1886 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1886 United States House of Representatives elections were held for the most part on November 2, 1886, with three states holding theirs early between June and September. They occurred in the middle of President Grover Cleveland's first term. Elections were held for 325 seats of the United States House of Representatives, representing 38 states, to serve in the 50th United States Congress. Special elections were also held throughout the year.

1886 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1884June 7, 1886 – November 2, 1886[a]1888 →

All 325 seats in the United States House of Representatives
163 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
 
LeaderJohn G. CarlisleThomas Brackett Reed
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Leader's seatKentucky 6thMaine 1st
Last election182 seats141 seats
Seats won167[1]152[1]
Seat changeDecrease 15Increase 11
Popular vote4,126,9093,858,355
Percentage48.12%44.99%
SwingDecrease 1.93%Decrease 2.14%

 Third partyFourth party
 
PartyLaborGreenback
Last election0 seats1 seat
Seats won2[1]1[1]
Seat changeIncrease 2Steady
Popular vote92,85132,358
Percentage1.08%0.38%
SwingNewDecrease 0.69%

 Fifth party
 
PartyIndependent
Last election1 seat[b]
Seats won3[c]
Seat changeIncrease 2
Popular vote178,314
Percentage2.08%
SwingIncrease 1.28%

Results

Speaker before election

John G. Carlisle
Democratic

Elected Speaker

John G. Carlisle
Democratic

As in many midterm elections, the President's party lost seats to the opposition, in this case, Democrats lost seats to Republicans, although a narrow majority was retained. Many of these Republican pickups were in the industrializing Midwest states, where the debate over tariffs, which were advocated by Republicans to protect domestic industry but opposed by Democrats to allow for free agricultural trade, led to political change. The small Labor Party, supported by industrial workers, gained one seat each in Virginia and Wisconsin, while the Greenback Party maintained its one seat in Iowa (James B. Weaver). One Independent was also elected in North Carolina.

Election summaries

1676152
Democratic[d]Republican
StateTypeTotal
seats
DemocraticRepublicanOthers
SeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChange
AlabamaDistrict88 0 0
ArkansasDistrict55 0 0
CaliforniaDistrict62 14 10
ColoradoAt-large10 1 0
ConnecticutDistrict42 2 0
DelawareAt-large11 0 0
FloridaDistrict22 0 0
GeorgiaDistrict1010 0 0
IllinoisDistrict206 414 40
IndianaDistrict136 37 30
IowaDistrict111 29[e] 21[f]
KansasDistrict70 7[e] 0
KentuckyDistrict118 23 20
LouisianaDistrict66 10 10
MaineDistrict40 4 0
MarylandDistrict65 1 0
MassachusettsDistrict124 28 20
MichiganDistrict115 26 20
MinnesotaDistrict53 32 30
MississippiDistrict77 0 0
MissouriDistrict1412 2 0
NebraskaDistrict31 12 10
NevadaAt-large10 1 0
New HampshireDistrict21 11 10
New JerseyDistrict72 15 10
New YorkDistrict3416 118 10
North CarolinaDistrict97 11 1 1
OhioDistrict216 515 50
OregonAt-large10 1 0
PennsylvaniaDistrict
+ at-large
288 20 0
Rhode IslandDistrict20 2 0
South CarolinaDistrict77 10 10
TennesseeDistrict108 12 10
TexasDistrict1111 0 0
VermontDistrict20 2 0
VirginiaDistrict103 56 51[g] 1
West VirginiaDistrict43 1 0
WisconsinDistrict91 17 1[g] 1
Total325167[1]
51.4%
16154[1][c]
47.4%
134[1]
1.2%
3
Popular vote
Democratic
48.12%
Greenback
0.38%
Independent
2.06%
Labor
1.08%
Republican
44.99%
Others
3.37%
House seats
Democratic
51.38%
Greenback
0.31%
Independent
0.92%
Labor
0.62%
Republican
46.77%

There were 2 Labor and 1 Independent members elected, and 1 Greenback member re-elected. The previous election saw just the Greenback elected.

