For the first few post-Reconstruction elections in Florida, the Republicans dominated Congressional elections. The previous election was the first election in which a Democrat won on the initial results (a Republican victory was successfully contested by a Democrat after the 1870 and 1874 elections). Going into the election, Florida's delegation was split between one Republican and one Democrat.
As in the 1874 and 1876 elections, the results in the 2nd district were successfully contested. This time, Horatio Bisbee, Jr. (R) successfully challenged the election of Noble A. Hull (D), and was declared with victor with a vote of 11,194 - 10,844,[5] serving in House January 22 - March 3, 1881
