1856 Florida gubernatorial election

The 1856 Florida gubernatorial election was held on October 6, 1856. This was an important vote to choose the leader of the state of Florida.

The Democratic nominee, Madison S. Perry, won the election against the Know Nothing candidate, David S. Walker. Perry’s victory was very close, with only a small number of votes separating him from his opponent.

This election showed how closely contested politics could be in Florida during that time. It was an important moment in the state’s history, reflecting the feelings and choices of the people living there in 1856.

General election

Candidates

Democratic

Madison S. Perry

Whig

David S. Walker

Results

Results by County

County	Madison S. Perry Democratic		David S. Walker Know Nothing		Total votes
County	#	%	#	%	Total votes
Alachua	336	64.00%	189	36.00%	525
Brevard	10	71.43%	4	28.57%	14
Calhoun	95	53.37%	83	46.63%	178
Columbia	433	46.46%	499	53.54%	932
Dade	6	100.00%	0	0%	6
Duval	270	35.62%	488	64.38%	758
Escambia	259	52.54%	234	47.46%	493
Franklin	156	59.32%	107	40.68%	263
Gadsden	368	46.52%	423	53.48%	791
Hamilton	186	45.15%	226	54.85%	412
Hernando	122	58.37%	87	41.63%	209
Hillsborough	318	66.95%	157	33.05%	475
Holmes	29	20.57%	112	79.43%	141
Jackson	408	46.42%	471	53.58%	879
Jefferson	354	66.79%	176	33.21%	530
Leon	404	52.33%	368	47.67%	772
Levy	68	46.26%	79	53.74%	147
Liberty	93	55.03%	76	44.97%	169
Madison	423	44.15%	535	55.85%	958
Manatee	22	39.29%	34	60.71%	56
Marion	353	56.94%	367	43.06%	620
Monroe	232	78.91%	62	21.09%	294
Nassau	106	53.27%	93	46.73%	199
Orange	55	56.12%	43	43.88%	98
Putnam	123	53.27%	106	46.29%	229
Santa Rosa	207	40.59%	303	59.41%	510
St. Johns	198	75.57%	64	24.43%	262
Sumter	82	50.31%	81	49.69%	163
Volusia	31	39.74%	47	60.26%	78
Wakulla	148	43.27%	194	56.73%	342
Walton	168	48.14%	181	51.86%	349
Washington	151	58.98%	105	41.02%	256
Totals	6,214	51.32%	5,894	48.68%	12,108

1856 Florida gubernatorial election