1866–67 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1866–67 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between June 4, 1866, and September 6, 1867. They occurred during President Andrew Johnson's term just one year after the American Civil War ended when the Union defeated the Confederacy. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives. Members were elected before or after the first session of the 40th United States Congress convened on March 4, 1867, including the at-large seat from the new state of Nebraska. Ten secessionist states still had not yet been readmitted, and therefore were not seated.

1866–67 United States House of Representatives elections

←  1864 & 1865June 4, 1866 – September 6, 1867[a] 1868 & 1869 →

All 224[b] seats in the United States House of Representatives
113 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
 
LeaderSchuyler ColfaxSamuel Marshall
PartyRepublicanDemocratic
Leader's seatIndiana 9thIllinois 11th
Last election150 seats[c]33 seats
Seats won17347
Seat changeIncrease 23Increase 14
Popular vote2,611,3091,919,507
Percentage55.36%40.69%
SwingIncrease 1.89%[d]Decrease 1.28%

 Third partyFourth party
 
PartyConservativeIndependent
Last election5 seats1 seat
Seats won22[e]
Seat changeDecrease 3Increase 1
Popular vote94,45583,205
Percentage2.00%1.76%
SwingDecrease 0.19%Increase 0.70%

House election results map. Red represents seats won by the Republicans and blue denotes those won by the Democrats.

Speaker before election

Schuyler Colfax
Republican

Elected Speaker

Schuyler Colfax
Republican

The 1866 elections were a decisive event in the early Reconstruction era, in which President Johnson faced off against the Radical Republicans in a bitter dispute over whether Reconstruction should be lenient or harsh toward the vanquished white South.

Most of the congressmen from the former Confederate states were either prevented from leaving the state or were arrested on the way to the capital. A Congress consisting of mostly Radical Republicans sat early in the Capitol and aside from the delegation from Tennessee who were allowed in, the few Southern Congressmen who arrived were not seated.

Background

Johnson, a War Democrat, had been elected Vice President in the 1864 presidential election as the running mate of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican. (The Republicans had chosen not to re-nominate Hannibal Hamlin for a second term as vice president).

Lincoln and Johnson ran together under the banner of the National Union Party, which brought together Republicans (with the exception of some hard-line abolitionist Radical Republicans who backed John C. Frémont, who eventually dropped out of the race after brokering a deal with Lincoln) and the War Democrats (the minority of Democrats who backed Lincoln's prosecution of the war, as opposed to the Peace Democrats, or Copperheads, who favored a negotiated settlement with the Confederates).

After the assassination of Lincoln, Johnson became president. He immediately became embroiled in a dispute with the Radical Republicans over the conditions of Reconstruction; Johnson favored a lenient Reconstruction, while Radical Republicans wanted to continue the military occupation of the South and force Southern states to give freedmen (the newly freed slaves) civil rights (and the right to vote).

Campaign and results

Johnson stumped the country in a public speaking tour known as the Swing Around the Circle; he generally supported Democrats but his speeches were poorly received.

The Republicans won in a landslide, capturing enough seats to override Johnson's vetoes. Only the border states of Delaware, Maryland, and Kentucky voted for Democrats. Recently Reconstructed Tennessee sent a Republican delegation. The other 10 ex-Confederate states did not vote. As a percentage of the total number of seats available in the House of Representatives, the Republican majority attained in the election of 1866 has never been exceeded in any subsequent Congress. The Democratic Party was able to achieve similar success only in the political environment of the era of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Election summaries

Seven secessionist states were readmitted during this Congress, filling 32 vacancies, but are not included in this table if they were not elected within 1866 through 1867.[1]

