1862–63 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1862–63 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between June 2, 1862, and November 3, 1863, during the American Civil War and President Abraham Lincoln's first term. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 38th United States Congress convened on December 7, 1863. The congressional reapportionment based on the 1860 United States census was performed assuming the seceded states were still in the union, increasing the number of congressional districts to 241. West Virginia was given three seats from Virginia after the former broke away from the latter to rejoin the union as a separate state. The seceded states remained unrepresented and left 58 vacancies. Republicans lost 22 seats and the majority, while Democrats gained 28.

1862–63 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1860 & 1861June 2, 1862 – November 3, 1863[a]1864 & 1865 →

All 184 seats[b] in the United States House of Representatives
93 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
 
LeaderGalusha Grow
(lost re-election)
Samuel Cox
PartyRepublicanDemocratic
Leader's seatPennsylvania 14thOhio 7th
Last election108 seats45 seats
Seats won87[1]72[1]
Seat changeDecrease 21Increase 27

 Third party
 
PartyUnionist
Last election28 seats
Seats won25[1]
Seat changeDecrease 3

Results
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold
     Unionist gain      Unionist hold
     Emancipation-Unionist gain[2]

Speaker before election

Galusha Grow
Republican

Elected Speaker

Schuyler Colfax
Republican

The Civil War to date had been only weakly successful for the Union, but had wrought major, disruptive change in the size and reach of the Federal Government, which before the war had been small and little seen beyond post offices, customs houses in ports, and scattered military posts. The Republican Party was also relatively new, yet had led the Union down a radical path of rapid industrialization and destructive total war.

Voters turned on the administration over its failure to deliver a swift victory over the Confederate rebellion (at times verging on military incompetence), along with rising inflation and new taxes to pay for the war effort, the suspension of habeas corpus, and the introduction of conscription.

Expressing a typical sentiment, the Cincinnati Gazette had editorialized that voters "are depressed by the interminable nature of this war, as so far conducted, and by the rapid exhaustion of the national resources without progress."[3] Short of a majority, Republicans retained control with the support of the Unionist Party. In September 1862, President Lincoln had warned the South that he planned by executive order, and as a war measure, to liberate all slaves in rebelling states as of January 1, 1863. The popularity of emancipation varied by region. It was more popular in New England and areas near the Great Lakes, and less popular in cities with large immigrant populations and in the southern portion of the North.

While Democrats hailed the elections as a repudiation of emancipation, the results did not alter Lincoln's plan or hamper prosecution of the war.[4] In Lincoln's home district of Springfield, Illinois, John T. Stuart, a Democrat and one of Lincoln's former law partners, defeated the Republican incumbent. A fear of an influx of freed slaves competing for jobs and depressing wages, and a desire by white voters to prevent black suffrage, helped drive this result and others.[5]

The sitting House Speaker, Galusha Grow of Pennsylvania, also lost re-election, but he would return to the House 30 years later in 1894. A Speaker of the House would not lose re-election again until 1994.

Election summaries

The eight Representatives remaining from Tennessee and Virginia in the 37th Congress were absent from the 38th Congress. Other seceded states remained unrepresented, leaving 58 vacancies[6] Upon admission, West Virginia was allotted three Representatives [7] and during the second session one seat was added for the new state of Nevada.[8]

Reapportionment transpired according to the 1860 census, under the 1850 Apportionment Act[9] providing a total of 233 seats. A later Act added eight seats,[10] increasing the total to 241.

