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The 1844–45 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between July 1, 1844, and November 4, 1845. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives. 224 elected members representing 27 states took their seats when the first session of the 29th United States Congress convened on December 1, 1845. The new state of Florida elected its first representative during this election cycle, while one vacancy in New Hampshire's delegation remained unfilled for the duration of the 29th Congress.

Quick Facts Majority party, Minority party ...
1844–45 United States House of Representatives elections

 1842 & 1843 July 1, 1844 – November 4, 1845[a] 1846 & 1847 

All 228[b][c] seats in the United States House of Representatives
115 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
  Thumb Thumb
Leader John Davis Samuel Finley Vinton
Party Democratic Whig
Leader's seat Indiana 6th Ohio 12th
Last election 147 seats 72 seats
Seats won 142[b] 79
Seat change Decrease 5 Increase 7
Popular vote 1,276,980 1,143,305
Percentage 50.02% 44.79%
Swing Decrease 1.25% Increase 0.62%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Know Nothing Law and Order
Last election Pre-creation 2 seats
Seats won 6 0
Seat change Increase 6 Decrease 2
Popular vote 53,413 3,030
Percentage 2.09% 0.12%
Swing New Party Decrease 0.23%

  Fifth party
 
Party Independent
Last election 2 seats[d]
Seats won 0
Seat change Decrease 2
Popular vote 31,961
Percentage 1.25%
Swing Decrease 0.81%

Thumb
Results:
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Whig hold      Whig gain
     Know Nothing gain

Speaker before election

John Jones
Democratic

Elected Speaker

John Davis
Democratic

Close

The House elections spanned the 1844 presidential election, won by dark horse Democratic candidate James K. Polk, who advocated territorial expansion.

Democrats lost six seats but retained a large majority over the rival Whigs. The new American Party, based on the nativist "Know Nothing" movement characterized by opposition to immigration and anti-Catholicism, gained six seats.

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Election summaries

One seat was added for the new State of Florida.[3] Texas and Iowa were admitted during this next Congress, but their initial elections were held in 1846.

142 6 79
Democratic [e] Whig
More information State, Type ...
State Type Date Total
seats
Democratic Know Nothing Whig
Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change
Louisiana District July 1–3, 1844 4 3 Decrease1 0 Steady 1 Increase1
Illinois District August 5, 1844 7 6 Steady 0 Steady 1 Steady
Missouri At-large August 5, 1844 5 5 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
Georgia District[f] August 7, 1844 8 4 Decrease4 0 Steady 4 Increase4
Vermont District September 3, 1844 4 1 Steady 0 Steady 3 Steady
Maine District September 9, 1844 7 6 Increase1 0 Steady 1 Decrease1
Arkansas At-large October 8, 1844 1 1 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
Ohio District October 8, 1844 21 13 Increase1 0 Steady 8 Decrease1
Pennsylvania District October 8, 1844 24 12 Steady 2 Increase2 10 Decrease2
New Jersey District October 9, 1844 5 1 Decrease3 0 Steady 4 Increase3
South Carolina District October 14–15, 1844 7 7 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
Michigan District November 5, 1844 3 3 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
Massachusetts District November 11, 1844 10 0 Decrease2 0 Steady 10 Increase2
New York District November 11, 1844 34 21 Decrease3 4 Increase4 9 Decrease1
Delaware At-large November 12, 1844 1 0 Steady 0 Steady 1 Steady
Late elections after the March 4, 1845 beginning of term
New Hampshire At-large March 11, 1845 4[c] 3 Decrease1 0 Steady 0 Steady
Rhode Island District April 2, 1845 2 0 Steady 0 Steady 2 Increase2[g]
Connecticut District April 7, 1845 4 0 Decrease4 0 Steady 4 Increase4
Virginia District April 24, 1845 15 14 Increase2 0 Steady 1 Decrease2
Florida[h] At-large May 26, 1845 1 1 Increase1 0 Steady 0 Steady
Alabama District August 4, 1845 7 6 Steady 0 Steady 1 Steady
Indiana District August 4, 1845 10 8 Steady 0 Steady 2 Steady
Kentucky District August 4, 1845 10 3 Decrease1 0 Steady 7 Increase2
North Carolina District August 7, 1845 9 6 Increase1 0 Steady 3 Decrease1
Tennessee District August 7, 1845 11 6 Steady 0 Steady 5 Steady
Maryland District October 1, 1845 6 4 Increase4 0 Steady 2 Decrease4
Mississippi At-large November 3–4, 1845 4 4 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
Total 224[b][c] 142
62.6%
Decrease6 6
2.6%
Increase6 79
34.8%
Increase6
Close
More information Popular vote ...
Popular vote
Democratic
50.02%
Whig
44.79%
Know Nothing
2.09%
Law & Order
0.12%
Independent
1.25%
Others
1.73%
Close
More information House seats ...
House seats
Democratic
61.67%
Whig
35.68%
Know Nothing
2.64%
Close
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Special elections

