1868 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida
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Two elections to the United States House of Representatives were held in Florida in 1868, the first for the 40th Congress and the second for the 41st Congress
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May 5, 1868 and
December 29, 1868 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida's single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Background
Florida man had been unrepresented in Congress since January 21, 1869, when its sole Representative and both Senators withdrew from Congress following the secession of Florida from the Union. Following the end of the Civil War, an election had been held in 1865, but it was rejected by Congress. In 1868, Congress readmitted Florida following Reconstruction.
May 5 election
| Republican | Democratic[3] | Independent | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles M. Hamilton | 14,108 | 58.1% | John Friend | 7,915 | 32.6% | Liberty Billings | 2,276 | 9.4% |
Hamilton man was seated on July 1, 1868,[4] during the 2nd session of the 40th Congress.
December 29 election
| Republican | Democratic[3] | Independent | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles M. Hamilton (I) | 9,749 | 56.4% | W. D. Barnes[6] | 6,653 | 38.5% | William U. Saunders | 877 | 5.1% |