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 Labor gain
  1-2 Republican gain
  1-2 Independent gain
  no net change

Special elections

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
New York 15Lewis BeachDemocratic1880Incumbent died August 10, 1886.
New member elected November 2, 1886.
Democratic hold.
Successor also elected the same day to the next term, see below.
Wisconsin 5Joseph RankinDemocratic1882Incumbent died January 24, 1886.
New member elected February 23, 1886.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Thomas R. Hudd (Democratic) 62.1%
  • Charles Luling (Republican) 37.7%

Election dates

In all the states except three, elections were held November 2, 1886. Those three states, with 7 seats among them, held elections:

Alabama

Arkansas

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Arkansas 1Poindexter DunnDemocratic1878Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas 2Clifton R. BreckinridgeDemocratic1882Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Clifton R. Breckinridge (Democratic) 54.4%
  • D. D. Leach (Republican) 27.7%
  • Reuben B. Carlee (Agricultural Wheel) 18.0%[3]
Arkansas 3Thomas McRaeDemocratic1885 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Thomas McRae (Democratic) 57.8%
  • J.C. Ray (Republican) 27.0%
  • L. H. Hitt (Greenback) 15.2%[3]
Arkansas 4John H. RogersDemocratic1882Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas 5Samuel W. PeelDemocratic1882Incumbent re-elected.

Arizona Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

California

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
California 1Barclay HenleyDemocratic1882Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold
  • Y Thomas Larkin Thompson (Democratic) 50.2%
  • Charles A. Garter (Republican) 47.2%
  • L. W. Simmons (Prohibition) 2.6%
California 2James A. LouttitRepublican1884Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Y Marion Biggs (Democratic) 50%
  • J. C. Campbell (Republican) 47%
  • W. O. Clark (Prohibition) 3%
California 3Joseph McKennaRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Joseph McKenna (Republican) 53.1%
  • Henry C. McPike (Democratic) 44.6%
  • W. W. Smith (Prohibition) 2.4%
California 4William W. MorrowRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y William W. Morrow (Republican) 48.7%
  • Frank McCoppin (Democratic) 42%
  • Charles A. Sumner (Independent) 9%
  • Robert Thompson (Prohibition) 0.4%
California 5Charles N. FeltonRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Charles N. Felton (Republican) 48.8%
  • Frank J. Sullivan (Democratic) 48.4%
  • C. Henderson (Prohibition) 1.4%
  • A. E. Redstone (Independent) 1.4%
California 6Henry MarkhamRepublican1884Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold
  • Y William Vandever (Republican) 47.3%
  • Joseph D. Lynch (Democratic) 47.1%
  • W. A. Harris (Prohibition) 5.6%

Colorado

Connecticut

Dakota Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Delaware

Florida

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Florida 1Robert H. M. DavidsonDemocratic1876Incumbent re-elected.
Florida 2Charles DoughertyDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Charles Dougherty (Democratic) 53.9%
  • J. C. Greeley (Republican) 44.9%
  • R. B. Norment (Prohibition) 1.2%

Georgia

Idaho Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Maine 1Thomas B. ReedRepublican1876Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Thomas B. Reed (Republican) 50.32%
  • William H. Clifford (Democratic) 46.05%
  • Timothy B. Hussey (Prohibition) 2.44%
  • David O. Moulton (Labor) 1.20%
Maine 2Nelson Dingley Jr.Republican1881 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
Maine 3Seth L. MillikenRepublican1882Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Seth L. Milliken (Republican) 57.06%
  • Joseph E. Ladd (Democratic) 40.53%
  • Henry H. Harvey (Prohibition) 2.41%
Maine 4Charles A. BoutelleRepublican1882Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Charles A. Boutelle (Republican) 54.78%
  • John F. Lynch (Democratic) 43.06%
  • Charles S. Pritchard (Prohibition) 2.16%