7228525
Democratic[c]RepublicanUnionist
StateTypeDateTotal seats
(Reapportionment)
DemocraticIndependent
Republican
RepublicanUnionist[d]
SeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChange
OregonAt-largeJune 2, 18621 0 10 1 10
MaineDistrictsSeptember 8, 18625 11 10 4 20
IndianaDistrictsOctober 14, 186211 7 30 4 30
IowaDistricts6 40 0 6 40
OhioDistricts19 214 60 5 80
PennsylvaniaDistricts24 112 62 210 90
DelawareAt-largeNovember 1, 18621 1 10 0 0 1
MassachusettsDistricts10 10 0 10 0 1
IllinoisDistrictsNovember 4, 1862
(Election Day)[e]
14 59 40 5 10
KansasAt-large1 0 0 1 0
MichiganDistricts6 21 10 5 10
MinnesotaDistricts2 0 0 2 0
MissouriDistricts9 20 50 1 8 7
New JerseyDistricts5 4 10 1 10
New YorkDistricts31 217 70 14 90
WisconsinDistricts6 33 30 3 0
Late elections (after the March 4, 1863 beginning of the term)
New HampshireDistrictsMarch 10, 18633 1 10 2 10
Rhode IslandDistrictsApril 1, 18632 0 0 2 20 2
ConnecticutDistrictsApril 6, 18634 1 10 3 10
KentuckyDistrictsAugust 3, 18639 10 10 0 9
VermontDistrictsSeptember 1, 18633 0 0 3 0
CaliforniaAt-largeSeptember 2, 18633 0 0 3 0
West Virginia[f]DistrictsOctober 22, 18633 30 0 0 3 3
MarylandDistrictsNovember 3, 18635 11 10 0 4 2
Secessionist States
AlabamaDistrictsNone6 1
ArkansasDistrictsNone3 1
FloridaAt-largeNone1
GeorgiaDistrictsNone7 1
LouisianaDistrictsNone5 1 2
MississippiDistrictsNone5
North CarolinaDistrictsNone7 1
South CarolinaDistrictsNone4 2
TennesseeDistrictsNone8 2 3
TexasDistrictsNone4 2
VirginiaDistrictsNone11[g] 2 5
Total[b]184 372 272 285 2525 5
58 Vacancies[h]39.1%1.1%46.2%13.6%
Popular vote
Democratic
45.11%
Republican
23.23%
Unionist
31.02%
Others
0.64%
House seats
Democratic
39.13%
Republican
47.28%
Unionist
13.59%

Special elections

There were seven special elections during the 37th Congress, and two during the 38th Congress.

37th Congress

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Virginia 1Joseph SegarUnionist1861Incumbent declared not entitled February 11, 1862.
Incumbent re-elected March 15, 1862.
Unionist hold.
  • Y Joseph Segar (Unionist) 54.91%
  • Athur Watson (Unknown) 43.03%
Pennsylvania 7Thomas B. CooperDemocratic1860Incumbent died April 4, 1862.
New member elected May 24, 1862.
Democratic hold.
Maine 2Charles W. WaltonRepublican1860Incumbent resigned May 26, 1862.
New member elected September 8, 1862.
Republican hold.
Kentucky 2James S. JacksonUnionist1861Incumbent resigned December 13, 1861.
New member elected October 27, 1862.
Unionist hold.
Massachusetts 9Goldsmith BaileyRepublican1860Incumbent died May 8, 1862.
New member elected November 4, 1862.
Republican hold.
Wisconsin 2Luther HanchettRepublican1860Incumbent died November 24, 1862.
New member elected December 30, 1862.
Republican hold.
Successor was also elected to the next term, see below.
Virginia 7Charles H. UptonUnionist1861Incumbent invalidated February 27, 1862.
New member elected January 15, 1863.
Unionist hold.

38th Congress

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Wisconsin 6Luther HanchettRepublican1860Incumbent member-elect died November 23, 1862.
New member elected December 30, 1862.
Republican hold.
Successor was also elected to finish the current term, see above.
New York 14Erastus CorningDemocratic1860Incumbent resigned October 5, 1863.
New member elected November 3, 1863.
Democratic hold.
Delaware at-largeWilliam TempleDemocratic1862Incumbent died May 28, 1863.
New member elected November 19, 1863.
Unconditional Unionist gain.

Alabama

Alabama elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.

Arkansas

Arkansas elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.

California

Note: From statehood to 1866, California's representatives were elected state-wide at-large, with the top two vote-getters winning election from 1849 to 1858. In 1860, when California gained a seat, the top three vote-getters were elected.

California elected its members September 2, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
California at-large
Plural district with 3 seats
Timothy PhelpsRepublican1861Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Aaron A. SargentRepublican1861Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Frederick F. LowRepublican1861Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.

Connecticut

Connecticut elected its members April 6, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened. The democratic party lost a seat while the Republicans gained one.

Colorado Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Delaware

Delaware elected its sole member November 1, 1862.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Delaware at-largeGeorge P. FisherUnionist1860Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Dakota Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Florida

Florida elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.

Georgia

Georgia elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.

Idaho Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Illinois

Illinois elected its members November 4, 1862.

Indiana

Indiana elected its members October 14, 1862.

Iowa

Iowa elected its members October 14, 1862.

Kansas

Kansas elected its member November 4, 1862.

Kentucky

Kentucky elected its members August 3, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened.

