Abraham Lincoln Elected President in 1860, Defeating John Bell and Other Candidates
On November 6, 1860, former Illinois congressman Abraham Lincoln, representing the Republican Party, was elected President of the United States. Lincoln secured the presidency by defeating a field of candidates that included John Breckinridge, John Bell, and Stephen Douglas. This historical event is noted as part of a broader 'Today in History' compilation for November 6, 2026. The election of 1860 was a pivotal moment in U.S. history, occurring on the eve of the Civil War. The Texarkana Gazette's 'Today in History' also mentions other significant events that occurred on November 6 throughout history, including Jefferson Davis's election as president of the Confederate States of America in 1861 and President Ronald Reagan's reelection in 1984.
