Houston sought the presidential nomination at the Know Nothing party 's 1856 national convention , but the party nominated former President Millard Fillmore . Houston was disappointed by Fillmore 's selection as well as the party platform , which did not rebuke the Kansas – Nebraska Act , but he eventually decided to support Fillmore 's candidacy . Despite Houston 's renewed support , the American Party split over slavery , and Democrat James Buchanan won the 1856 presidential election . The American Party collapsed after the election , and Houston did not affiliate with a national political party for the remainder of his Senate tenure . In the 1857 Texas gubernatorial election , Texas Democrats nominated Hardin Richard Runnels , who supported the Kansas – Nebraska Act and attacked Houston 's record . In response , Houston announced his own candidacy for governor , but Runnels defeated him by a decisive margin . After the gubernatorial election , the Texas legislature denied Houston re-election in the Senate ; Houston rejected calls to resign immediately and served until the end of his term in early 1859
Know Nothing party 's 1856 national convention
1856 American National Convention
Sam Houston