Louisiana

Although Louisiana had withdrawn from the Union during the Civil War, elections were held on December 3, 1863, for the two congressional districts in portions of the state under Union control.[11] The seats had been vacant since the end of the 36th Congress.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Louisiana 1VacantSeat expired at end of 36th Congress with the withdrawal of Louisiana from the Union.
New member elected.
Unionist gain.
Louisiana 2VacantSeat expired at end of 36th Congress with the withdrawal of Louisiana from the Union.
New member elected.
Unionist gain.

Maine

Maine elected its members September 8, 1862.

Maryland

Maryland elected its members November 3, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts elected its members November 1, 1862.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Massachusetts 1Thomas D. EliotRepublican1858Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Thomas D. Eliot (Republican) 72.53%
  • Daniel Fisher (Democratic) 23.21%
  • William R. Easter (Unknown) 6.23%
Massachusetts 2James BuffingtonRepublican1854Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • Y Oakes Ames (Republican) 61.08%
  • William D. Swan (Democratic) 38.92%
Massachusetts 3Alexander H. Rice
Redistricted from the 4th district.
Republican1858Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts 4Samuel Hooper
Redistricted from the 5th district.
Republican1861 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts 5John B. Alley
Redistricted from the 6th district.
Republican1858Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y John B. Alley (Republican) 61.17%
  • Benjamin Poole (Democratic) 38.83%
Massachusetts 6Daniel W. Gooch
Redistricted from the 7th district.
Republican1858Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Daniel W. Gooch (Republican) 56.92%
  • Oliver H. Perry Jr. (Democratic) 43.09%
Massachusetts 7Benjamin F. Thomas
Redistricted from the 3rd district.
Unionist1861 (special)Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Charles R. Train
Redistricted from the 8th district.
Republican1858Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican loss.
Massachusetts 8Vacant (new seat)New seat.
Republican gain.
  • Y John D. Baldwin (Republican) 66.17%
  • Paul Whitin Jr. (Democratic) 33.83%
Massachusetts 9VacantGoldsmith Bailey (R) died May 8, 1862.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Charles Delano
Redistricted from the 10th district.
Republican1858Incumbent retired.
Republican loss.
Massachusetts 10Henry L. Dawes
Redistricted from the 11th district.
Republican1856Incumbent re-elected.

Michigan

Michigan elected its members November 4, 1862.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Michigan 1Fernando C. Beaman
Redistricted from the 2nd district
Republican1860Incumbent re-elected.
Michigan 2None (New seat)New seat.
Republican gain.
Michigan 3Bradley F. Granger
Redistricted from the 1st district
Republican1860Incumbent lost re-election as a Democrat.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Michigan 4Francis W. Kellogg
Redistricted from the 3rd district
Republican1858Incumbent re-elected.
Michigan 5Rowland E. Trowbridge
Redistricted from the 4th district
Republican1860Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Michigan 6None (New seat)New seat.
Republican gain.

Minnesota

Minnesota elected its members November 4, 1862.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Minnesota 1William Windom
Redistricted from the at-large district
Republican1859Incumbent re-elected.
Minnesota 2Cyrus Aldrich
Redistricted from the at-large district
Republican1859Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator.
New member elected.
Republican hold.

Mississippi

Mississippi elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.

Missouri

Missouri elected its members November 4, 1862.

Nebraska Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Nevada Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire elected its members March 10, 1863.

New Mexico Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

New Jersey

New Jersey elected its members November 4, 1862.

New York

New York elected its members November 4, 1862. The state lost two seats in reapportionment, going from 33 members to 31.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
New York 1Edward H. SmithDemocratic1860Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
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

North Carolina

North Carolina elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.

