1850 United States House of Representatives election in Florida
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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]
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October 7, 1850
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 County results Cabell: 50â59% 60â69% Kain: 50â59% 60â69% 70â79% Tie No Votes | |||||||||||||||||
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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
Whig
Nominee
- Edward Carrington Cabell, incumbent U.S. representative
Democratic
Nominee
Campaign
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
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Edward Carrington Cabell (inc.) | 4,531 | 52.80% | â0.72% | |
| Democratic | John Beard | 4,050 | 47.20% | +0.72% | |
| Majority | 481 | 5.61% | â1.44% | ||
| Turnout | 8,581 | 100.00% | |||
| Whig hold | |||||
Results by County
| 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 |