1848–49 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1848–49 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 1848 and November 1849. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 31st United States Congress convened on December 3, 1849. The new state of Wisconsin elected its first representatives, and California also held its first congressional elections before officially achieving statehood in 1850, increasing the size of the House to 233 seats.

1848–49 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1846 & 1847August 7, 1848 – November 6, 1849[a]1850 & 1851 →

All 233[b] seats in the United States House of Representatives
117 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
 
LeaderHowell CobbRobert C. Winthrop
PartyDemocraticWhig
Leader's seatGeorgia 6thMassachusetts 1st
Last election110 seats116 seats
Seats won113[b]106
Seat changeIncrease 3Decrease 10
Popular vote1,212,6321,231,320
Percentage44.16%44.84%
SwingDecrease 4.27%Increase 0.32%

 Third partyFourth party
 
PartyFree SoilKnow Nothing
Last electionNew Party1 seats
Seats won91
Seat changeIncrease 9Steady
Popular vote237,71410,539
Percentage8.66%0.38%
SwingIncrease 5.57%[c]Decrease 0.83%

 Fifth party
 
PartyIndependent
Last election3 seats[d]
Seats won3[e]
Seat changeSteady
Popular vote48,223
Percentage1.76%
SwingDecrease 0.98%

Speaker before election

Robert C. Winthrop
Whig

Elected Speaker

Howell Cobb
Democratic

These elections spanned the 1848 United States presidential election and took place amid the U.S. victory over Mexico in the (1846–48) Mexican–American War. The Whigs lost their House majority as Democrats, whose support had driven the war, gained a House plurality. Among minor parties, the Free Soil Party won nine Northern seats, while the American or "Know Nothing" Party retained one.

Following the discovery of gold in January 1848, California boomed, creating immediate pressure for statehood. The Compromise of 1850, though largely crafted in the Senate, was also passed by the House, brokering its admission to the Union. Anticipating statehood, California elected two members at-large on November 13, 1849, to be seated September 11, 1850.

As neither major party held a majority when Congress convened on December 3, 1849 ⁠— the Democrats finished three seats short, while the Whigs had lost 12 seats and the majority ⁠— the election of a Speaker proved contentious.

The Whigs were sectionally split, with Northern Whigs nominating incumbent speaker Robert C. Winthrop of Massachusetts and Southern Whigs supporting Meredith P. Gentry of Tennessee. Democrats primarily supported Howell Cobb of Georgia; 13 other Democratic hopefuls also garnered support. The small Free Soil Party, opposing expansion of slavery into the Western territories, supported David Wilmot of Pennsylvania, author of the Wilmot Proviso, calling attention to slave power's hold over both major parties.

After nearly three weeks of heated debate, the House suspended its majority rule for the Speaker election: Cobb was elected on the 63rd ballot by plurality.[1]

Election summaries

Wisconsin was apportioned an additional seat in 1848,[2] and two more seats were added for the new state of California.[3]

11311108
Democratic[f]Whig
StateTypeDateTotal
seats
DemocraticFree SoilWhigOther
SeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChange
ArkansasAt-largeAugust 7, 184811 0 0 0
IllinoisDistrictAugust 7, 184876 0 1 0
IowaDistrictAugust 7, 184822 0 0 0
MissouriDistrictAugust 7, 184855 0 0 0
VermontDistrictSeptember 5, 184841 0 3 0
MaineDistrictSeptember 11, 184875 10 2 10
FloridaAt-largeOctober 2, 184810 0 1 0
GeorgiaDistrictOctober 2, 184884 0 4 0
South CarolinaDistrictOctober 9–10, 184877 0 0 0
OhioDistrictOctober 10, 18482111 12 28 30
PennsylvaniaDistrictOctober 10, 1848249 21 113 31[g]
DelawareAt-largeNovember 6, 184810 0 1 0
MichiganDistrictNovember 7, 1848
(Election Day)[h]
32 10 1 10
New JerseyDistrict51 0 4 0
New YorkDistrict341 101 132 90
WisconsinDistrict3[i]1 11 11 10
MassachusettsDistrictNovember 13, 184810[j]0 1 18 20
Late elections, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term
New HampshireDistrictMarch 13, 184942 1 11 0 1[k]
ConnecticutDistrictApril 2, 184942 21 11 30
Rhode IslandDistrictApril 4, 184920 10 2 10
VirginiaDistrictApril 26, 18491513 40 2 40
TennesseeDistrictAugust 2, 1849117 10 4 10
AlabamaDistrictAugust 6, 184975 0 2 0
IndianaDistrictAugust 6, 1849108 21 11 30
KentuckyDistrictAugust 6, 1849104 0 6 0
TexasDistrictAugust 6, 184922 0 0 0
North CarolinaDistrictAugust 7, 184993 0 6 0
MarylandDistrictOctober 3, 184963 10 3 10
LouisianaDistrictNovember 5, 184943 0 1 0
MississippiDistrictNovember 5–6, 184944 10 0 10
CaliforniaAt-largeNovember 11, 1849[l]21 10 0 1[m] 1
Total[b]233113
48.7%
19
3.9%
9108
46.6%
82
0.9%
Popular vote
Democratic
44.16%
Free Soil
8.66%
Independent
1.76%
Know Nothing
0.38%
Others
0.20%
Whig
44.84%
House seats
Democratic
49.78%
Free Soil
3.46%
Independent
1.30%
Know Nothing
0.43%
Whig
45.02%