Alabama

Elections were held August 4, 1845, after the March 4, 1845 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1845.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Alabama 1
Alabama 2
Alabama 3
Alabama 4
Alabama 5
Alabama 6
Alabama 7
Close

Arkansas

The election was held October 8, 1844.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Arkansas at-large Edward Cross Democratic 1838 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Close
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Connecticut

Elections were held April 7, 1845, after the March 4, 1845 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1845.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[5]
Connecticut 1 Thomas H. Seymour Democratic 1843 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
Connecticut 2 John Stewart Democratic 1843 Incumbent lost renomination.
Whig gain.
Connecticut 3 George S. Catlin Democratic 1843 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
Connecticut 4 Samuel Simons Democratic 1843 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
  • Green tickY Truman Smith (Whig) 51.7%
  • John Cotton Smith Jr. (Democratic) 44.6%
  • Daniel K. Nash (Liberty) 2.3%
  • Mason Cleveland (Unknown) 0.7%
Close
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Delaware

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...
1844 United States House of Representatives election in Delaware

 1842 November 12, 1844 1846 
  Thumb Thumb
Nominee John W. Houston George R. Riddle
Party Whig Democratic
Popular vote 6,229 6,023
Percentage 50.84% 49.16%

Thumb
Houston:      50–60%
Riddle:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election

George B. Rodney
Whig

Elected U.S. Representative

John W. Houston
Whig

Close

The election was held November 12, 1844.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Delaware at-large George B. Rodney Whig 1840 Incumbent retired.
Whig hold.
Close

Florida

The election was held May 26, 1845.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Florida at-large None (New state) New seat.
New member elected late on May 26, 1845.
Democratic gain.
Winner did not serve, having also been elected U.S. senator.
Close
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Georgia

Elections were held August 7, 1844.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Georgia 1
Georgia 2
Georgia 3 Absalom H. Chappell
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic 1842 Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
Georgia 4 Hugh A. Haralson
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic 1842 Incumbent re-elected.
Georgia 5 John H. Lumpkin
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic 1842 Incumbent re-elected.
William H. Stiles
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic 1842 Incumbent retired.
Democratic loss.
Georgia 6 Howell Cobb
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic 1842 Incumbent re-elected.
Georgia 7 Alexander H. Stephens
Redistricted from the at-large district
Whig 1843 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
Georgia 8 Edward J. Black
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic 1838
1840 (lost)
1841 (special)
Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
Close

Illinois

Elections were held August 5, 1844.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Illinois 1 Robert Smith Democratic 1842 Incumbent re-elected.
Illinois 2
Illinois 3
Illinois 4
Illinois 5
Illinois 6
Illinois 7
Close

Indiana

Elections were held August 4, 1845, after the March 4, 1845 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1845.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Indiana 1 Robert D. Owen Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Robert D. Owen (Democratic) 53.68%
  • George P. Wilson (Whig) 46.32%
Indiana 2 Thomas J. Henley Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
Indiana 3 Thomas Smith Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Thomas Smith (Democratic) 51.13%
  • Joseph C. Eggleston (Whig) 46.90%
  • Angus C. McCoy (Liberty) 1.55%
Indiana 4 Caleb B. Smith Whig 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Caleb B. Smith (Whig) 56.44%
  • John Finley (Democratic) 37.15%
  • Matthew R. Hull (Liberty) 6.42%
Indiana 5 William J. Brown Democratic 1843 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY William W. Wick (Democratic) 54.77%
  • James P. Foley (Whig) 43.20%
  • Asa Bales (Liberty) 2.03%
Indiana 6 John W. Davis Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
Indiana 7 Joseph A. Wright Democratic 1843 Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
Indiana 8 John Pettit Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John Pettit (Democratic) 51.64%
  • Albert L. Holmes (Whig) 47.61%
  • Elizur Deming (Liberty) 0.75%
Indiana 9 Samuel C. Sample Whig 1843 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
Indiana 10 Andrew Kennedy Whig 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Andrew Kennedy (Whig) 49.99%
  • Lewis G. Thompson (Democratic) 46.95%
  • Daniel Worth (Liberty) 3.06%
Close