Maryland

Massachusetts

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Massachusetts 1Robert T. DavisRepublican1882Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Robert T. Davis (Republican) 58.74%
  • George T. McLaughlin (Democratic) 35.98%
  • Edward H. Hatfield (Prohibition) 5.28%
Massachusetts 2John Davis LongRepublican1882Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y John Davis Long (Republican) 52.38%
  • Bushrod Morse (Democratic) 43.94%
  • George W. Dyer (Prohibition) 3.68%
Massachusetts 3Ambrose A. RanneyRepublican1880Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Massachusetts 4Patrick A. CollinsDemocratic1882Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Patrick A. Collins (Democratic) 73.61%
  • William B. Cutler (Republican) 25.16%
  • Charles G. Wood (Prohibition) 0.64%
Massachusetts 5Edward D. HaydenRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Edward D. Hayden (Republican) 57.35%
  • Charles L. Randall (Democratic) 40.41%
  • Edward Kendall (Prohibition) 2.24%
Massachusetts 6Henry B. LoveringDemocratic1882Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Massachusetts 7Eben F. StoneRepublican1880Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • Y William Cogswell (Republican) 47.90%
  • Jonas H. French (Democratic) 40.39%
  • Willard Spaulding (Greenback) 12.67%
Massachusetts 8Charles Herbert AllenRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Charles Herbert Allen (Republican) 50.26%
  • John J. Donovan (Democratic) 47.65%
  • Oliver M. Cousens (Prohibition) 2.09%
Massachusetts 9Frederick D. ElyRepublican1884Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Massachusetts 10William W. RiceRepublican1876Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Massachusetts 11William Whiting IIRepublican1882Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y William Whiting II (Republican) 53.56%
  • Festus C. Currier (Democratic) 39.93%
  • Gardner A. Watkins (Prohibition) 6.51%
Massachusetts 12Francis W. RockwellRepublican1884 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Francis W. Rockwell (Republican) 49.56%
  • Herbert C. Joyner (Democratic) 45.59%
  • Henry Cutler (Prohibition) 4.85%

Michigan

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Michigan 1William C. MayburyDemocratic
Fusion
1882Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Y John Logan Chipman (Democratic) 51.01%
  • Henry A. Robinson (Republican) 46.41%
  • Charles A. Frisbee (Prohibition) 2.57%[4]
Michigan 2Nathaniel B. EldredgeDemocratic1882Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
  • Y Edward P. Allen (Republican) 47.95%
  • Lester H. Salsbury (Dem./Fusion) 44.95%
  • Alfred O. Crozier (Prohibition) 7.11%[5][6]
Michigan 3James O'DonnellRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y James O'Donnell (Republican) 51.43%
  • Patrick Hankerd (Dem./Fusion) 39.43%
  • Hiram D. Allen (Prohibition) 9.14%[7][6]
Michigan 4Julius C. BurrowsRepublican1872Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Julius C. Burrows (Republican) 50.71%
  • Harvey C. Sherwood (Dem./Fusion) 43.73%
  • Jesse S. Boyden (Prohibition) 5.55%[8][6]
Michigan 5Charles C. ComstockDemocratic1884Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Melbourne H. Ford (Democratic) 46.68%
  • George W. McBride (Republican) 45.56%
  • Edward L. Briggs (Prohibition) 7.76%[9]
Michigan 6Edwin B. WinansDemocratic
Fusion
1876Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Michigan 7Ezra C. CarletonDemocratic
Fusion
1882Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Justin R. Whiting (Dem./Fusion) 48.63%
  • John P. Sanborn (Republican) 45.75%
  • William F. Clark (Prohibition) 5.62%[11][6]
Michigan 8Timothy E. TarsneyDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Timothy E. Tarsney (Democratic) 48.36%
  • Roswell G. Horr (Republican) 46.54%
  • George W. Abbey (Prohibition) 5.10%[12]
Michigan 9Byron M. CutcheonRepublican1882Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Byron M. Cutcheon (Republican) 50.94%
  • Lyman G. Mason (Dem./Fusion) 41.99%
  • Lathrop S. Ellis (Prohibition) 7.08%[13][6]
Michigan 10Spencer O. FisherDemocratic
Fusion
1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Spencer O. Fisher (Dem./Fusion) 51.37%
  • Henry M. Loud (Republican) 44.04%
  • David A. Ross (Prohibition) 4.60%[14][6]
Michigan 11Seth C. MoffattDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Seth C. Moffatt (Republican) 53.61%
  • John Powers (Democratic) 45.31%
  • Theron E. Carpenter (Prohibition) 1.08%[15][6]

Minnesota

Mississippi

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Mississippi 1John M. AllenDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 2James B. MorganDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 3Thomas C. CatchingsDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 4Frederick G. BarryDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 5Otho R. SingletonDemocratic1874Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Mississippi 6Henry S. Van EatonDemocratic1882Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Mississippi 7Ethelbert BarksdaleDemocratic1882Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.

