1845 United States House of Representatives election in Florida

The 1845 United States House of Representatives election in Florida was held on Monday, May 26, 1845, to elect the first United States Representative from the state of Florida, one from the state's single at-large congressional district, to represent Florida in the 29th Congress. The election coincided with the elections of other offices, including the gubernatorial election, the senatorial elections, and various state and local elections.[1]

1845 United States House of Representatives election in Florida

May 26, 1845 1845 (special) →
 
Nominee David Levy Yulee Benjamin Alexander Putnam
Party Democratic Whig
Popular vote 3,608 2,373
Percentage 60.32% 39.68%

County Results

Elected Representative

David Levy Yulee
Democratic

The winning candidate would have served a less-than-two-year term in the United States House of Representatives from July 1, 1845, to March 4, 1847.

Background

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Florida was admitted to the Union as a slave state on March 3, 1845, the last day of the 28th Congress.[2] The state was not represented in that Congress. Florida held its elections on May 26, 1845.

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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General election

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Results

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Florida's at-large congressional district election, 1845[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic David Levy Yulee 3,608 60.32% N/A
Whig Benjamin Alexander Putnam 2,373 39.68% N/A
Majority 1,235 20.65% N/A
Turnout 5,981 100.00%

Results by County

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County[4] David Levy Yulee
Democratic
Benjamin A. Putnam
Whig
Total
votes
# % # %
Alachua 193 67.25% 94 32.75% 287
Benton 73 90.12% 8 9.88% 81
Calhoun 57 85.07% 10 14.93% 67
Columbia 354 72.84% 132 27.16% 486
Dade 60 92.31% 5 7.69% 65
Duval 232 58.88% 162 41.12% 394
Escambia 105 39.33% 162 60.67% 267
Franklin 113 53.55% 98 46.45% 211
Gadsden 264 51.26% 251 48.74% 515
Hamilton 136 80.00% 34 20.00% 170
Hillsborough 88 74.58% 30 25.42% 118
Jackson 162 35.06% 300 64.94% 462
Jefferson 332 81.17% 77 18.83% 409
Leon 301 51.28% 286 48.72% 587
Madison 215 73.13% 79 26.87% 294
Marion 93 55.36% 75 44.64% 168
Monroe 156 68.42% 72 31.58% 228
Nassau 127 82.47% 27 17.53% 154
Orange 29 74.36% 10 25.64% 39
Santa Rosa 35 21.08% 131 78.92% 166
St. Johns 170 57.43% 126 42.57% 296
St. Lucie 16 94.12% 1 5.88% 17
Wakulla 119 70.00% 51 30.00% 170
Walton 101 37.69% 167 62.31% 268
Washington 77 93.90% 5 39.88% 82
Totals 3,608 60.12% 2,393 39.88% 6,001

Aftermath

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Because Yulee was jointly elected to both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate and a person cannot hold both offices at the same time, he resigned from the House before taking his seat. A special election was held later in 1845 to elect his replacement, electing Whig Edward Carrington Cabell, though after a recount, Democrat William Henry Brockenbrough was found to be the winner instead.[5][6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "FL At Large - Initial Election Race - May 26, 1845". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Text of the Act admitting Florida
  3. ^ "FL At Large - 1845". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  4. ^ Hughes, Jeremiah (July 5, 1845). "Florida - Elections". Niles Register. pp. 381 / PDF 297. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  5. ^ "FL At Large - Special Election Race - Oct 06, 1845". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  6. ^ "FL At Large - Special Election Recount Race - Jan 24, 1846". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 17, 2020.