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.

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

Candidates

Democratic

Nominee

David Levy Yulee, former delegate for the Florida Territory's at-large congressional district

Whig

Nominee

Benjamin Alexander Putnam, adjutant general during the Second Seminole War

General election Results

Results by County County David Levy YuleeDemocratic Benjamin A. PutnamWhig Totalvotes # % # % 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% 82Totals3,60860.12%2,39339.88%6,001

Aftermath 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.

See also 1844 and 1845 United States House of Representatives elections

References