Ohio

Ohio elected its members October 14, 1862.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates[21]
Ohio 1George H. PendletonDemocratic1856Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 2John A. GurleyRepublican1858Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 3Clement VallandighamDemocratic1858 (contested)Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Ohio 4William AllenDemocratic1858Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Ohio 5New districtNew district.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 6Chilton A. WhiteDemocratic1860Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 7Richard A. HarrisonUnionist1861 (special)Incumbent retired.
Unionist loss.
Samuel S. Cox
Redistricted from the 12th district
Democratic1856Incumbent re-elected.
Samuel Shellabarger
Redistricted from the 8th district
Republican1860Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican loss.
Ohio 8New districtNew district.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 9Warren P. NobleDemocratic1860Incumbent re-elected.
Samuel T. Worcester
Redistricted from the 13th district
Republican1861 (special)Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican loss.
Ohio 10James M. Ashley
Redistricted from the 5th district
Republican1858Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 11Valentine B. HortonRepublican1860Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 12Carey A. Trimble
Redistricted from the 10th district
Republican1858Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 13New districtNew district.
Democratic gain.
  • Y John O'Neill (Democratic) 56.8%
  • George B. Wright (Republican) 43.2%
Ohio 14Harrison G. O. BlakeRepublican1859 (special)Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 15Robert H. NugenDemocratic1860Incumbent retired.
Democratic loss.
James R. Morris
Redistricted from the 17th district
Democratic1860Incumbent re-elected.
William P. Cutler
Redistricted from the 16th district
Republican1860Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican loss.
Ohio 16New districtNew district.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 17New districtNew district.
Republican gain.
Ohio 18Sidney EdgertonRepublican1858Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 19Albert G. RiddleRepublican1860Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.

Oregon

Oregon elected its members June 2, 1862.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania elected its members October 14, 1862.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island elected its members April 1, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened.

South Carolina

South Carolina elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.

Tennessee

Tennessee elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.

Texas

Texas elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.

Utah Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont

Vermont elected its members September 1, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened.

Virginia

Virginia elected its members May 28, 1863, but they were all disqualified.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Virginia 1Joseph SegarUnionist1861
1862 (disqualified)[22]
1862 (special)
Incumbent re-elected but disqualified May 17, 1864.[22]
Unionist loss.
Virginia 2VacantNew member elected but disqualified May 17, 1864.
  • Y Lucius H. Chandler
  • Unopposed[24]
Virginia 3Vacant
Virginia 4Vacant
Virginia 5Vacant
Virginia 6Vacant
Virginia 7Lewis McKenzieUnionist1863 (special)Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected but disqualified.
Unionist loss.
Virginia 8VacantNew member elected January 5, 1863 but disqualified March 2, 1863.

Washington Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

West Virginia

West Virginia elected three representatives on October 22, 1863, after becoming a state on June 20, 1863, but before the Congress convened. It was made up of three districts that previously belonged to Virginia, all of which were vacant before the elections. They were seated on December 7, 1863.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
West Virginia 1VacantNew seat.
Unconditional Unionist gain.
  • Y Jacob B. Blair (Unconditional Unionist) 93.02%
  • Wills DeHass (Unconditional Unionist) 6.98%
West Virginia 2VacantNew seat.
Unconditional Unionist gain.
West Virginia 3VacantNew seat.
Unconditional Unionist gain.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin elected six U.S. Representatives on Election Day, 4 November 1862; Democrats gained three seats.

Three seats were newly apportioned. One incumbent was redistricted and won re-election in his new district, but died on 19 November. Two special elections were held 30 December 1862, to replace him for both the remainder of his old term and his new term.[27]

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Wisconsin 1John F. PotterRepublican1856Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Wisconsin 2New district.New seat.
Republican gain.
Wisconsin 3A. Scott SloanRepublican1860Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Wisconsin 4New district.New seat.
Democratic gain.
Wisconsin 5New district.New seat.
Democratic gain.
Wisconsin 6Luther Hanchett
Redistricted from the 2nd district
Republican1860Incumbent re-elected.
Member-elect died November 23, 1862, leading to two special elections, see above.

Non-voting delegates

DistrictIncumbentThis race
DelegatePartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Colorado Territory at-largeHiram Pitt BennetConservative Republican1861Incumbent re-elected.
Dakota Territory at-largeJohn Blair Smith ToddDemocratic1861Incumbent lost re-election.
New delegate elected.
Republican gain.
Election was later overturned.
Idaho Territory at-largeNew seatTerritory established.
New delegate elected October 31, 1863 in anticipation of territorial status.
Unionist gain.
Delegate seated February 1, 1864.
Nebraska Territory at-largeSamuel Gordon DailyRepublican1860 (won contest)Incumbent re-elected in 1862.
Nevada Territory at-largeJohn CradlebaughIndependent1861Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New delegate elected in 1862.
Republican gain.
New Mexico Territory at-largeJohn Sebrie WattsRepublican1860–61Incumbent retired.
New delegate elected.
Republican hold.
Utah Territory at-largeJohn M. BernhiselIndependent1850–51
1858–59 (lost)
1860–61
Incumbent re-elected.
Washington Territory at-largeWilliam H. WallaceRepublican1860–61Incumbent retired.
New delegate elected.
Democratic gain.

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links