1876–77 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1876–77 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between June 5, 1876, and March 13, 1877. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 45th United States Congress convened on October 15, 1877. The size of the House increased to 293 seats with the addition of the new state of Colorado.

1876–77 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1874 & 1875June 5, 1876 – March 1877[a][b]1878 & 1879 →

All 293 seats in the United States House of Representatives
147 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
 
LeaderSamuel J. RandallJames A. Garfield
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Leader's seatPennsylvania 3rdOhio 19th
Last election180 seats103 seats
Seats won155[1][c]136[c]
Seat changeDecrease 25Increase 33
Popular vote4,220,4803,825,311
Percentage51.27%46.47%
SwingIncrease 2.15%Increase 2.09%

 Third party
 
PartyIndependent
Last election4 seats[d][e]
Seats won2[f]
Seat changeDecrease 2
Popular vote96,318
Percentage1.17%
SwingDecrease 3.27%

Map of U.S. House elections results from 1876 elections for 45th Congress

Speaker before election

Vacancy
Democratic

Elected Speaker

Samuel Randall
Democratic

These elections coincided with the (heavily contested) election of President Rutherford B. Hayes and the United States Centennial. Hayes' Republican Party was able to recover from the Democratic Party many of the seats it had lost two years before as the economy improved slightly. However, the Democrats retained a majority and were able to use the disinterest of the people in Republican Reconstruction-led projects to help keep crucial seats. Republican congressional leadership had a difficult time distancing itself from the corruption of the Grant administration or the legislature's impact on the economy downturn.

Election summaries

157136
DemocraticRepublican
StateTypeTotal
seats
DemocraticRepublican
SeatsChangeSeatsChange
AlabamaDistrict88 20 2
ArkansasDistrict44[g] 0
CaliforniaDistrict42 12 1
ColoradoAt-large11 10 1
ConnecticutDistrict43 1
DelawareAt-large11 0
FloridaDistrict22 10 1
GeorgiaDistrict99[g] 0
IllinoisDistrict198 211 4
IndianaDistrict134 49 4
IowaDistrict90 19 1
KansasDistrict30 13 1
KentuckyDistrict1010 10 1
LouisianaDistrict65 11 1
MaineDistrict50 5
MarylandDistrict66 0
MassachusettsDistrict112 19 4
MichiganDistrict91 28 2
MinnesotaDistrict30 3
MississippiDistrict66 20 2
MissouriDistrict139 44 4
NebraskaAt-large10 1
NevadaAt-large10 1
New Hampshire[h]District31 12 1
New JerseyDistrict74 13 1
New YorkDistrict3316 117 1
North CarolinaDistrict87 1
OhioDistrict208 512 5
OregonAt-large10 11 1
PennsylvaniaDistrict2710 717 7
Rhode IslandDistrict20 2
South CarolinaDistrict52 23 2
TennesseeDistrict108 12 1
TexasDistrict66 0
VermontDistrict30 3
VirginiaDistrict98 1
West VirginiaDistrict33 0
WisconsinDistrict83 5
Total293157[1][f]
53.6%
27136[1]
46.4%
31
Popular vote
Democratic
51.27%
Independent
1.17%
Republican
46.47%
Others
1.09%
House seats
Democratic
52.90%
Independent
0.68%
Republican
46.42%

The previous election included 4 Independents, in Illinois and Massachusetts.

Results shaded according to winning candidate's share of the vote
House seats by party holding plurality in state
  80+% Democratic
  80+% Republican
  60+ to 80% Democratic
  60+ to 80% Republican
  Up to 60% Democratic
  Up to 60% Republican
Net gain in party representation
  6+ Democratic gain
  6+ Republican gain
  3-5 Democratic gain
  3-5 Republican gain
  1-2 Democratic gain
  1-2 Republican gain
  no net change

Election dates

In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform nationwide date for choosing Presidential electors.[2] This law did not affect election dates for Congress, which remained within the jurisdiction of State governments, but over time, the states moved their congressional elections to this date as well. In 1876–77, there were still 8 states with earlier election dates, and 1 state with a later election date.

