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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 ...
1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections

 1848 & 1849 August 5, 1850 – November 4, 1851 1852 & 1853 

All 233 seats in the United States House of Representatives
117 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Linn Boyd Edward Stanly
Party Democratic Whig
Leader's seat Kentucky 1st North Carolina 8th
Last election 113 seats 106 seats
Seats won 120 82
Seat change Increase 7 Decrease 24
Popular vote 1,142,783 1,105,286
Percentage 43.31% 41.89%
Swing Decrease 0.85% Decrease 2.95%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Union Southern Rights
Last election Pre-creation Pre-creation
Seats won 15[a] 8[b]
Seat change Increase 15 Increase 8
Popular vote 123,727 109,060
Percentage 4.69% 4.13%
Swing New Party New Party

  Fifth party Sixth party
 
Party Free Soil Independent
Last election 8 seats 3 seats
Seats won 4 4[c]
Seat change Decrease 4 Increase 1
Popular vote 82,221 70,262
Percentage 3.12% 2.79%
Swing Decrease 5.54% Increase 1.03%

Speaker before election

Howell Cobb
Democratic

Elected Speaker

Linn Boyd
Democratic

Close

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, gained 10 seats in the South, as did the Southern Rights Party. 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

More information Democratic, Whig ...
130 7 10 86
Democratic [d] [e] Whig
Close
More information State, Type ...
State Type Date Total
seats
Democratic Free Soil Southern Rights Union Whig
Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change
Iowa District August 5, 1850 2 2 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
Missouri District August 5, 1850 5 2 Decrease3 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 3 Increase3
Vermont District September 3, 1850 4 1 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 3 Steady
Maine District September 9, 1850 7 5 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 2 Steady
Florida At-large October 7, 1850 1 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 1 Steady
Ohio District October 8, 1850 21 11[f] Steady 1 Decrease1 0 Steady 0 Steady 9 Increase1
Pennsylvania District October 8, 1850 24[g] 15 Increase6 0 Decrease1 0 Steady 0 Steady 9 Decrease4
South Carolina District October 14–15, 1850 7 7 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
Illinois District November 5, 1850
(Election Day)[h]
7 6 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 1 Steady
Michigan District 3 1 Decrease1 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 2 Increase1
New Jersey District 5 4 Increase3 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 1 Decrease3
New York District 34 17 Increase16 0 Decrease1 0 Steady 0 Steady 17 Decrease15
Wisconsin District 3 2[f] Increase1 1 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Decrease1
Massachusetts District November 11, 1850 10[i] 1 Increase1 2 Increase1 0 Steady 0 Steady 7 Decrease1
Delaware At-large November 12, 1850 1 1 Increase1 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Decrease1
Late elections (after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term)
New Hampshire District March 11, 1851 4 2 Steady 0 Decrease1 0 Steady 0 Steady 2 Increase1
Rhode Island District April 2, 1851 2 1 Increase1 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 1 Decrease1
Connecticut District April 7, 1851 4 3 Increase1 0 Decrease1 0 Steady 0 Steady 1 Steady
Alabama District August 4, 1851 7 4 Decrease1 0 Steady 0 Steady 1 Increase1 2 Steady
Arkansas At-large August 4, 1851 1 1 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
Indiana District August 4, 1851 10 8 Steady 0 Decrease1 0 Steady 0 Steady 2 Increase1
Kentucky District August 4, 1851 10 5 Increase1 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 5 Decrease1
Texas District August 4, 1851 2 2 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
North Carolina District August 7, 1851 9 3 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 6 Steady
Tennessee District August 7, 1851 11 7[f] Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 4 Steady
California At-large September 3, 1851 2[j] 2 Increase1 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
Maryland District October 1, 1851 6 2 Decrease1 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 4[k] Increase1
Georgia District October 6, 1851 8 0 Decrease4 0 Steady 2 Increase2 6 Increase6 0 Decrease4
Virginia District October 23, 1851 15 13 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 2 Steady
Mississippi District November 3–4, 1851 4 0 Decrease4 0 Steady 1 Increase1 3 Increase3 0 Steady
Louisiana District November 4, 1851 4 2 Decrease1 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 2 Increase1
Total 233 130[l]
55.8%
Increase17 4
1.7%
Decrease5 3
1.3%
Increase3 10
4.3%
Increase10 86[k]
36.9%
Decrease22
Close
More information Popular vote ...
Popular vote
Democratic
43.31%
Whig
41.89%
Union
4.69%
Southern Rights
4.13%
Free Soil
3.12%
Independent
2.79%
Others
0.07%
Close
More information House seats ...
House seats
Democratic
50.65%
Whig
35.06%
Union
6.06%
Southern Rights
3.46%
Free Soil
3.03%
Independent
1.73%
Close

