1846–47 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1846–47 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 2, 1846, and November 2, 1847. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives. 228 elected members representing 29 states took their seats when the first session of the 30th United States Congress convened December 6, 1847. The new states of Iowa and Texas elected their first representatives during this election cycle. These elections were held during President James K. Polk's term.

1846–47 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1844 & 1845August 2, 1846 – November 2, 1847[a]1848 & 1849 →

All 230[b] seats in the United States House of Representatives
116 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
 
LeaderRobert WinthropLinn Boyd
PartyWhigDemocratic
Leader's seatMassachusetts 1stKentucky 1st
Last election79 seats142 seats
Seats won116110[b][c]
Seat changeIncrease 37Decrease 32
Popular vote1,033,5061,124,080
Percentage44.52%48.43%
SwingDecrease 0.27%Decrease 1.59%

 Third partyFourth party
 
PartyKnow NothingIndependent
Last election6 seats0 seats
Seats won13[d]
Seat changeDecrease 5Increase 3
Popular vote28,19863,690
Percentage1.21%2.74%
SwingDecrease 0.88%Increase 1.49%

Results:
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Whig hold      Whig gain
     Independent gain      Know Nothing hold

Speaker before election

John Davis
Democratic

Elected Speaker

Robert Winthrop
Whig

The Whigs gained 37 seats to win 116 and a change in partisan control, while the rival Democrats lost 30, falling to 112.[e] The Whigs gained seats in the Mid-Atlantic and the South. The nativist and anti-Catholic Native American Party, also known as the Know Nothings, was reduced to one seat. One Independent, Amos Tuck, was elected from New Hampshire.

The Mexican–American War, which the incumbent House had voted overwhelmingly to approve, was the main issue. The war had much stronger voter support in the West, South, and among Democrats than in the East, North, and among Whigs.

It was widely, accurately believed that war with Mexico would be won with large territorial gains. The Wilmot Proviso was the first congressional attempt to address slavery in these projected new territories, by proposing to ban it. Congress rejected the Wilmot Proviso, but not quickly or smoothly. Protracted debate aggravated sectional tensions. The repeated failure of Congress, and later also the President and Supreme Court, over the next decade to resolve the issue of slavery in the territories was a major cause of the Civil War.

This was the last time the Whig Party won a House majority, though candidates opposed to the Democratic Party would win a large majority in the realigning 1854 election. Notable freshmen included Abraham Lincoln of Illinois, elected as a Whig to his only term.

Election summaries

The trend toward single-member districts culminated as no multi-member districts featured.

In 1845, partly motivated by the successful 1844 test of the electric telegraph between Washington and Baltimore, Congress established a uniform date for choosing Presidential electors. Gradually, states aligned nearly all elections with this date, though as of this election, only three states had done so.

Two seats were added for the new State of Wisconsin.[1] Wisconsin was unrepresented for most of the first session.

1102116
Democratic[f]Whig
StateTypeDateTotal
seats
DemocraticWhigOther
SeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChange
Elections for new states (Not included in totals below)
TexasDistrictMarch 30, 184622 20 0
IowaAt-largeOctober 26, 184622 20 0
General elections
MissouriDistrict[g]August 2, 184655 0 0
ArkansasAt-largeAugust 3, 184611[h] 0 0
IllinoisDistrictAugust 3, 184676[i] 1 0
VermontDistrictSeptember 1, 184641 3 0
MaineDistrictSeptember 14, 184676 1 0
FloridaAt-largeOctober 5, 184610 11 10
GeorgiaDistrictOctober 5, 184684 14 10
South CarolinaDistrictOctober 12–13, 184677 0 0
OhioDistrictOctober 13, 18462110 311 30
PennsylvaniaDistrictOctober 13, 1846247 516 61[j] 1
TexasDistrictNovember 2, 184622 0 0
MichiganDistrictNovember 3, 1846
(Election Day)
33 0 0
New JerseyDistrict51 4 0
New YorkDistrict3411[k] 1023 140 4
MassachusettsDistrictNovember 9, 1846100 10 0
DelawareAt-largeNovember 10, 184610 1 0
Late elections (after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term)
New HampshireDistrict[g]March 9, 18474[l]2 11 11[m] 1
ConnecticutDistrictApril 5, 184740 4 0
Rhode IslandDistrictApril 7, 184721 11 10
VirginiaDistrictApril 22, 1847159 56 50
AlabamaDistrictAugust 2, 184775 12 10
IndianaDistrictAugust 2, 1847106 24 20
IowaDistrict[g]August 2, 184722 0 0
KentuckyDistrictAugust 2, 1847104 16 10
TennesseeDistrictAugust 2, 1847116 5 0
North CarolinaDistrictAugust 5, 184793 36 30
MarylandDistrictOctober 6, 184762 24 20
MississippiDistrict[g]November 1–2, 184743 11 10
LouisianaDistrictNovember 2, 184743 1 0
Total[b]228110[e]
48.7%
35116
50.4%
382
0.9%
4
Popular vote
Democratic
48.43%
Independent
2.74%
Know Nothing
1.21%
Whig
44.52%
Others
3.10%
House seats
Democratic
47.81%
Independent
0.88%
Know Nothing
0.44%
Whig
50.88%
Shaded according to winners share of vote