Special elections

30th Congress

DistrictIncumbentThis race
Member / DelegatePartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Pennsylvania 6John W. HornbeckWhig1846Incumbent died January 16, 1848.
New member elected March 6, 1848.
Democratic gain.
Successor was not a candidate for the next term; see below.
Massachusetts 8John Quincy AdamsWhig1830Incumbent died February 23, 1848.
New member elected April 3, 1848.
Whig hold.
Successor later re-elected for the next term; see below.
  • Y Horace Mann (Whig) 60.07%
  • Edgar K. Whitaker (Democratic) 26.91%
  • Appleton Howe (Liberty) 13.02%[4]
South Carolina 1James A. BlackDemocratic1843Incumbent died April 3, 1848.
New member elected October 10, 1848.
Democratic hold.
Successor later re-elected for the next term; see below.
  • Y Daniel Wallace (Democratic) 39.59%
  • H. F. Thompson (Unknown) 35.77%
  • W. F. Davie (Unknown) 24.64%[5]
New York 27John M. HolleyWhig1846Incumbent died March 8, 1848.
New member elected November 7, 1848.
Whig hold.
Successor later re-elected for the next term; see below.
  • Y Esbon Blackmar (Whig) 45.62%
  • James C. Smith (Free Soil) 40.89%
  • Cullen Foster (Democratic) 13.49%[6]
South Carolina 4Alexander D. SimsDemocratic1844Incumbent died November 22, 1848.
New member elected January 9, 1849.
Democratic hold.
Successor later elected for the next term; see below.
Wisconsin Territory at-largeNew delegate elected October 30, 1848.

31st Congress

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
South Carolina 4Alexander D. SimsDemocratic1844Incumbent had been re-elected, see below, but died November 22, 1848.
New member elected January 16, 1849.
Democratic.
Successor having already been elected to finish the current term; see above.
Ohio 6Rodolphus DickinsonDemocraticIncumbent died March 20, 1849.
New member elected in 1849.
Vermont 3
Virginia 15

Alabama

Elections were held August 6, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

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

Arkansas

The election was held August 7, 1848.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Arkansas at-largeThomas W. NewtonWhig1847 (special)Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

California

In California two at-large members were elected November 13, 1849 in anticipation of statehood and seated September 11, 1850.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
California at-large
2 seats
NoneNew seat.
Independent gain.
(Elected on a general ticket)
NoneNew seat.
Democratic gain.

Connecticut

Elections were held April 2, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

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

Delaware

The election was held November 6, 1848.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Delaware at-large

Florida

Florida's single at-large member was elected October 2, 1848.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Florida at-largeEdward C. CabellWhig1846Incumbent re-elected.

Georgia

Elections were held October 2, 1848.

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 7, 1848.

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

Indiana

Elections were held August 10, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

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 were held August 7, 1848.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Iowa 1
Iowa 2

Kentucky

Elections were held August 6, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

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 5, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

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

Maine

Elections were held September 11, 1848.

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

Maryland

Elections were held October 3, 1849 elections were after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the new term, but still before the Congress convened in December 1849.

