1868 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida

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

United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 1868^[1]

← 1865 May 5, 1868 and December 29, 1868 1870 →
Florida's single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party Third party   Party Republican Democratic Independent Seats won 1 0 0 Popular vote 14,108 7,915 2,276 Percentage 58.1% 32.6% 9.4%

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

May 5, 1868 United States House election results^[2]

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

December 29, 1868 United States House election results^[5]

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%

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections, 1868
• Reconstruction Era