1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections
The 1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 5, 1850, and November 4, 1851. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 32nd United States Congress convened on December 1, 1851. Elections were held for all 233 seats, representing 31 states.
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All 233 seats in the United States House of Representatives 117 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Democrats gained 17 seats, increasing their majority relative to the rival Whigs, who lost 22 seats. Incumbent Whig President Millard Fillmore, who succeeded to the Presidency in July 1850 after the death of more charismatic General Zachary Taylor, lacked a strong political base. The Compromise of 1850, which admitted California alone as a free state in exchange for concessions to slave state interests, began integration of the Mexican Cession. It appeared in the short term that Congress had politically feasible options to contain sectionalism and to reduce tensions over expanding slavery in the West. This optimism soon would prove unfounded.
The Unionist Party, formed in support of the Compromise of 1850, gained 10 seats in the South, as did the States' Rights Party. The Free Soil Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery into the Western territories, lost five seats and was reduced to four Representatives, all in New England.
Election summaries
130 | 7 | 10 | 86 |
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Democratic | [d] | [e] | Whig |
State | Type | Date | Total seats | Democratic | Free Soil | Southern Rights | Unionist | Whig | |||||
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Seats | Change | Seats | Change | Seats | Change | Seats | Change | Seats | Change | ||||
Iowa | District | August 5, 1850 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Missouri | District | August 5, 1850 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |||
Vermont | District | September 3, 1850 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||
Maine | District | September 9, 1850 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||
Florida | At-large | October 7, 1850 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||
Ohio | District | October 8, 1850 | 21 | 11[f] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |||
Pennsylvania | District | October 8, 1850 | 24[g] | 15 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | ||
South Carolina | District | October 14–15, 1850 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Illinois | District | November 5, 1850 (Election Day)[h] | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||
Michigan | District | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | ||||
New Jersey | District | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||||
New York | District | 34 | 17 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 15 | |||
Wisconsin | District | 3 | 2[f] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||
Massachusetts | District | November 11, 1850 | 10[i] | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
Delaware | At-large | November 12, 1850 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
Late elections (after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term) | |||||||||||||
New Hampshire | District | March 11, 1851 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||
Rhode Island | District | April 2, 1851 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||
Connecticut | District | April 7, 1851 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
Alabama | District | August 4, 1851 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
Arkansas | At-large | August 4, 1851 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Indiana | District | August 4, 1851 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||
Kentucky | District | August 4, 1851 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |||
Texas | District | August 4, 1851 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
North Carolina | District | August 7, 1851 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |||||
Tennessee | District | August 7, 1851 | 11 | 7[f] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||||
California | At-large | September 3, 1851 | 2[j] | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Maryland | District | October 1, 1851 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[k] | 1 | |||
Georgia | District | October 6, 1851 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 | |
Virginia | District | October 23, 1851 | 15 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||
Mississippi | District | November 3–4, 1851 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
Louisiana | District | November 4, 1851 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||
Total | 233 | 130[l] 55.8% | 17 | 4 1.7% | 5 | 3 1.3% | 3 | 10 4.3% | 10 | 86[k] 36.9% | 22 |
One district in Massachusetts had been vacant in the 31st Congress. No new seats were added.
The previous election had 1 Know-Nothing and 1 Independent.
