Conkling first successfully ran for the [[United States House of Representatives]] in the 1858 midterms, defeating Democrat P. Sheldon Root in New York's 22nd congressional district by fifteen percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725369 NY District 20 Race - Nov 02, 1858]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> He was easily re-elected to a second term in the subsequent 1860 elections.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725370 NY District 20 Race - Nov 06, 1860]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> | Conkling first successfully ran for the [[United States House of Representatives]] in the 1858 midterms, defeating Democrat P. Sheldon Root in New York's 22nd congressional district by fifteen percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725369 NY District 20 Race - Nov 02, 1858]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> He was easily re-elected to a second term in the subsequent 1860 elections.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725370 NY District 20 Race - Nov 06, 1860]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> |