The 1860 United States House of Representatives election in Florida was held on Monday, October 1, 1860, 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 37th Congress. The election coincided with the gubernatorial election and various state and local elections.

Democratic nominee Robert Benjamin Hilton defeated Opposition nominee Benjamin F. Allen. Hilton was never seated in Congress, however, as Florida had succeeded from the Union before Congress convened.

Candidates

Democratic

Nominee

Robert Benjamin Hilton, clerk of the Florida House of Representatives

Eliminated at party convention

William Dilworth, former state representative James Gettis, former state representative Barton C. Pope, former state representative J. Carraway Smith, former state representative Frederick L. Villepigue, secretary of state of Florida C. C. Younge, lawyer

Opposition

Nominee

Benjamin F. Allen, former state representative

Campaign By 1860, the secession of the South from the Union was nearly inevitable. Both Hilton and Allen were secessionists; the only question that remained was what ideology would an independent Florida prefer: the conservatism of the Democratic Party or the Whiggism of the Opposition Party. Due to Hilton's close ties with Vice President John C. Breckinridge, the Democratic nominee for president, it was all but guaranteed that he would ride on Breckinridge's coattails.

General election Results

Results by County CountyRobert Benjamin Hilton DemocraticBenjamin F. Allen Opposition Total votes # % # %Alachua51674.67% 175 25.33% 691Brevard 0 0% 0 0% 0Calhoun 88 88.0% 12 12.0% 100Clay 85 43.59% 110 51.73% 195Columbia 237 48.27% 254 51.73% 491Dade 0 0% 0 0% 0Duval 263 53.46% 229 46.54% 492Escambia 173 30.73% 390 69.27% 563Franklin 155 85.16% 27 14.84% 182Gadsden38748.99% 403 51.01% 790Hamilton 247 58.39% 176 41.61% 423Hernando 216 72.0% 84 28.0% 300Hillsborough34790.36% 37 9.64% 384Holmes 75 46.88% 85 53.13% 160Jackson 511 51.88% 474 48.12% 985Jefferson 450 74.38% 155 25.62% 605Lafayette11055.56% 88 44.44% 198Leon42756.26% 332 43.74% 759Levy 181 69.35% 80 30.65% 261Liberty 93 51.38% 88 48.62% 181Madison 422 64.53% 232 35.47% 654Manatee 79 94.05% 5 5.95% 84Marion 435 73.36% 158 26.64% 593Monroe 156 78.0% 44 22.0% 200Nassau 252 81.82% 56 18.18% 308New River 211 61.34% 133 38.66% 344Orange 58 36.02% 103 63.98% 161Putnam 162 63.28% 94 36.72%256Santa Rosa25144.27%31655.73% 567St. Johns 202 67.79% 96 32.21% 298Sumter 108 59.67% 73 40.33% 181Suwannee 135 49.63% 137 50.37% 272Taylor 86 50.59% 84 49.41% 170Volusia 49 69.01% 22 30.99% 71Wakulla 173 54.75% 143 45.25% 316Walton 210 51.98% 194 48.02% 404Washington 172 67.45% 83 32.55% 255Totals7,72259.89%5,17240.11%12,894

Aftermath Florida seceded from the Union on January 10, 1861, meaning Hilton was not able to take his seat in Congress. However, Hilton won election to the Confederate States House of Representatives later in 1861, representing Florida's 2nd congressional district.

See also 1860 United States presidential election in Florida United States House of Representatives elections, 1860 1860 Florida Gubernatorial election 1861 Confederate States House of Representatives elections in Florida

References