The 1890 United States elections occurred in the middle of Republican President Benjamin Harrison's term. Members of the 52nd United States Congress were chosen in this election. The Republicans suffered major losses due to the Panic of 1890 and the unpopularity of the McKinley Tariff. The Populist Party also emerged as an important third party.
| ← 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 → Midterm elections | |
| Election day | November 4 |
|---|---|
| Incumbent president | Benjamin Harrison (Republican) |
| Next Congress | 52nd |
| Senate elections | |
| Overall control | Republican hold |
| Seats contested | 28 of 85 seats[1] |
| Net seat change | Democratic +2[2] |
 | |
| Results of the elections: Democratic gain Democratic hold Republican gain Republican hold Populist gain Independent gain Legislature failed to elect | |
| House elections | |
| Overall control | Democratic gain |
| Seats contested | All 332 voting seats |
| Net seat change | Democratic +86[2] |
 | |
| 1890 House of Representatives election results Democratic seat | |
| Gubernatorial elections | |
| Seats contested | 27 |
| Net seat change | Democratic +6 |
 | |
| 1890 gubernatorial election results Democratic gain Democratic hold | |
Republicans suffered massive losses to Democrats in the House, and the Democrats took control of the chamber.[3]
In the Senate, Democrats made minor gains, but Republicans kept control of the chamber. The Populists joined the Senate for the first time, electing two senators.[4]
See also
References
Further reading
- Cooper, William J. "Economics or Race: An Analysis of the Gubernatorial Election of 1890 in South Carolina." South Carolina Historical Magazine 73.4 (1972): 209–219. online
- Holmes, William F. "The Southern Farmers' Alliance and the Georgia Senatorial Election of 1890." Journal of Southern History 50.2 (1984): 197–224.
- Jensen, Richard J. The Winning of the Midwest: Social and Political Conflict, 1888-1896 (1971). pp. 89–153. online
- Reed, Thomas B. "The Federal Control of Elections." The North American Review 150.403 (1890): 671–680. online
- Valelly, Richard M. "Partisan Entrepreneurship and Policy Windows: George Frisbie Hoar and the 1890 Federal Elections Bill." in Formative Acts: American Politics In The Making. (2007): 126–149.
- Wyman, Roger E. "Wisconsin ethnic groups and the election of 1890." Wisconsin Magazine of History (1968): 269–293.