Special elections

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Georgia 3Washington PoeDemocratic1844Member-elect declined the seat.
New member elected January 5, 1846.
Democratic hold.
Missouri at-largeSterling PriceDemocratic1844Incumbent resigned August 12, 1846 to serve in the Mexican–American War.
New member elected October 31, 1846 and seated December 7, 1846.
Democratic hold.
Successor had not been elected to the next term; see below.
Florida at-largeNone (New state)Member-elect elected to the Senate.
New member elected October 6, 1845.
Whig gain.
Recount places newly elected member in second place.
Member removed from the seat, and the true victor is seated.
Democratic gain.
Arkansas at-largeArchibald YellDemocratic1836
1840 (retired)
1844
Incumbent resigned July 1, 1846 to serve in the United States Volunteers.
New member elected December 14, 1846.
Whig gain.
Successor seated February 6, 1847.
Successor had not been elected to the next term; see below.
Illinois 7Edward D. BakerWhig1844Incumbent resigned January 15, 1847 to join the Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
New member elected January 20, 1847 to finish the term.
Whig hold.
Successor had not been a candidate to the next term; see below.
  • Y John Henry (Whig) 56.73%
  • Israel W. Crosby (Democratic) 30.33%
  • Archibald Job (Democratic) 6.92%
  • Turner R. King (Independent) 2.94%
  • William Brown (Whig) 1.91%
  • Scattering 1.17%[4]
Michigan 2Edward BradleyDemocratic1846Incumbent died August 5, 1847.
New member elected November 2, 1847.
Democratic hold.
Louisiana 1
Mississippi 1

Alabama

Elections were held August 2, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Alabama 1
Alabama 2
Alabama 3
Alabama 4
Alabama 5
Alabama 6
Alabama 7

Arkansas

Arkansas elected its sole member August 3, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Arkansas at-largeArchibald YellDemocratic1836
1840 (retired)
1844
Incumbent resigned July 1, 1846 to serve in the United States Volunteers.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Winner was not elected to finish the current term.

Connecticut

Elections were held April 5, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Connecticut 1
Connecticut 2
Connecticut 3
Connecticut 4

Delaware

The election was held November 10, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Delaware at-large

Florida

The election was held October 5, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Florida at-largeWilliam H. BrockenbroughDemocratic1845 (special)Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig gain.

Georgia

Elections were held October 5, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Georgia 1
Georgia 2
Georgia 3
Georgia 4
Georgia 5
Georgia 6
Georgia 7
Georgia 8

Illinois

Elections were held August 3, 1846.

1846 Illinois US House District 7 results by county
DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Illinois 1
Illinois 2
Illinois 3
Illinois 4
Illinois 5
Illinois 6
Illinois 7Edward D. BakerWhig1844Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig hold.
Incumbent then resigned early, leading to a special election.