444147
Democratic[f]Republican
StateTypeDateTotal
seats
DemocraticConservativeRepublicanOthers
SeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChange
OregonAt-largeJune 4, 186610 0 1 0
VermontDistrictsSep 4, 186630 0 3 0
MaineDistrictsSep 10, 186650 0 5 0
IndianaDistrictsOct 9, 1866113 10 8 10
IowaDistrictsOct 9, 186660 0 6 0
NebraskaAt-largeOct 9, 186610 0 1 0
OhioDistrictsOct 9, 1866192 0 17 0
PennsylvaniaDistrictsOct 9, 1866246 30 18 30
West VirginiaDistrictsOct 25, 186630 0 3 30 3[g]
DelawareAt-largeNov 6, 1866
(Election Day)[h]
11 0 0 0
IllinoisDistrict +
1 at-large
143 0 11 0
KansasAt-large10 0 1 0
MarylandDistricts53 11 11 10 3[g]
MassachusettsDistricts100 0 10 0
MichiganDistricts60 0 6 0
MinnesotaDistricts20 0 2 0
MissouriDistricts91 0 8 0
NevadaAt-large10 0 1 0
New JerseyDistricts52 10 3 10
New YorkDistricts3110 10 21[e] 10
WisconsinDistricts61 0 5 0
Late elections (after the March 4, 1867 beginning of Congress)
New HampshireDistrictsMar 12, 186730 0 3 0
ConnecticutDistrictsApr 1, 186743 30 1 30
Rhode IslandDistrictsApr 3, 186720 0 2 0
KentuckyDistrictsMay 4, 18679[i]7 20 1 10 4[j]
TennesseeDistrictsAug 3, 186780 0 8 80 8[k]
CaliforniaDistrictsSep 6, 186732 20 1 20
Secessionist states not yet readmitted
AlabamaDistricts60 0 0 0
ArkansasDistricts30 0 0 0
FloridaAt-large10 0 0 0
GeorgiaDistricts70 0 0 0
LouisianaDistricts50 0 0 0
MississippiDistricts50 0 0 0
North CarolinaDistricts70 0 0 0
South CarolinaDistricts40 0 0 0
TexasDistricts40 0 0 0
VirginiaDistricts80 0 0 0
Total[b]193[l]44
22.8%
41
0.5%
1147[e]
76.2%
120
0.0%
18[m]
Results shaded according to winning candidate's share of vote. Data from Electing the House of Representatives by the University of Richmond
Popular vote
Republican
55.36%
Democratic
40.69%
Conservative
2.00%
Independent
1.76%
Others
0.19%
House seats
Republican
77.23%
Democratic
20.98%
Conservative
0.89%
Independent
0.89%

The party affiliations of the 4 Representatives elected in Texas's rejected elections are unknown.

Special elections

39th Congress

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Kentucky 5Lovell RousseauUnconditional
Unionist
1865Incumbent resigned July 21, 1866 following his assault of Josiah Grinnell.
Incumbent re-elected September 15, 1866.
Unconditional Unionist hold.
Kentucky 6Green C. SmithUnconditional
Unionist
1861Incumbent resigned July 13, 1866 to become Governor of Montana Territory.
New member elected September 15, 1866.
Democratic gain.
Kentucky 3Henry GriderDemocratic1861Incumbent died September 7, 1866.
New member elected October 6, 1866.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Elijah Hise (Democratic) 74.3%
  • P. B. Hawkins (National Union) 25.7%[4]
New York 3James HumphreyRepublican1864Incumbent died June 16, 1866.
New member elected November 6, 1866.
Democratic gain.

40th Congress

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Kentucky 3Elijah HiseDemocratic1866 (special)Incumbent died May 6, 1867.
New member elected August 5, 1867.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Jacob Golladay (Democratic) 76.6%
  • J. R. Curd (Republican) 13.6%
  • W. T. Jackman (Independent) 9.8%[6]
Ohio 2Rutherford B. HayesRepublican1864Incumbent resigned July 20, 1867 to run for Governor of Ohio.
New member elected October 8, 1867.
Independent Republican gain.
  • Y Samuel F. Cary (Independent Republican) 52.1%
  • Richard Smith (Republican) 47.3%
  • Charles Reemelin (Democratic) 0.6%[7]
Pennsylvania 12Charles DenisonDemocratic1862Incumbent died June 27, 1867.
New member elected October 8, 1867.
Democratic hold.
Missouri 3Thomas E. NoellDemocratic1864Incumbent died October 3, 1867.
New member elected November 5, 1867.
Democratic hold.
New York 21Roscoe ConklingRepublican1864Incumbent resigned March 3, 1867 when elected U.S. senator.
New member elected November 5, 1867.
Republican hold.

California

California elections

← 1864September 6, 18671868 →

3 seats
 Majority partyMinority party
 
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Last election03
Seats won21
Seat change 2 2
Popular vote48,34644,436
Percentage52.1%47.9%

  Democratic gain
  Republican hold
DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
California 1Donald C. McRuerRepublican1864Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
California 2William HigbyRepublican1863Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y William Higby (Republican) 52.1%
  • James W. Coffrot (Democratic) 47.9%
California 3John BidwellRepublican1864Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Y James A. Johnson (Democratic) 50.6%
  • Chancellor Hartson (Republican) 49.4%

