lˈaɪk mˈɛnɪəv ˈiːst tˌɛnəsˈiːz pɹˈoʊjˈuːniən dˈɛməkɹˌæts, bɹˈɪdʒᵻz səpˈoːɹɾᵻd ðə nˈɔːɹðɚn dˌɛməkɹˈæɾɪk kˈændᵻdˌeɪt, stˈiːvən dˈʌɡləz, dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti pɹˌɛzɪdˈɛnʃəl ᵻlˈɛkʃən.
Like many of East Tennessee's pro-Union Democrats, Bridges supported the Northern Democratic candidate, Stephen Douglas, during the 1860 presidential election.