Indiana

Elections were held August 2, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Indiana 1
Indiana 2
Indiana 3
Indiana 4
Indiana 5
Indiana 6
Indiana 7
Indiana 8
Indiana 9
Indiana 10

Iowa

Elections to the 29th Congress

Elections for the new state were held October 26, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Iowa at-large
(2 seats)
New stateNew seat.
New member elected October 26, 1846.
Democratic gain.
Winner (Leffler) was later elected in the 2nd district to the next term, see below.
(Elected on a general ticket)
New stateNew seat.
New member elected October 26, 1846.
Democratic gain.
Winner (Hastings) would not be a candidate for the next term, see below.

Elections to the 30th Congress

Elections were held August 2, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Iowa 1New seatNew district.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Iowa 2Shepherd Leffler
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic1846Incumbent re-elected.
S. Clinton Hastings
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic1846Incumbent retired.
Democratic loss.

Kentucky

Elections were held August 2, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Kentucky 1
Kentucky 2
Kentucky 3
Kentucky 4
Kentucky 5
Kentucky 6
Kentucky 7
Kentucky 8
Kentucky 9
Kentucky 10

Louisiana

Elections were held November 2, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Louisiana 1
Louisiana 2
Louisiana 3
Louisiana 4

Maine

Elections were held September 14, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Maine 1
Maine 2
Maine 3
Maine 4
Maine 5
Maine 6
Maine 7

Maryland

Elections were held October 6, 1847 elections were after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the new term, but still before the Congress convened in December 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Maryland 1
Maryland 2
Maryland 3
Maryland 4
Maryland 5
Maryland 6

Massachusetts

Elections were held November 9, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Massachusetts 1
Massachusetts 2
Massachusetts 3
Massachusetts 4
Massachusetts 5
Massachusetts 6
Massachusetts 7Julius RockwellWhig1844 (late)Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Julius Rockwell (Whig) 53.34%
  • Horatio Byington (Democratic) 38.63%
  • Jasper Bement (Liberty) 8.04%[11]
Massachusetts 8John Quincy AdamsWhig1830Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y John Quincy Adams (Whig) 62.23%
  • Isaac H. Wright (Democratic) 28.25%
  • Appleton Howe (Liberty) 9.52%[12]
Massachusetts 9
Massachusetts 10

Michigan

Elections were held November 3, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Michigan 1Robert McClellandDemocratic1843Incumbent re-elected.
Michigan 2John S. ChipmanDemocratic1844Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Michigan 3James B. HuntDemocratic1843Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Kinsley S. Bingham (Democratic) 49.0%
  • George W. Wisner (Whig) 43.6%
  • William Caulfield (Liberty) 7.4%[15]

Mississippi

Elections were held November 1–2, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Mississippi 1Jacob ThompsonDemocratic1839Incumbent redistricted from the at-large district.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Jacob Thompson (Democratic) 54.38%
  • Robert Josselyn (Independent Democratic) 45.62%[16]
Mississippi 2None (new district)New district.
Democratic gain.
Mississippi 3Robert W. RobertsDemocratic1843Incumbent redistricted from the at-large district.
New member elected.
Whig gain.
Mississippi 4None (new district)New district.
Democratic gain.

Missouri

Elections were held August 2, 1846. All five seats remained Democratic. Three of the members retired.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Missouri 1James B. Bowlin
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic1842Incumbent re-elected.
Missouri 2William McDaniel
Redistricted from the at-large district[n]
Democratic1846 (special)Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
James Hugh Relfe
Redistricted from the at-large district[n]
Democratic1842Incumbent retired.
Democratic loss.
Missouri 3New districtNew district.
Democratic gain.
Missouri 4New districtNew district.
Democratic gain.
Missouri 5John S. Phelps
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic1844Incumbent re-elected.
Leonard H. Sims
Redistricted from the at-large district[n]
Democratic1844Incumbent retired.
Democratic loss.

New Hampshire

Elections were held March 9, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847. Two of the districts had run-off elections in July 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
New Hampshire 1Vacant seat due to the failure to elect.New member elected on the second ballot.
Independent gain.
First ballot (March 9, 1847):

Second ballot (July 8, 1847):
New Hampshire 2Moses Norris Jr.
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic1843Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Charles Peaslee (Democratic) 57.27%
  • Joel Eastman (Whig) 27.78%
  • George W. Stevens (Liberty) 14.96%[27]
New Hampshire 3Mace Moulton
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic1845Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected on the second ballot.
Democratic hold.
First ballot (March 9, 1847):

Second ballot (July 8, 1847):
New Hampshire 4James Hutchins Johnson
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic1845Incumbent re-elected.

