In 1858 , Blaine ran for a seat in the Maine House of Representatives , and was elected . He ran for reelection in 1859 , 1860 , and 1861 , and was successful each time by large majorities . The added responsibilities led Blaine to reduce his duties with the '' Advertiser '' in 1860 , and he soon ceased editorial work altogether . Meanwhile , his political power was growing as he became chairman of the Republican state committee in 1859 , replacing Stevens . Blaine was not a delegate to the Republican convention in 1860 , but attended anyway as an enthusiastic supporter of Abraham Lincoln . Returning to Maine , he was elected Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives in 1861 and reelected in 1862 . With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 , he supported Lincoln 's war effort and saw that the Maine Legislature voted to organize and equip units to join the Union Army
Republican convention in 1860
1860 Republican National Convention
James G. Blaine