Special elections
31st Congress
- Iowa's 1st congressional district: 1850
- New Hampshire's 3rd congressional district: 1850
- Ohio's 6th congressional district: 1851
- Louisiana's 3rd congressional district: 1850
- Massachusetts's 1st congressional district: 1850
32nd Congress
Alabama
Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Alabama 1 | |||||
Alabama 2 | |||||
Alabama 3 | |||||
Alabama 4 | |||||
Alabama 5 | |||||
Alabama 6 | |||||
Alabama 7 |
Arkansas
The election was held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Arkansas at-large | Robert W. Johnson | Democratic | 1846 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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California
California's members were elected late, at-large statewide, September 3, 1851. There were nevertheless seated with the rest of the House at the beginning of the first session.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
California at-large 2 seats | George W. Wright | Independent | 1849 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain. | (Elected on a general ticket)
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Edward Gilbert | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold. |
Connecticut
Elections were held April 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Connecticut 1 | |||||
Connecticut 2 | |||||
Connecticut 3 | |||||
Connecticut 4 |
Delaware
The election was held November 12, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Delaware at-large | John W. Houston | Whig | 1844 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain. |
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Florida
The election was held October 7, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Florida at-large | Edward C. Cabell | Whig | 1845 | Incumbent re-elected. Whig hold. |
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Georgia
Elections were held October 6, 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Georgia 1 | Joseph W. Jackson | Democratic | 1850 | Incumbent re-elected. Southern Rights gain. |
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Georgia 2 | Marshall Johnson Wellborn | Democratic | 1848 | New member elected. Unionist gain |
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Georgia 3 | Allen F. Owen | Whig | 1848 | New member elected. Southern Rights gain |
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Georgia 4 | Hugh A. Haralson | Democratic | 1842 | New member elected. Unionist gain |
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Georgia 5 | Thomas C. Hackett | Democratic | 1848 | New member elected. Unionist gain |
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Georgia 6 | Howell Cobb | Democratic | 1842 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Unionist gain |
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Georgia 7 | Alexander Hamilton Stephens | Democratic | 1843 | Incumbent re-elected. Unionist gain |
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Georgia 8 | Robert Toombs | Whig | 1844 | Incumbent re-elected. Unionist gain |
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Illinois
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Illinois 1 | |||||
Illinois 2 | |||||
Illinois 3 | |||||
Illinois 4 | |||||
Illinois 5 | |||||
Illinois 6 | |||||
Illinois 7 |
Indiana
Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
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 5, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Iowa 1 | |||||
Iowa 2 |
Kentucky
Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
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 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Louisiana 1 | |||||
Louisiana 2 | |||||
Louisiana 3 | |||||
Louisiana 4 |
Maine
Elections were held September 9, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Maine 1 | |||||
Maine 2 | |||||
Maine 3 | |||||
Maine 4 | |||||
Maine 5 | |||||
Maine 6 | |||||
Maine 7 |
Maryland
Elections were held October 1, 1851 elections were after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the new term, but still before the Congress convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Maryland 1 | |||||
Maryland 2 | |||||
Maryland 3 | |||||
Maryland 4 | |||||
Maryland 5 | |||||
Maryland 6 |
Massachusetts
Elections were held November 11, 1850, but at least one district's elections went to multiple ballots into 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Massachusetts 1 | |||||
Massachusetts 2 | |||||
Massachusetts 3 | |||||
Massachusetts 4 | Vacant due to failure to elect. | New member elected on the 4th ballot. Whig gain. | First ballot (November 11, 1850):
Second ballot (January 20, 1851):
Third ballot (April 7, 1851):
Fourth ballot (May 26, 1851):
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Massachusetts 5 | |||||
Massachusetts 6 | |||||
Massachusetts 7 | Julius Rockwell | Whig | 1844 (Late) | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected on the fourth ballot. Whig hold. | First ballot (November 11, 1850):
Second ballot (January 20, 1851):
Third ballot (April 7, 1851):
Fourth ballot (May 26, 1851):
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Massachusetts 8 | |||||
Massachusetts 9 | |||||
Massachusetts 10 |
Michigan
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Michigan 1 | Alexander W. Buel | Democratic | 1848 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Whig gain. |
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Michigan 2 | William Sprague | Whig | 1848 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain. |
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Michigan 3 | Kinsley S. Bingham | Democratic | 1846 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Whig gain. |
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Minnesota Territory
See Non-voting delegates, below.
