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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
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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.
![]() | This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Clean up and add the results to the Tables for each state. (December 2023) |
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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
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2020) |
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.
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.
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.
Iowa
Elections were held August 5, 1850.
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.
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.
Maine
Elections were held September 9, 1850.
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.
Massachusetts
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Elections were held November 11, 1850, but at least one district's elections went to multiple ballots into 1851.
Michigan
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
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.
Missouri
Elections were held August 5, 1850.
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.
New Jersey
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
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.
Ohio
Elections were held October 8, 1850.
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.
South Carolina
Elections were held October 14–15, 1850.
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.
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.
Utah Territory
See Non-voting delegates, below.
Vermont
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Elections were held September 3, 1850.
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.
Wisconsin
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Elections were held November 5, 1850.
Non-voting delegates
See also
Notes
- Includes one Independent Democrat.
- There was 1 Know-Nothing in the 31st Congress.
- 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.
- One seat, Massachusetts's 4th congressional district, had been vacant during the entire 31st Congress.
- There was 1 Independent in the 31st Congress.
- Includes three Independent Democrats from Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
References
Bibliography
External links
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