1860 Republican National Convention
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The 1860 Republican National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, nominated former U.S. Representative Abraham Lincoln of Illinois for President and U.S. Senator Hannibal Hamlin of Maine for Vice President. This was only the second national nominating convention for the Republican Party.
Other candidates at the convention included former New York Governor William Seward, U.S. Senator Salmon P. Chase of Ohio, former U.S. Representative Edward Bates of Missouri, and Pennsylvania Governor Simon Cameron.
Seward had been the favorite going into the convention, and led on the first ballots. His lead soon melted away to the dark horse Lincoln, who captured the nomination.
Lincoln-Hamlin went on to defeat three other major tickets that year, including Democratic nominee Stephen Douglas, U.S. Senator from Illinois.