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

Massachusetts

Elections were held November 13, 1848.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Massachusetts 1
Massachusetts 2
Massachusetts 3
Massachusetts 4John G. PalfreyWhig1846Incumbent lost re-election as Free Soil candidate.
No member elected due to failure to achieve majority vote.
Whig loss.
Massachusetts 5
Massachusetts 6
Massachusetts 7Julius RockwellWhig1844 (late)Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Julius Rockwell (Whig) 51.40%
  • Thomas F. Plunkett (Democratic) 28.22%
  • Charles Sedgwick (Free Soil) 20.38%[11]
Massachusetts 8
Massachusetts 9
Massachusetts 10

Michigan

Elections were held November 7, 1848.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Michigan 1Robert McClellandDemocratic1843Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Alexander W. Buel (Democratic) 46.7%
  • George C. Bates (Whig) 40.8%
  • Caleb N. Ormsby (Free Soil) 12.4%[12]
Michigan 2Charles E. StuartDemocratic1847 (special)Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Whig gain.
Michigan 3Kinsley S. BinghamDemocratic1846Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Kinsley S. Bingham (Democratic) 51.0%
  • George H. Hazelton (Whig) 38.7%
  • John M. Lamb (Free Soil) 10.3%[14]

Minnesota Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Mississippi

Elections were held November 5–6, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Mississippi 1Jacob ThompsonDemocratic1839Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 2Winfield S. FeatherstonDemocratic1847Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 3Patrick W. TompkinsWhig1847Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Mississippi 4Albert G. BrownDemocratic1847Incumbent re-elected.

Missouri

Elections were held August 7, 1848.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Missouri 1
Missouri 2
Missouri 3
Missouri 4
Missouri 5

New Hampshire

Elections were held March 13, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
New Hampshire 1
New Hampshire 2
New Hampshire 3
New Hampshire 4

New Jersey

Elections were held November 7, 1848.

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 7, 1848.

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 7, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

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 10, 1848.

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

Oregon Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Pennsylvania

Elections were held October 10, 1848.

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 4, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Rhode Island 1
Rhode Island 2

South Carolina

Elections were held October 9–10, 1848.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
South Carolina 1
South Carolina 2
South Carolina 3
South Carolina 4Alexander D. SimsDemocratic1844Incumbent re-elected.
Incumbent then died November 22, 1848, leading to two special elections.
South Carolina 5
South Carolina 6
South Carolina 7

Tennessee

Tennessee Results, shaded according to winning candidates share of vote

Elections were held August 2, 1849.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Tennessee 1Andrew JohnsonDemocratic1842Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 2William M. CockeWhig1845Incumbent lost re-election as a Democrat.
New member elected.
Whig hold.
Tennessee 3John H. CrozierWhig1845Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig hold.
Tennessee 4Hugh L.W. HillDemocratic1847Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Y John H. Savage (Democratic) 48.44%
  • Samuel Turney (Unknown) 38.82%
  • John B. Rogers (Whig) 12.74%[23]
Tennessee 5George W. JonesDemocratic1842Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 6James H. ThomasDemocratic1847Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 7Meredith P. GentryWhig1845Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 8Washington BarrowWhig1847Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Tennessee 9Lucien B. ChaseDemocratic1845Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Tennessee 10Frederick P. StantonDemocratic1845Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 11William T. HaskellWhig1847Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig hold.

Texas

Elections were held August 6, 1849.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Texas 1
Texas 2

Vermont

Elections were held September 5, 1848.

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

Virginia

Elections were held April 26, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

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

Wisconsin members were first elected in advance of its June 1848 statehood. It elected two members to finish the current term in the 30th Congress, and then it gained an elected an additional member for elections to the 31st Congress.

30th Congress

Wisconsin's two members were elected May 8, 1848.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Wisconsin 1New seatNew seat.
Democratic gain.
Wisconsin 2New seatNew seat.
Democratic gain.

31st Congress

Wisconsin's three members were elected November 7, 1848.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates[33]
Wisconsin 1William Pitt LyndeDemocratic1848Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Free Soil gain.
Wisconsin 2Mason C. DarlingDemocratic1848Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig gain.
Wisconsin 3New seatNew seat.
Democratic gain.

Non-voting delegates

Going into these elections, there were no incumbent delegates, because the only territory — Wisconsin Territorybecame a state in 1848. Two new territories — Minnesota Territory and Oregon Territory — were granted delegates in 1849.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
DelegatePartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Minnesota TerritoryNew districtNew seat.
New delegate elected July 7, 1849.
Democratic gain.
Oregon TerritoryNew districtNew seat.
New delegate elected in 1849.
Democratic gain.

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links