1870 North Carolina's 4th congressional district special election

A special election to the United States House of Representatives for North Carolina's 4th congressional district was held August 4, 1870.

The winning candidate would serve in the United States House of Representatives to represent North Carolina in the 41st Congress until the general election on November 26, 1870.

Background

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Incumbent U.S. Representative John T. Deweese resigned his seat on February 28, 1870, before he was censured by the House of Representatives on March 1, 1870, for selling an appointment to the Naval Academy.[1][2] A special election was held to replace his seat.

Candidates

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Conservative

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Nominee

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Republican

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Nominee

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  • Madison Hawkins, politician who later became the Chief of the US Census Bureau in northeastern NC (1890)

General election

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1870 North Carolina's 4th congressional district special election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert B. Gilliam 14,014 50.83% +3.02%
Republican Madison Hawkins 13,556 49.17% −3.02%
Majority 458 1.66% +2.71%
Turnout 27,570 100.00%
Conservative gain from Republican

Aftermath

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Representative-elect Robert B. Gilliam, died before taking office, necessitating the November 26 special election.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "DEWEESE, John Thomas | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives".
  2. ^ "Deweese, John Thomas | NCpedia". www.ncpedia.org.
  3. ^ "NC - District 04 - Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 18, 2021.