Colorado Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Connecticut

Dakota Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Delaware

Idaho Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Massachusetts 1Thomas D. EliotRepublican1858Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Thomas D. Eliot (Republican) 84.17%
  • Matthias Elias (Democratic) 15.83%
Massachusetts 2Oakes AmesRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Oakes Ames (Republican) 79.60%
  • Abijah M. Ide (Democratic) 20.40%
Massachusetts 3Alexander H. RiceRepublican1858Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Massachusetts 4Samuel HooperRepublican1861 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts 5John B. AlleyRepublican1858Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • Y Benjamin Butler (Republican) 76.07%
  • William D. Northend (Democratic) 23.93%
Massachusetts 6Nathaniel P. BanksRepublican1865 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts 7George S. BoutwellRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts 8John D. BaldwinRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y John D. Baldwin (Republican) 82.62%
  • William A. Williams (Democratic) 17.38%
Massachusetts 9William B. WashburnRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts 10Henry Laurens DawesRepublican1856Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Henry L. Dawes (Republican) 66.00%
  • Abijah W. Chapin (Democratic) 34.00%

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Nebraska

There were two elections in the new state of Nebraska in 1866: on June 6 for the remainder of the current term, and October 9 for the next term.

39th Congress

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Nebraska at-largeNew stateNew seat.
Republican gain.
New member seated March 2, 1867.

40th Congress

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Nebraska at-largeTurner M. MarquettRepublican1866Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

New York

Ohio

Democrats gained one seat this election in Ohio. It was later contested and awarded to the Republican for a net gain of zero.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates[13]
Ohio 1Benjamin EgglestonRepublican1864Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 2Rutherford B. HayesRepublican1864Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 3Robert C. SchenckRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 4William LawrenceRepublican1864Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 5Francis C. Le BlondDemocratic1862Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Ohio 6Reader W. ClarkeRepublican1864Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 7Samuel ShellabargerRepublican1864Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 8James Randolph HubbellRepublican1864Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 9Ralph P. BucklandRepublican1864Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 10James M. AshleyRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y James M. Ashley (Republican) 53.4%
  • Henry S. Commager (Democratic) 46.6%
Ohio 11Hezekiah S. BundyRepublican1864Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 12William E. FinckDemocratic1862Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Ohio 13Columbus DelanoRepublican1864Incumbent lost re-election
New member elected.
Democratic gain.[n]
Ohio 14Martin WelkerRepublican1864Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Martin Welker (Republican) 53.4%
  • James B. Young (Democratic) 46.6%
Ohio 15Tobias A. PlantsRepublican1864Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 16John BinghamRepublican1864Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y John Bingham (Republican) 52.8%
  • Charles H. Mitchner (Democratic) 47.2%
Ohio 17Ephraim R. EckleyRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 18Rufus P. SpaldingRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 19James A. GarfieldRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Tennessee

Elections held late, on August 1, 1867.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Tennessee 1Nathaniel G. TaylorUnionist1865Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
  • Y Roderick R. Butler (Republican) 86.82%
  • James White (Conservative) 12.85%
  • James Powell (Republican) 0.33%[14]
Tennessee 2Horace MaynardUnionist1865Incumbent re-elected.
Republican gain.
Tennessee 3William B. StokesUnionist1865Incumbent re-elected.
Republican gain.
Tennessee 4Edmund CooperUnionist1865Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Tennessee 5William B. CampbellUnionist1865Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Tennessee 6Samuel M. ArnellUnionist1865Incumbent re-elected.
Republican gain.
Tennessee 7Isaac R. HawkinsUnionist1865Incumbent re-elected.
Republican gain.
Tennessee 8John W. LeftwichUnionist1865Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Utah Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont

Washington Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

West Virginia

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
West Virginia 1Chester D. HubbardUnconditional
Unionist
1864Incumbent re-elected.
Republican gain.
West Virginia 2George R. LathamUnconditional
Unionist
1864Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
West Virginia 3Kellian WhaleyUnconditional
Unionist
1863Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin elected six members of congress on Election Day, November 4, 1866.[25]

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Wisconsin 1Halbert E. PaineNational
Union
1864Incumbent won re-election as a Republican.
Republican hold.
Wisconsin 2Ithamar SloanNational
Union
1862Incumbent was not a candidate for re-election.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Wisconsin 3Amasa CobbNational
Union
1862Incumbent won re-election as a Republican.
Republican hold.
Wisconsin 4Charles A. EldredgeDemocratic1862Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 5Philetus SawyerNational
Union
1864Incumbent won re-election as a Republican.
Republican hold.
Wisconsin 6Walter D. McIndoeNational
Union
1862 (Special)Incumbent was not a candidate for re-election.
New member elected.
Republican hold.

Non-voting delegates

DistrictIncumbentThis race
DelegatePartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Colorado Territory at-large
Dakota Territory at-large
Idaho Territory at-largeEdward D. HolbrookDemocratic1864Incumbent re-elected.
Montana Territory at-largeSamuel McLeanDemocratic1864Incumbent retired.
New delegate elected.
Democratic hold.
New Mexico Territory at-large
Utah Territory at-large
Washington Territory at-large

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links