Houston ran against Runnels in the 1859 gubernatorial election . Capitalizing on Runnels 's unpopularity over state issues such as Native American raids , Houston won the election and took office in December 1859 . In the 1860 presidential election , Houston and John Bell were the two major contenders for the presidential nomination of the newly-formed Constitutional Union Party , which consisted largely of Southern unionists . Houston narrowly trailed Bell on the first ballot of the 1860 Constitutional Union Convention , but Bell clinched the nomination on the second ballot . Nonetheless , some of Houston 's Texan supporters nominated him for president in April 1860 . Other backers attempted to launch a nationwide campaign , but in August 1860 Houston announced that he would not be a candidate for president . He refused to endorse any of the remaining presidential candidates . In late 1860 , Houston campaigned across his home state , calling on Texans to resist those who advocated for secession if Republican nominee Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 election
1860 Constitutional Union Convention
1860 Constitutional Union Convention
Sam Houston