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1850 United States House of Representatives election in Florida

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1850 United States House of Representatives election in Florida

← 1848 October 7, 1850 1852 →
 
Nominee Edward Carrington Cabell John Beard
Party Whig Democratic
Popular vote 4,531 4,050
Percentage 52.80% 47.20%

County results
Cabell:      50–59%      60–69%
Kain:      50–59%      60–69%      70–79%
     Tie
     No Votes

Representative before election

Edward Carrington Cabell
Whig

Elected Representative


Edward Carrington Cabell
Whig

The 1850 United States House of Representatives election in Florida was held on Monday, October 7, 1846 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 32nd Congress. The election coincided with the elections of other offices, including the senatorial election and various state and local elections.[1]

The winning candidate would serve a two-year term in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1851, to March 4, 1853.

Candidates

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Whig

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Nominee

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Democratic

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Nominee

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Campaign

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Despite the weakness of the Whig Party after the death of President Zachary Taylor, Beard was a source of great controversy. Beard, a staunch advocate of nullification while he was in North Carolina, became one of Florida's earliest secessionists. Beard claimed that with the admission of Texas to the United States, the South had enough power to break free through war.[2]

Cabell ran on the complete opposite as Beard, arguing that the Compromise of 1850 will bring peace and an end to the slavery question. Many Floridians were also skeptical of breaking free from a Union they had just joined.[3]

General election

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Results

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Florida's At-large congressional district election, 1850[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Edward Carrington Cabell (inc.) 4,531 52.80% −0.72%
Democratic John Beard 4,050 47.20% +0.72%
Majority 481 5.61% −1.44%
Turnout 8,581 100.00%
Whig hold

Results by County

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County[5] Edward Carrington Cabell
Whig
John Beard
Democratic
Total
votes
% # % #
Alachua 50.82% 155 49.18% 150 305
Benton 44.07% 52 55.93% 66 118
Calhoun 52.41% 87 47.59% 79 166
Columbia 45.85% 287 54.15% 339 626
Dade 0% 0 0% 0 0
Duval 55.31% 297 44.69% 240 537
Escambia 54.14% 196 45.86% 166 362
Franklin 43.90% 90 56.10% 115 205
Gadsden 56.34% 462 43.66% 358 820
Hamilton 48.59% 155 51.41% 164 319
Hillsborough 40.54% 105 59.46% 154 259
Holmes 68.35% 108 31.65% 50 158
Jackson 64.82% 293 35.18% 159 452
Jefferson 37.79% 181 62.21% 298 479
Leon 52.80% 387 47.20% 346 733
Levy 64.62% 42 35.38% 23 65
Madison 59.51% 341 40.49% 232 573
Marion 56.46% 223 43.54% 172 395
Monroe 26.87% 54 73.13% 147 201
Nassau 50.0% 80 50.0% 80 160
Orange 43.86% 25 56.14% 32 57
Putnam 66.37% 75 33.63% 38 113
Santa Rosa 62.69% 168 37.31% 100 268
St. Johns 51.57% 181 48.43% 170 351
St. Lucie 30.0% 3 70.0% 7 10
Wakulla 62.20% 158 37.80% 96 254
Walton 60.87% 154 39.13% 99 253
Washington 40.36% 90 59.64% 133 223
No County Listed 68.91% 82 31.09% 37 119

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - Oct 07, 1850". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Nicholson, Angus W. (October 5, 1850). "Cabell vs. Beard - 1850". Pensacola Gazette. p. 2. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  3. ^ "To the Voters of Florida". Pensacola Gazette. September 21, 1850. p. 2. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  4. ^ "FL At Large - 1850". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  5. ^ Clisby, Joseph (November 26, 1850). "Vote of Florida at the recent Election". Florida Sentinel. p. 3. Retrieved September 6, 2022.