This is the electoral history of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln served one term in the United States House of Representatives from Illinois (1847–1849). He later served as the 16th president of the United States (1861–1865).
1842: Despite aspirations for the congressional office, Lincoln did not actively run for the Whig Party nomination; as a delegate to the Whig nominating convention, Lincoln helped cut a deal that would give John J. Hardin the nomination in 1842, Edward Dickinson Baker the nomination in 1844 and Lincoln the nomination in 1846.
1854 - Wins seat in Illinois House of Representatives. Declines serving in that seat in order to be eligible for his immediate candidacy for United States Senate. The election was held in November 1854, for a term starting in January 1855.
The election was held on February 8, 1855, for a term starting in March 1855.
51 votes needed for election
Note: Five "anti-Nebraska" Democrats (i.e. opposed to the KansasâÂÂNebraska Act) voted for Trumbull rather than vote for Lincoln, a Whig. When pro-Nebraska Democrats were unable to reelect Shields, they switched their allegiance to Matteson, who had no stance on the Act. Lincoln then withdrew and threw his support to Trumbull, so that an anti-Nebraska candidate would be assured victory.
Upon seeing how close Lincoln was to the 233 votes needed after the third ballot, a delegate from Ohio switched 4 votes from Chase to Lincoln. This triggered an avalanche towards Lincoln with a final count of 364 votes out of 466 cast.
Source (Popular Vote): <br> Source (Electoral Vote):
<sup>(a)</sup> The popular vote figures exclude South Carolina where the Electors were chosen by the state legislature rather than by popular vote.
Source (Popular Vote): <br> Source (Electoral Vote): <sup>(a)</sup> The states in rebellion did not participate in the election of 1864.<br> <sup>(b)</sup> One Elector from Nevada did not vote<br> <sup>(c)</sup> Andrew Johnson had been a Democrat, and after 1869 was a Democrat. The Republican Party called itself the National Union Party to accommodate the War Democrats in this election.