Iowa Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Kentucky

Elections were held August 4, 1845, after the March 4, 1845 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1845.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Kentucky 1
Kentucky 2
Kentucky 3
Kentucky 4
Kentucky 5
Kentucky 6
Kentucky 7
Kentucky 8
Kentucky 9
Kentucky 10
Close

Louisiana

Elections were held July 1–3, 1844.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Louisiana 1
Louisiana 2
Louisiana 3
Louisiana 4
Close

Maine

Elections were held September 9, 1844.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Maine 1
Maine 2
Maine 3
Maine 4
Maine 5
Maine 6
Maine 7
Close

Maryland

Late elections to the 28th Congress

Maryland elected its members to the 28th Congress on February 14, 1844, after that Congress had already convened in 1843 and long after the 1842–1843 election cycle.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Maryland 1 Isaac D. Jones Whig 1841 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Whig hold.
Maryland 2
Maryland 3
Maryland 4
Maryland 5
Maryland 6
Close

Regular elections to the 29th Congress

Maryland's October 1, 1845 elections were after the March 4, 1845 beginning of the new term, but still before the Congress convened in December 1845.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Maryland 1 John Causin Whig 1844 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Whig hold.
Maryland 2
Maryland 3
Maryland 4
Maryland 5
Maryland 6
Close

Massachusetts

Elections were held November 11, 1844. At least one district, however, had multiple ballots stretching into 1846.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Massachusetts 1
Massachusetts 2
Massachusetts 3
Massachusetts 4 William Parmenter Democratic 1836 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected on the second ballot.
Whig gain.
First ballot (November 11, 1844)
Second ballot (December 23, 1844)
Massachusetts 5
Massachusetts 6
Massachusetts 7 Julius Rockwell Whig 1844 (late) Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts 8 John Quincy Adams Whig 1830 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John Quincy Adams (Whig) 57.12%
  • Isaac H. Wright (Democratic) 37.71%
  • Appleton Howe (Liberty) 5.18%[13]
Massachusetts 9 Henry Williams Democratic 1836 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected on the ninth ballot.
Whig gain.
First ballot (November 11, 1844)
Second ballot (December 23, 1844)
Third ballot (February 10, 1845)
Fourth ballot (April 28, 1845)
Fifth ballot (September 1, 1845)
Sixth ballot (November 10, 1845)
Seventh ballot (December 29, 1845)
Eighth ballot (February 2, 1846)
Ninth ballot (November 9, 1846)
Massachusetts 10
Close

Michigan

Elections were held November 5, 1844.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Michigan 1 Robert McClelland Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
Michigan 2 Lucius Lyon Democratic 1843 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY John S. Chipman (Democratic) 48.0%
  • Henry W. Taylor (Whig) 45.7%
  • Edwin A. Atlee (Liberty) 6.3%[24]
Michigan 3 James B. Hunt Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY James B. Hunt (Democratic) 51.3%
  • George W. Wisner (Whig) 42.9%
  • William Caulfield (Liberty) 5.8%[25]
Close

Mississippi

Elections were held November 3–4, 1845, after the March 4, 1845 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1845.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Mississippi at-large
(4 seats)
Jacob Thompson Democratic 1839 Incumbent re-elected.
William H. Hammett Democratic 1843 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Robert W. Roberts Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
Tilghman Tucker Democratic 1843 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Close

Missouri

Elections were held at-large on a general ticket August 5, 1844.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Missouri at-large
5 seats
(Elected on a general ticket)
Close

New Hampshire

Elections were held at-large on a general ticket March 11, 1845, after the March 4, 1845 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1845.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New Hampshire at-large
4 seats
Edmund Burke Democratic 1839 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
(Elected on a general ticket)
First ballot (March 11, 1845)
Second ballot (August 23, 1845)
Third ballot (November 29, 1845)
Fourth ballot (March 10, 1846)
John R. Reding Democratic 1841 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Moses Norris Jr. Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
John P. Hale Democratic 1843 No candidate elected on the fourth ballot; seat vacant.
Democratic loss.
Close

New Jersey

Elections were held October 9, 1844.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New Jersey 1
New Jersey 2
New Jersey 3
New Jersey 4
New Jersey 5
Close

New York

Elections were held November 11, 1844.

