First Election in Kansas Territory

Wednesday, November 29, 1854

John W. Whitfield, the first Congressional delegate from Kansas Territory. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

The first election is held in Kansas Territory, and Democrat John W. Whitfield, a proslavery settler and veteran of the Mexican-American War, is selected as the territory's first delegate to Congress. Free-Staters complain about fraudulent voting by Missourians who cross the border to cast their ballots and intimidate antislavery voters, especially in proslavery towns such as Leavenworth