Missouri

Montana Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Nebraska

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Nebraska 1Archibald J. WeaverRepublican1882Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Y John A. McShane (Democratic) 54.87%
  • Church Howe (Republican) 38.40%
  • George Bigelow (Prohibition) 6.72%[23]
Nebraska 2James LairdRepublican1882Incumbent re-elected.
Nebraska 3George W. E. DorseyRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y George W. E. Dorsey (Republican) 55.06%
  • W. H. Webster (Democratic) 40.16%
  • W. J. Olinger (Prohibition) 4.57%
  • Scattering 0.22%[25]

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

New York

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
New York 15Lewis BeachDemocratic1880Incumbent died August 10, 1886.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Successor also elected the same day to finish the current term.

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
South Carolina 1Samuel DibbleDemocratic1882Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 2George D. TillmanDemocratic1878Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 3D. Wyatt AikenDemocratic1876Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
South Carolina 4William H. PerryDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 5John J. HemphillDemocratic1882Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 6George W. DarganDemocratic1882Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 7Robert SmallsRepublican1884 (special)Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Tennessee

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Tennessee 1Augustus H. PettiboneRepublican1880Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Tennessee 2Leonidas C. HoukRepublican1878Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Leonidas C. Houk (Republican) 67.00%
  • Samuel G. Heiskell (Democratic) 32.92%
  • Will A. McTeer (Unknown) 0.08%[29]
Tennessee 3John R. NealDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 4Benton McMillinDemocratic1878Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 5James D. RichardsonDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 6Andrew J. CaldwellDemocratic1882Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Tennessee 7John G. BallentineDemocratic1882Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Tennessee 8John M. TaylorDemocratic1882Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Tennessee 9Presley T. GlassDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 10Zachary TaylorRepublican1884Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Texas

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Texas 6Olin WellbornDemocratic1878Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Joseph "Jo" Abbott (Democratic) 60%
  • J. C. Kirby (Independent) 36.7%
  • A. B. Norton (Republican) 3.3%[38]

Utah Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont

Virginia

Washington Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

West Virginia

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
West Virginia 1Nathan Goff Jr.Republican1882Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Nathan Goff Jr. (Republican) 51.55%
  • John Brannon (Democratic) 47.87%
  • L. E. Peters (Prohibition) 0.59%[39]
West Virginia 2William L. WilsonDemocratic1882Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y William L. Wilson (Democratic) 49.87%
  • W. H. Flick (Republican) 49.61%
  • John T. Siler (Prohibition) 0.53%[40]
West Virginia 3Charles P. SnyderDemocratic1883 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Charles P. Snyder (Democratic) 50.57%
  • James H. Brown (Republican) 47.54%
  • J. W. Claypool (Prohibition) 1.89%[41]
West Virginia 4Eustace GibsonDemocratic1882Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Charles E. Hogg (Democratic) 50.29%
  • John H. Hutchinson (Republican) 48.00%
  • William H. Smith (Prohibition) 1.71%[42]

Wisconsin

Wisconsin elected nine members of congress on Election Day, November 2, 1886.[43][44]

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Wisconsin 1Lucien B. CaswellRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 2Edward S. BraggDemocratic1884Incumbent lost re-nomination.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Wisconsin 3Robert M. La FolletteRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Robert M. La Follette (Republican) 50.3%
  • Hugh J. Gallagher (Democratic) 39.7%
  • Thomas C. Richmond (Prohibition) 9.8%
Wisconsin 4Isaac W. Van SchaickRepublican1884Incumbent declined re-nomination.
New member elected.
Union Labor gain.
Wisconsin 5Thomas R. HuddDemocratic1886
Special
Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 6Richard W. GuentherRepublican1880Incumbent lost re-nomination.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Wisconsin 7Ormsby B. ThomasRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Ormsby B. Thomas (Republican) 54.2%
  • S. N. Dickenson (Democratic) 38.7%
  • S. B. Loomis (Prohibition) 7.1%
Wisconsin 8William T. PriceRepublican1882Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 9Isaac StephensonRepublican1882Incumbent re-elected.

Wyoming Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Non-voting members

DistrictIncumbentThis race
DelegatePartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Arizona Territory at-large
Dakota Territory at-large
Idaho Territory at-largeJohn HaileyDemocratic1884Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Montana Territory at-largeJoseph K. TooleDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
New Mexico Territory at-large
Utah Territory at-large
Washington Territory at-large
Wyoming Territory at-largeJoseph M. CareyRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Joseph M. Carey (Republican) 88.12%
  • H. G. Balch (Democratic) 5.59%
  • T. G. Magee (Democratic) 3.63%
  • J. M. Lobban (Democratic) 0.74%
  • L. Kabis (Democratic) 0.49%
  • Others (Independent) 1.43%[47]

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links