Mississippi
Elections were held November 3–4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Mississippi 1 | Jacob Thompson | Democratic | 1839 | Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate. New member elected. Unionist gain. |
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Mississippi 2 | Winfield S. Featherston | Democratic | 1847 | Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate. New member elected. Unionist gain. |
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Mississippi 3 | William McWillie | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate. New member elected. Unionist gain. |
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Mississippi 4 | Albert G. Brown | Democratic | 1847 | Incumbent re-elected. Southern Rights gain. |
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Missouri
Elections were held August 5, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Missouri 1 | |||||
Missouri 2 | |||||
Missouri 3 | |||||
Missouri 4 | |||||
Missouri 5 |
New Hampshire
Elections were held March 11, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
New Hampshire 1 | |||||
New Hampshire 2 | |||||
New Hampshire 3 | |||||
New Hampshire 4 |
New Jersey
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
New Jersey 1 | |||||
New Jersey 2 | |||||
New Jersey 3 | |||||
New Jersey 4 | |||||
New Jersey 5 |
New Mexico Territory
See Non-voting delegates, below.
New York
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
North Carolina
Elections were held August 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
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 8, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
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 8, 1850.
Rhode Island
Elections were held April 2, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Rhode Island 1 | |||||
Rhode Island 2 |
South Carolina
Elections were held October 14–15, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
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 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Tennessee 1 | Andrew Johnson | Democratic | 1842 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Tennessee 2 | Albert G. Watkins | Whig | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Tennessee 3 | Josiah M. Anderson | Whig | 1849 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain. |
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Tennessee 4 | John H. Savage | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Tennessee 5 | George W. Jones | Democratic | 1842 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌ George W. Jones (Democratic) 100%[32] |
Tennessee 6 | James H. Thomas | Democratic | 1847 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Independent Democratic gain. |
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Tennessee 7 | Meredith P. Gentry | Whig | 1845 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌ Meredith P. Gentry (Whig) 100%[34] |
Tennessee 8 | Andrew Ewing | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Whig gain. |
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Tennessee 9 | Isham G. Harris | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Tennessee 10 | Frederick P. Stanton | Democratic | 1845 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Tennessee 11 | Christopher H. Williams | Whig | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌ Christopher H. Williams (Whig) 100%[38] |
Texas
Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Texas 1 | |||||
Texas 2 |
Utah Territory
See Non-voting delegates, below.
Vermont
Elections were held September 3, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Vermont 1 | |||||
Vermont 2 | |||||
Vermont 3 | |||||
Vermont 4 |
Virginia
Elections were held October 23, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
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
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates[39] | |
Wisconsin 1 | Charles Durkee | Free Soil | 1848 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Wisconsin 2 | Orsamus Cole | Whig | 1848 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain. |
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Wisconsin 3 | James Duane Doty | Democratic | 1848 | Incumbent won re-election as an Independent. Independent Democratic gain. |
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Non-voting delegates
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Delegate | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Minnesota Territory | Henry Hastings Sibley | Democratic | 1848 (Wis. Territory: special) 1849 (Wis. Territory: eliminated) 1849 (Minn. Territory) | Incumbent re-elected. |
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New Mexico Territory | New seat | New seat. Democratic gain. |
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Oregon Territory | Samuel Thurston | Democratic | 1849 (new seat) | Incumbent died April 9, 1851. New delegate elected June 2, 1851.[41] Democratic hold. |
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Utah Territory | New seat | New seat. Independent gain. |
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See also
Notes
References
Bibliography
- Dubin, Michael J. (March 1, 1998). United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results of the Elections of the 1st Through 105th Congresses. McFarland and Company. ISBN 978-0786402830.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (January 1, 1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789-1989. Macmillan Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0029201701.
- Moore, John L., ed. (1994). Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections (Third ed.). Congressional Quarterly Inc. ISBN 978-0871879967.
- "Party Divisions of the House of Representatives* 1789–Present". Office of the Historian, House of United States House of Representatives. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
External links
- Office of the Historian (Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)