44.74%

County results

Representative before election

Augustus Maxwell
Democratic

Elected Representative


Augustus Maxwell
Democratic

The winning candidate would serve a two-year term in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1855, to March 4, 1857.

Candidates

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Democratic

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Nominee

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Whig

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Nominee

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Campaign

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Despite Brown leaving office as a popular governor, the national Whig Party had all but collapsed by this election. Additionally, many Southerners who were formerly sympathetic to the Whigs now aligned fully with the Democratic Party, due to the perception that the Whigs were willing to compromise with abolitionist Northerners. To take advantage of this, Maxwell actively campaigned in Pensacola, a former Whig stronghold, as well as running up his margins in deeply conservative North Central Florida, particularly in Columbia and Jefferson counties, both of which had high enslaved populations.[2][3]

General election

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Results

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Florida's at-large congressional district election, 1854[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Augustus Maxwell (inc.) 5,638 55.26% +5.14%
Whig Thomas Brown 4,564 44.74% −3.64%
Majority 1,074 10.53% −6.81%
Turnout 10,202 100.00%
Democratic hold

By County

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County[5] Augustus Maxwell
Democratic
Thomas Brown
Whig
Total
votes
# % # %
Alachua 262 61.79% 162 38.21% 424
Calhoun 87 50.88% 84 49.12% 171
Columbia 529 61.37% 333 38.63% 862
Duval 406 49.39% 416 50.61% 822
Escambia 179 50.28% 177 49.72% 356
Franklin 132 52.38% 120 47.62% 252
Gadsden 388 47.37% 431 52.63% 819
Hamilton 133 49.44% 136 50.56% 269
Hernando 124 63.92% 70 36.08% 194
Hillsborough 223 65.20% 119 34.80% 342
Holmes 66 46.15% 77 53.85% 143
Jackson 357 46.30% 414 53.70% 771
Jefferson 364 74.90% 122 25.10% 486
Leon 424 55.86% 335 44.14% 759
Levy 59 55.14% 48 44.86% 107
Madison 437 55.60% 349 44.40% 786
Marion 256 56.64% 196 43.36% 452
Monroe 151 66.81% 75 33.19% 226
Nassau 60 46.15% 70 53.85% 130
Orange 18 22.50% 62 77.50% 80
Putnam 123 70.29% 52 29.71% 175
Santa Rosa 188 47.84% 205 52.16% 393
St. Johns 137 57.08% 103 42.92% 240
St. Lucie 12 100% 0 0% 12
Sumter 78 61.90% 48 38.10% 126
Wakulla 169 55.78% 134 44.22% 303
Walton 132 43.56% 171 56.44% 303
Washington 144 72.36% 55 27.64% 199
Totals 5,638 55.26% 4,564 44.74% 10,202

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - Oct 02, 1854". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  2. ^ "Brown vs Maxwell - Florida 1854". Pensacola Gazette. August 12, 1854. p. 2. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  3. ^ "Party Movements in Florida". Pensacola Gazette. July 15, 1854. p. 2. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  4. ^ "FL At Large - 1854". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  5. ^ Allen, Benjamin F. (November 7, 1854). "Florida Election-Official". Florida Sentinel. p. 2. Retrieved September 8, 2022.