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.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Alabama 1 William J. Alston Whig 1849 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
  • Green tickY John Bragg (Democratic) 58.81%[2]
  • Charles Langdon (Whig) 41.19%
Alabama 2
Alabama 3
Alabama 4
Alabama 5
Alabama 6
Alabama 7
Close

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.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Arkansas at-large Robert W. Johnson Democratic 1846 Incumbent re-elected.
Close
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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.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
California at-large
2 seats
George W. Wright Independent 1849 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
(Elected on a general ticket)
Edward Gilbert Democratic 1849 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Close
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Connecticut

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

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[5]
Connecticut 1 Loren P. Waldo Democratic 1849 Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
Connecticut 2 Walter Booth Free Soil 1849 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
Connecticut 3 Chauncey F. Cleveland Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Chauncey F. Cleveland (Democratic) 50.9%
  • John C. Ames (Whig) 49.3%
  • Ephraim Williams (Free Soil) 1.7%
Connecticut 4 Thomas B. Butler Whig 1849 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
Close

Delaware

The election was held November 12, 1850.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Delaware at-large John W. Houston Whig 1844 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
Close
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Florida

The election was held October 7, 1850.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Florida at-large Edward C. Cabell Whig 1845 Incumbent re-elected.
Close

Georgia

Elections were held October 6, 1851.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Georgia 1 Joseph W. Jackson Democratic 1850 Incumbent re-elected.
Southern Rights gain.
  • Green tickY Joseph W. Jackson (Southern Rights) 51.67%
  • Charles H. Hopkins (Constitutional Union) 48.34%[8]
Georgia 2 Marshall Johnson Wellborn Democratic 1848 Inumbent retired.
Constitutional Union gain.
Georgia 3 Allen F. Owen Whig 1848 Incumbent retired.
Southern Rights gain.
Georgia 4 Hugh A. Haralson Democratic 1842 Incumbent retired.
Constitutional Union gain.
  • Green tickY Charles Murphey (Constitutional Union) 58.05%
  • John P. Stell (Southern Rights) 41.95%[11]
Georgia 5 Thomas C. Hackett Democratic 1848 Incumbent retired.
Constitutional Union gain.
Georgia 6 Howell Cobb Democratic 1842 Incumbent retired.
Constitutional Union gain.
  • Green tickY Junius Hillyer (Constitutional Union) 71.11%
  • Thomas F. Jones (Southern Rights) 28.90%[13]
Georgia 7 Alexander H. Stephens Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected as a Unionist.
Constitutional Union gain.
Georgia 8 Robert Toombs Whig 1844 Incumbent re-elected as a Unionist.
Constitutional Union gain.
Close

Illinois

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

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

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.

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

Iowa

Elections were held August 5, 1850.

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

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.

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

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, 1850.

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

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.

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

Massachusetts

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

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Massachusetts 1
Massachusetts 2
Massachusetts 3
Massachusetts 4 Vacant due to failure to elect. Whig gain.
First ballot (November 11, 1850)
Second ballot (January 20, 1851)
Third ballot (April 7, 1851)
Fourth ballot (May 26, 1851)
Massachusetts 5
Massachusetts 6
Massachusetts 7 Julius Rockwell Whig 1844 (late) Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig hold.
First ballot (November 11, 1850)
Second ballot (January 20, 1851)
Third ballot (April 7, 1851)
Fourth ballot (May 26, 1851)
Massachusetts 8
Massachusetts 9
Massachusetts 10
Close

Michigan

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Michigan 1 Alexander W. Buel Democratic 1848 Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
Michigan 2 William Sprague Whig 1848 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
Michigan 3 Kinsley S. Bingham Democratic 1846 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
Close

Minnesota Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Mississippi

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.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Mississippi 1 Jacob Thompson Democratic 1839 Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate.
Union gain.
Mississippi 2 Winfield S. Featherston Democratic 1847 Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate.
Union gain.
Mississippi 3 William McWillie Democratic 1849 Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate.
Union gain.
Mississippi 4 Albert G. Brown Democratic 1847 Incumbent re-elected as a Southern Rights candidate.
Southern Rights gain.
Close

Missouri

Elections were held August 5, 1850.

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

New Hampshire

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

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New Hampshire 1 Amos Tuck Free Soil 1847 Incumbent won re-election as a Whig.
Whig gain.
New Hampshire 2 Charles H. Peaslee Democratic 1847 Incumbent re-elected.
New Hampshire 3 George W. Morrison Democratic 1850 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
New Hampshire 4 Harry Hibbard Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Harry Hibbard (Democratic) 59.66%
  • Jonathan Kitteridge (Whig) 27.32%
  • John H. White (Free Soil) 13.02%
Close

New Jersey

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

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 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.

