Existing comment:
Candidate Lincoln:
In March 1832, Abraham Lincoln declared himself a candidate for one of Sangamon County's four seats in the Illinois House of Representatives. A month later, Lincoln joined the volunteer army fighting the Black Hawk War and did not return to New Salem until two weeks before the August election. Though not elected, he won 277 of the New Salem's precinct's 300 votes. He ran again in 1834 and won. On December 1, 1834, Abraham Lincoln began the first of four terms as representative, taking his seat in the statehouse in Vandalia. |