Elections before Election Day (United States):

Standard Election Day:

  • November 7, 1876

Election after Election Day:

Special elections

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Connecticut 3Henry H. StarkweatherRepublican1867Incumbent died January 28, 1876.
New member elected April 12, 1876.
Republican hold.
Winner later re-elected to the next term; see below.
Connecticut 4William Henry BarnumDemocratic1867Incumbent resigned May 18, 1876, when elected U.S. senator.
New member elected November 7, 1876.
Democratic hold.
Winner also elected to the next term; see below.
  • Y Levi Warner (Democratic) 52.74%
  • Robbert Hubbard (Republican) 47.26%[3]
Indiana 2
Indiana 3
Maine 3James G. BlaineRepublican1862Incumbent resigned July 10, 1876.
New member elected September 11, 1876.
Republican hold.
Winner retired after serving out the remainder of the term.
  • Y Edwin Flye (Republican) 54.85%
  • Isaac Reed (Democratic) 45.15%

Alabama

Alabama redistricted and eliminated its at-large seats, going from 6 districts and 2 at-large seats to 8 districts. The state also elected a full delegation of Democrats, voting out the two Republicans.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Alabama 1Charles Hays
Redistricted from the 4th district
Republican1872Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Alabama 2New districtNew seat.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Alabama 3Jeremiah Norman Williams
Redistricted from the 2nd district
Democratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
Alabama 4Jeremiah Haralson
Redistricted from the 1st district
Republican1874Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Alabama 5New districtNew seat.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Alabama 6Goldsmith W. HewittDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
Burwell Boykin Lewis
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic1874Incumbent lost renomination.
Democratic loss.
Alabama 7William Henry Forney
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
Taul Bradford
Redistricted from the 3rd district
Democratic1874Incumbent retired.
Democratic loss.
John H. Caldwell
Redistricted from the 5th district
Democratic1872Incumbent retired.
Democratic loss.
Alabama 8New districtNew seat.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Arkansas

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Arkansas 1Lucien C. GauseDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas 2William F. SlemonsDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas 3William W. WilshireDemocratic1872
1874 (lost contest)
1874
Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Independent Democratic gain.
Arkansas 4Thomas M. GunterDemocratic1872Incumbent re-elected.

California

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
California 1William Adam PiperDemocratic1875Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
  • Y Horace Davis (Republican) 53.3%
  • William A. Piper (Democratic) 46.7%
California 2Horace F. PageRepublican1872Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Horace F. Page (Republican) 56.7%
  • G. J. Carpenter (Democratic) 43.3%
California 3John K. LuttrellDemocratic1872Incumbent re-elected.
California 4Peter D. WiggintonDemocratic1875Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Colorado

There were two elections to the new state of Colorado.

44th Congress

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Colorado at-largeNew districtNew seat.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

45th Congress

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Colorado at-largeJames B. BelfordRepublican1876Incumbent re-elected.
Election was later successfully challenged by the challenger.

Connecticut

Connecticut had been electing is members late in the cycle, even after the terms had begun. But starting in 1876, the state joined the others in electing its members on the November 7, 1876 Election Day. The delegation remained 3 Democrats and 1 Republican.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates[13]
Connecticut 1George M. LandersDemocratic1875Incumbent re-elected.
Connecticut 2James PhelpsDemocratic1875Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y James Phelps (Democratic) 53.8%
  • Stephen W. Kellogg (Republican) 46.3%
Connecticut 3John T. WaitRepublican1876 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y John T. Wait (Republican) 54.2%
  • Waller (Democratic) 45.8%
Connecticut 4William Henry BarnumDemocratic1867Incumbent resigned May 18, 1876, when elected U.S. senator.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Winner also elected to finish the current next term.
  • Y Levi Warner (Democratic) 52.7%
  • Robbert Hubbard (Republican) 47.4%

Delaware

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Delaware at-largeJames WilliamsDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.

Florida

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Florida 1William J. PurmanRepublican1872Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Florida 2Jesse J. FinleyDemocratic1874[i]Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.[j]
Republican gain.

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Maine 1John H. BurleighRepublican1872Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Maine 2William P. FryeRepublican1870Incumbent re-elected.
Maine 3VacantRep. James G. Blaine (R) resigned July 10, 1876.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Concurrent special election held to serve out the unexpired term, the winner of which did not stand for the regular election.
  • Y Stephen Lindsey (Republican) 55.18%
  • Edward K. O'Brien (Democratic) 44.83%
Maine 4Harris M. PlaistedRepublican1875 (special)Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • Y Llewellyn Powers (Republican) 53.83%
  • John P. Donworth (Democratic) 42.12%
  • Lyndon Oak (Independent Republican) 4.05%
Maine 5Eugene HaleRepublican1868Incumbent re-elected.