More information District, Incumbent ...
Close

Ohio

Elections were held October 8, 1850.

More information District, Incumbent ...
Close

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.

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, 1850.

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

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 Albert G. Watkins Whig 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Albert G. Watkins (Whig) 78.65%
  • [FNU] Hurley (Democratic) 17.57%
  • J. D. Dickinson (Whig) 3.78%[31]
Tennessee 3 Josiah M. Anderson Whig 1849 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
Tennessee 4 John H. Savage Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 5 George W. Jones Democratic 1842 Incumbent re-elected. Green tickY George W. Jones (Democratic) 100%[34]
Tennessee 6 James H. Thomas Democratic 1847 Incumbent lost re-election.
Independent Democratic gain.
Tennessee 7 Meredith P. Gentry Whig 1845 Incumbent re-elected. Green tickY Meredith P. Gentry (Whig) 100%[36]
Tennessee 8 Andrew Ewing Democratic 1849 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
Tennessee 9 Isham G. Harris Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 10 Frederick P. Stanton Democratic 1845 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 11 Christopher H. Williams Whig 1849 Incumbent re-elected. Green tickY Christopher H. Williams (Whig) 100%[40]
Close

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.

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

Utah Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont

Elections were held September 3, 1850.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[41]
Vermont 1 William Henry Whig 1846 Incumbent retired.
Whig hold.
First ballot
Second ballot
  • Green tickY Ahiman Louis Miner (Whig) 39.2%
  • A. P. Lyman (Whig) 37.2%
  • Daniel Roberts Jr. (Free Soil) 23.6%
Vermont 2 William Hebard Whig 1848 Incumbent re-elected.
Vermont 3 James Meacham Whig 1849 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
Vermont 4 Lucius B. Peck Democratic 1846 Incumbent retired.
Free Soil gain.
Close

Virginia

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

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[42]
Virginia 1 John Millson Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John Millson (Democratic) 59.6%
  • Leopold P. C. Cowper (Whig) 40.4%
Virginia 2 Richard Kidder Meade Democratic 1847 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 3 Thomas H. Averett Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 4 Thomas S. Bocock Democratic 1847 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 5 Paulus Powell Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 6 James Seddon Democratic 1845
1847 (retired)
1849
Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Virginia 7 Thomas H. Bayly Democratic 1844 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 8 Alexander Holladay Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 9 Jeremiah Morton Ind. Whig 1849 Incumbent lost re-election as a Democrat.
Whig gain.
Virginia 10 Richard Parker Democratic 1849 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
Virginia 11 James McDowell Democratic 1846 (special) Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Virginia 12 Henry A. Edmundson Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 13 Fayette McMullen Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 14 James M. H. Beale Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 15 Thomas Haymond Whig 1849 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
Close

Wisconsin

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[43]
Wisconsin 1 Charles Durkee Free Soil 1848 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Charles Durkee (Free Soil) 57.4%
  • Andrew E. Elmore (Democratic) 42.6%
Wisconsin 2 Orsamus Cole Whig 1848 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
Wisconsin 3 James Duane Doty Democratic 1848 Incumbent won re-election as an Independent.
Independent Democratic gain.
Close

Non-voting delegates

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Delegate Party First elected Results Candidates
Minnesota Territory Henry Hastings Sibley Democratic 1848 (Wis. Territory: special)
1849 (Wis. Territory: eliminated)
1849 (Minn. Territory)
Incumbent re-elected.
New Mexico Territory New seat New seat.
Democratic gain.
Oregon Territory Samuel Thurston Democratic 1849 (new seat) Incumbent died April 9, 1851.
New delegate elected June 2, 1851.[45]
Democratic hold.
Utah Territory New seat New seat.
Independent gain.
Close

See also

Notes

  1. Includes two Unionist Whigs, three Unionist Democrats, and ten Unionists.
  2. Includes one Secessionist Democrat, one Secessionist Whig, three Southern Rights Democrats, and three Southern Rightists.
  3. Includes two Independent Democrats, one Benton Democrat and one Independent Whig.
  4. Free Soil had 4 seats and Southern Rights had 3.
  5. Union had 10 seats.
  6. Includes one Independent Democrat.
  7. There was 1 Know-Nothing in the 31st Congress.
  8. 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.
  9. One seat, Massachusetts's 4th congressional district, had been vacant during the entire 31st Congress.
  10. There was 1 Independent in the 31st Congress.
  11. Includes 1 Independent Whig.
  12. Includes three Independent Democrats from Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

References

Bibliography

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