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1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections

House elections for the 32nd U.S. Congress From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections
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The 1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 5, 1850, and November 4, 1851. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 32nd United States Congress convened on December 1, 1851. Elections were held for all 233 seats, representing 31 states.

Quick Facts All 233 seats in the United States House of Representatives 117 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...
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The Democrats gained 17 seats, increasing their majority relative to the rival Whigs, who lost 22 seats. Incumbent Whig President Millard Fillmore, who succeeded to the Presidency in July 1850 after the death of more charismatic General Zachary Taylor, lacked a strong political base. The Compromise of 1850, which admitted California alone as a free state in exchange for concessions to slave state interests, began integration of the Mexican Cession. It appeared in the short term that Congress had politically feasible options to contain sectionalism and to reduce tensions over expanding slavery in the West. This optimism soon would prove unfounded.

The Union Party, formed in support of the Compromise of 1850, won 15 seats in the South, while the anti-Compromise Southern Rights Party won 8. The Free Soil Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery into the Western territories, lost five seats and was reduced to four Representatives, all in New England.

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Election summaries

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One district in Massachusetts had been vacant in the 31st Congress. No new seats were added.

The previous election had 1 Know-Nothing and 1 Independent.

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Special elections

31st Congress

32nd Congress

Alabama

Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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Arkansas

The election was held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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California

California's members were elected late, at-large statewide, September 3, 1851. There were nevertheless seated with the rest of the House at the beginning of the first session.

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Connecticut

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Elections were held April 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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Delaware

The election was held November 12, 1850.

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Florida

The election was held October 7, 1850.

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Georgia

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Elections were held October 6, 1851.

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Illinois

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

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Indiana

Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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Iowa

Elections were held August 5, 1850.

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Kentucky

Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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Louisiana

Elections were held November 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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Maine

Elections were held September 9, 1850.

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Maryland

Elections were held October 1, 1851 elections were after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the new term, but still before the Congress convened in December 1851.

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Massachusetts

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Elections were held November 11, 1850, but at least one district's elections went to multiple ballots into 1851.

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Michigan

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

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Minnesota Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Mississippi

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Elections were held November 3–4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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Missouri

Elections were held August 5, 1850.

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New Hampshire

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Elections were held March 11, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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New Jersey

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

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New Mexico Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

New York

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

North Carolina

Elections were held August 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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Ohio

Elections were held October 8, 1850.

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Oregon Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Pennsylvania

Elections were held October 8, 1850.

Rhode Island

Elections were held April 2, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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South Carolina

Elections were held October 14–15, 1850.

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Tennessee

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Elections were held August 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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Texas

Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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Utah Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont

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Elections were held September 3, 1850.

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Virginia

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Elections were held October 23, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.

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Wisconsin

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Elections were held November 5, 1850.

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Non-voting delegates

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See also

Notes

  1. Includes one Anti-Benton Democrat, one Benton Democrat, two Southern Rights Democrats, two Union Democrats, and one Seccionist Democrat
  2. Includes two Union Whigs and one Seccionist Whig
  3. Includes three Independent Democrats and one Independent Whig.
  4. Free Soil had 4 seats and Southern Rights had 3.
  5. Union had 10 seats.
  6. Includes one Anti-Benton Democrat and one Benton Democrat
  7. One Democrat was backed by Free Soil
  8. Includes one Independent Democrat.
  9. There was 1 Know-Nothing in the 31st Congress.
  10. One Democrat was backed by Free Soil
  11. One Whig was backed by Free Soil
  12. In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform date for choosing presidential electors.[1] Congressional elections were unaffected by this law, but the date was gradually adopted by the states for congressional elections as well.
  13. Two Whigs were backed by Free Soil
  14. One Free Soil was backed by the Whigs
  15. One seat, Massachusetts's 4th congressional district, had been vacant during the entire 31st Congress.
  16. Includes two Southern Rights Democrats and two Union Democrats
  17. Includes two Union Whigs
  18. Includes one Seccionist Democrat
  19. Includes one Seccionist Whig
  20. There was 1 Independent in the 31st Congress.
  21. Includes 1 Independent Whig.
  22. Includes three Independent Democrats from Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

References

Bibliography

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