Maryland

Massachusetts

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Massachusetts 1William W. CrapoRepublican1875 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts 2Benjamin W. HarrisRepublican1872Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts 3Henry L. PierceRepublican1874Incumbent retired.
New member elected after initial result overturned.
Democratic gain.
Massachusetts 4Josiah Gardner AbbottDemocratic1874Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Massachusetts 5Nathaniel P. BanksRepublican1874Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts 6Charles Perkins ThompsonDemocratic1874Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Massachusetts 7John K. TarboxDemocratic1874Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Massachusetts 8John M. S. WilliamsDemocratic1874Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Massachusetts 9George F. HoarRepublican1868Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senate.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Massachusetts 10Charles A. StevensRepublican1875 (special)Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • Y Amasa Norcross (Republican) 63.86%
  • Samuel O. Lamb (Democratic) 36.14%
Massachusetts 11Chester W. ChapinDemocratic1874Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Mississippi 1Lucius Q. C. LamarDemocratic1872Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Mississippi 2G. Wiley WellsRepublican1874Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Mississippi 3Hernando MoneyDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 4Otho R. SingletonDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 5Charles E. HookerDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 6John R. LynchRepublican1872Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Missouri

Nebraska

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Nebraska at-largeLorenzo CrounseRepublican1872Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.

Nevada

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Nevada at-largeWilliam WoodburnRepublican1874Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • Y Thomas Wren (Republican) 52.3%
  • A.C. Ellis (Democratic) 47.7%

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
South Carolina 1Joseph RaineyRepublican1870 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 2Edmund W. M. MackeyIndependent
Republican
1874Seat declared vacant July 19, 1876, due to contested election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
South Carolina 3Solomon L. HogeRepublican1874Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
South Carolina 4Alexander S. WallaceRepublican1868Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
South Carolina 5Robert SmallsRepublican1874Incumbent re-elected.

Tennessee

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Tennessee 1William McFarlandDemocratic1874Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Tennessee 2Jacob M. ThornburghRepublican1872Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 3George G. DibrellDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 4Haywood Y. RiddleDemocratic1875 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Haywood Y. Riddle (Democratic) 70.59%
  • R. A. Cox (Democratic) 20.93%
  • R. F. Patton (Republican) 8.48%[24]
Tennessee 5John M. BrightDemocratic1870Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 6John F. HouseDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 7Washington C. WhitthorneDemocratic1870Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 8John D. C. AtkinsDemocratic1872Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 9William P. CaldwellDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

West Virginia

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
West Virginia 1Benjamin WilsonDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
West Virginia 2Charles J. FaulknerDemocratic1874Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
West Virginia 3Frank HerefordDemocratic1870Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Y John E. Kenna (Democratic) 61.47%
  • Benjamin J. Redmund (Republican) 38.53%[32]

Wisconsin

Wisconsin elected eight members of congress on Election Day, November 7, 1876.[33][34]

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates[citation needed]
Wisconsin 1Charles G. WilliamsRepublican1872Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 2Lucien B. CaswellRepublican1874Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 3Henry S. MagoonRepublican1870Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Wisconsin 4William Pitt LyndeDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 5Samuel D. BurchardDemocratic1874Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Edward S. Bragg (Democratic) 58.2%
  • George W. Carter (Republican) 41.8%
Wisconsin 6Alanson M. KimballRepublican1874Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Wisconsin 7Jeremiah McLain RuskRepublican1870Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Wisconsin 8George W. CateDemocratic1874Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Non-voting delegates

DistrictIncumbentThis race
DelegatePartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Arizona Territory at-large
Dakota Territory at-largeJefferson P. KidderRepublican1874Incumbent re-elected.
Idaho Territory at-largeStephen S. FennDemocratic1874Incumbent re-elected.
Montana Territory at-largeMartin MaginnisDemocratic1872Incumbent re-elected.
New Mexico Territory at-large
Washington Territory at-large
Wyoming Territory at-largeWilliam R. SteeleDemocratic1872Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links