North Carolina

Elections were held August 7, 1845, after the March 4, 1845 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1845.

More information District, Incumbent ...
Close

Ohio

Elections were held October 8, 1844.

More information District, Incumbent ...
Close

Pennsylvania

Elections were held October 8, 1844.

Rhode Island

Elections were held April 2, 1845, after the March 4, 1845 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1845.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Rhode Island 1
Rhode Island 2
Close

South Carolina

Elections were held October 14–15, 1844.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
South Carolina 1
South Carolina 2
South Carolina 3
South Carolina 4
South Carolina 5
South Carolina 6
South Carolina 7
Close

Tennessee

Elections were held August 7, 1845.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Tennessee 1 Andrew Johnson Democratic 1842 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 2 William T. Senter Whig 1842 Incumbent retired.
Whig hold.
  • Green tickY William M. Cocke (Whig) 45.03%
  • George S. Gilbert (Democratic) 35.63%
  • Lewis Reneau (Independent Whig) 19.34%[33]
Tennessee 3 Julius W. Blackwell Democratic 1842 Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
Tennessee 4 Alvan Cullom Democratic 1842 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 5 George W. Jones Democratic 1842 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 6 Aaron V. Brown Democratic 1839 Incumbent retired to run for Governor.
Democratic hold.
Tennessee 7 David W. Dickinson Whig 1842 Incumbent retired.
Whig hold.
Tennessee 8 Joseph H. Peyton Whig 1842 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 9 Cave Johnson Democratic 1839 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Tennessee 10 John B. Ashe Whig 1842 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
Tennessee 11 Milton Brown Whig 1841 Incumbent re-elected.
Close

Vermont

Elections were held September 3, 1844.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[43]
Vermont 1 Solomon Foot Whig 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
Vermont 2 Jacob Collamer Whig 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
Vermont 3 George P. Marsh Whig 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
Vermont 4 Paul Dillingham Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
First ballot
  • Paul Dillingham (Democratic) 48.0%
  • George B. Chandler (Whig) 41.3%
  • George Putnam (Unknown) 10.4%
Second ballot
  • Paul Dillingham (Democratic) 47.7%
  • George B. Chandler (Whig) 44.0%
  • George Putnam (Liberty) 8.3%
Third ballot
  • Green tickY Paul Dillingham (Democratic) 51.4%
  • George B. Chandler (Whig) 43.6%
  • George Putnam (Liberty) 5.0%
Close

Virginia

Elections were held April 24, 1845, after the March 4, 1845 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1845.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[44]
Virginia 1 Archibald Atkinson Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 2 George Dromgoole Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 3 Walter Coles Democratic 1835 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Virginia 4 Edmund W. Hubard Democratic 1841 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 5 William L. Goggin Whig 1839
1843 (lost)
1844 (special)
Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
  • Green tickY Shelton Leake (Democratic) 52.6%
  • [FNU] Irving (Whig) 47.4%
Virginia 6 John Winston Jones Democratic 1835 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Virginia 7 Thomas H. Bayly Democratic 1844 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 8 Willoughby Newton Whig 1843 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
Virginia 9 Samuel Chilton Whig 1843 Incumbent retired.
Whig hold.
Virginia 10 William Lucas Democratic 1843 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic hold.
Virginia 11 William Taylor Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 12 Augustus A. Chapman Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 13 George W. Hopkins Democratic 1835 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 14 George W. Summers Whig 1841 Incumbent lost renomination.
Democratic gain.
  • Green tickY Joseph Johnson (Democratic) 52.6%
  • George D. Camden (Whig) 47.4%
Virginia 15 Lewis Steenrod Democratic 1839 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Close

Wisconsin Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Non-voting delegates

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Delegate Party First elected Results Candidates[45]
Iowa Territory at-large Augustus C. Dodge Democratic 1840 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin Territory at-large Henry Dodge Democratic 1840 Incumbent retired to become territorial governor of Wisconsin.
New delegate elected on an unknown date.
Democratic hold.
Close

See also

Notes

  1. Excludes states admitted during the 29th Congress
  2. Includes late elections
  3. There was one vacancy in New Hampshire's delegation, unfilled for the duration of the 29th Congress.[1][2]
  4. Includes one Independent and one Independent Whig.
  5. There were 6 Know Nothings.
  6. Changed from at-large
  7. Previous election had 2 members of the short-lived Law and Order Party
  8. New State

References

Bibliography

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