New Jersey

Elections were held November 3, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
New Jersey 1
New Jersey 2
New Jersey 3
New Jersey 4
New Jersey 5

New York

Elections were held November 3, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
New York 1
New York 2
New York 3
New York 4
New York 5
New York 6
New York 7
New York 8
New York 9
New York 10
New York 11
New York 12
New York 13
New York 14
New York 15
New York 16
New York 17
New York 18
New York 19
New York 20
New York 21
New York 22
New York 23
New York 24
New York 25
New York 26
New York 27
New York 28
New York 29
New York 30
New York 31
New York 32
New York 33
New York 34

North Carolina

Elections were held August 5, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
North Carolina 1
North Carolina 2
North Carolina 3
North Carolina 4
North Carolina 5
North Carolina 6
North Carolina 7
North Carolina 8
North Carolina 9

Ohio

Elections were held October 13, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Ohio 1
Ohio 2
Ohio 3
Ohio 4
Ohio 5
Ohio 6
Ohio 7
Ohio 8
Ohio 9
Ohio 10
Ohio 11
Ohio 12
Ohio 13
Ohio 14
Ohio 15
Ohio 16
Ohio 17
Ohio 18
Ohio 19
Ohio 20
Ohio 21

Pennsylvania

Elections were held October 13, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Pennsylvania 1
Pennsylvania 2
Pennsylvania 3
Pennsylvania 4
Pennsylvania 5
Pennsylvania 6
Pennsylvania 7
Pennsylvania 8
Pennsylvania 9
Pennsylvania 10
Pennsylvania 11
Pennsylvania 12
Pennsylvania 13
Pennsylvania 14
Pennsylvania 15
Pennsylvania 16
Pennsylvania 17
Pennsylvania 18
Pennsylvania 19
Pennsylvania 20
Pennsylvania 21
Pennsylvania 22
Pennsylvania 23
Pennsylvania 24

Rhode Island

Elections were held April 7, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Rhode Island 1
Rhode Island 2

South Carolina

Elections were held October 12–13, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
South Carolina 1
South Carolina 2
South Carolina 3
South Carolina 4
South Carolina 5
South Carolina 6
South Carolina 7

Tennessee

Elections were held August 2, 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Tennessee 1Andrew JohnsonDemocratic1842Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 2William M. CockeWhig1845Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 3John H. CrozierWhig1845Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 4Alvan CullomDemocratic1842Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Tennessee 5George W. JonesDemocratic1842Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 6Barclay MartinDemocratic1845Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Tennessee 7Meredith P. GentryWhig1845Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 8Edwin H. EwingWhig1845 (special)Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig hold.
Tennessee 9Lucien B. ChaseDemocratic1845Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 10Frederick P. StantonDemocratic1845Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 11Milton BrownWhig1841Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig hold.

Texas

29th Congress

Elections for the 29th Congress were held in March 1846.[41]

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Texas 1New stateNew district.
Democratic gain.
Winner was also elected to the next term; see below.
Texas 2New stateNew district.
Democratic gain.
Winner was also elected to the next term; see below.

30th Congress

Elections for the 30th United States Congress were held November 2, 1846.[42]

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Texas 1David S. KaufmanDemocratic1846Incumbent re-elected.
Texas 2Timothy PilsburyDemocratic1846Incumbent re-elected.

Vermont

Elections were held September 1, 1846.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Vermont 1
Vermont 2
Vermont 3
Vermont 4

Virginia

Elections were held April 22, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Virginia 1
Virginia 2
Virginia 3
Virginia 4
Virginia 5
Virginia 6
Virginia 7
Virginia 8
Virginia 9
Virginia 10
Virginia 11
Virginia 12
Virginia 13
Virginia 14
Virginia 15

Wisconsin Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Non-voting delegates

DistrictIncumbentThis race
DelegatePartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Wisconsin TerritoryMorgan Lewis MartinDemocratic1844 or 1845[43]Incumbent was not renominated.
New member elected.
Whig gain.

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links