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.
Edward Carrington Cabell, incumbent U.S. representative
Democratic[]
Nominee[]
John Beard, former North Carolina state senator
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[]
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%
Whighold
See also[]
United States House of Representatives elections, 1850
Government