1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections
House elections for the 32nd U.S. Congress From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
House elections for the 32nd U.S. Congress From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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All 233 seats in the United States House of Representatives 117 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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, 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.
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 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Missouri | District | August 5, 1850 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |||
Vermont | District | September 3, 1850 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||
Maine | District | September 9, 1850 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||
Florida | At-large | October 7, 1850 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||
Ohio | District | October 8, 1850 | 21 | 11[f] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |||
Pennsylvania | District | October 8, 1850 | 24[g] | 15 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | ||
South Carolina | District | October 14–15, 1850 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Illinois | District | November 5, 1850 (Election Day)[h] |
7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||
Michigan | District | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | ||||
New Jersey | District | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||||
New York | District | 34 | 17 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 15 | |||
Wisconsin | District | 3 | 2[f] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||
Massachusetts | District | November 11, 1850 | 10[i] | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
Delaware | At-large | November 12, 1850 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
Late elections (after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term) | |||||||||||||
New Hampshire | District | March 11, 1851 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||
Rhode Island | District | April 2, 1851 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||
Connecticut | District | April 7, 1851 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
Alabama | District | August 4, 1851 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
Arkansas | At-large | August 4, 1851 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Indiana | District | August 4, 1851 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||
Kentucky | District | August 4, 1851 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |||
Texas | District | August 4, 1851 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
North Carolina | District | August 7, 1851 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |||||
Tennessee | District | August 7, 1851 | 11 | 7[f] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||||
California | At-large | September 3, 1851 | 2[j] | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Maryland | District | October 1, 1851 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[k] | 1 | |||
Georgia | District | October 6, 1851 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 | |
Virginia | District | October 23, 1851 | 15 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||
Mississippi | District | November 3–4, 1851 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
Louisiana | District | November 4, 1851 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||
Total | 233 | 130[l] 55.8% |
17 | 4 1.7% |
5 | 3 1.3% |
3 | 10 4.3% |
10 | 86[k] 36.9% |
22 |
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.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2020) |
Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
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.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Arkansas at-large | Robert W. Johnson | Democratic | 1846 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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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.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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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)
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Edward Gilbert | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. |
Elections were held April 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates[5] | |
Connecticut 1 | Loren P. Waldo | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain. |
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Connecticut 2 | Walter Booth | Free Soil | 1849 | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. |
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Connecticut 3 | Chauncey F. Cleveland | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Connecticut 4 | Thomas B. Butler | Whig | 1849 | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. |
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The election was held November 12, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Delaware at-large | John W. Houston | Whig | 1844 | Incumbent retired. Democratic gain. |
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The election was held October 7, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Florida at-large | Edward C. Cabell | Whig | 1845 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Elections were held October 6, 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Georgia 1 | Joseph W. Jackson | Democratic | 1850 | Incumbent re-elected. Southern Rights gain. |
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Georgia 2 | Marshall Johnson Wellborn | Democratic | 1848 | Inumbent retired. Constitutional Union gain. |
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Georgia 3 | Allen F. Owen | Whig | 1848 | Incumbent retired. Southern Rights gain. |
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Georgia 4 | Hugh A. Haralson | Democratic | 1842 | Incumbent retired. Constitutional Union gain. |
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Georgia 5 | Thomas C. Hackett | Democratic | 1848 | Incumbent retired. Constitutional Union gain. |
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Georgia 6 | Howell Cobb | Democratic | 1842 | Incumbent retired. Constitutional Union gain. |
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Georgia 7 | Alexander H. Stephens | Democratic | 1843 | Incumbent re-elected as a Unionist. Constitutional Union gain. |
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Georgia 8 | Robert Toombs | Whig | 1844 | Incumbent re-elected as a Unionist. Constitutional Union gain. |
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Elections were held November 5, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Illinois 1 | |||||
Illinois 2 | |||||
Illinois 3 | |||||
Illinois 4 | |||||
Illinois 5 | |||||
Illinois 6 | |||||
Illinois 7 |
Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
Elections were held August 5, 1850.
Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
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 |
Elections were held November 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Louisiana 1 | |||||
Louisiana 2 | |||||
Louisiana 3 | |||||
Louisiana 4 |
Elections were held September 9, 1850.
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.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Maryland 1 | |||||
Maryland 2 | |||||
Maryland 3 | |||||
Maryland 4 | |||||
Maryland 5 | |||||
Maryland 6 |
Elections were held November 11, 1850, but at least one district's elections went to multiple ballots into 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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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)
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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)
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Massachusetts 8 | |||||
Massachusetts 9 | |||||
Massachusetts 10 |
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Michigan 1 | Alexander W. Buel | Democratic | 1848 | Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain. |
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Michigan 2 | William Sprague | Whig | 1848 | Incumbent retired. Democratic gain. |
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Michigan 3 | Kinsley S. Bingham | Democratic | 1846 | Incumbent retired. Whig gain. |
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See Non-voting delegates, below.
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.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Mississippi 1 | Jacob Thompson | Democratic | 1839 | Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate. Union gain. |
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Mississippi 2 | Winfield S. Featherston | Democratic | 1847 | Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate. Union gain. |
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Mississippi 3 | William McWillie | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate. Union gain. |
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Mississippi 4 | Albert G. Brown | Democratic | 1847 | Incumbent re-elected as a Southern Rights candidate. Southern Rights gain. |
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Elections were held August 5, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Missouri 1 | |||||
Missouri 2 | |||||
Missouri 3 | |||||
Missouri 4 | |||||
Missouri 5 |
Elections were held March 11, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
New Hampshire 1 | |||||
New Hampshire 2 | |||||
New Hampshire 3 | |||||
New Hampshire 4 |
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
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 |
See Non-voting delegates, below.
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
New York 1 | |||||
New York 2 | |||||
New York 3 | |||||
New York 4 | |||||
New York 5 | |||||
New York 6 | |||||
New York 7 | |||||
New York 8 | |||||
New York 9 | |||||
New York 10 | |||||
New York 11 | |||||
New York 12 | |||||
New York 13 | |||||
New York 14 | |||||
New York 15 | |||||
New York 16 | |||||
New York 17 | |||||
New York 18 | |||||
New York 19 | |||||
New York 20 | |||||
New York 21 | |||||
New York 22 | |||||
New York 23 | |||||
New York 24 | |||||
New York 25 | |||||
New York 26 | |||||
New York 27 | |||||
New York 28 | |||||
New York 29 | |||||
New York 30 | |||||
New York 31 | |||||
New York 32 | |||||
New York 33 | |||||
New York 34 |
Elections were held August 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
North Carolina 1 | |||||
North Carolina 2 | |||||
North Carolina 3 | |||||
North Carolina 4 | |||||
North Carolina 5 | |||||
North Carolina 6 | |||||
North Carolina 7 | |||||
North Carolina 8 | |||||
North Carolina 9 |
Elections were held October 8, 1850.
See Non-voting delegates, below.
Elections were held October 8, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Pennsylvania 1 | |||||
Pennsylvania 2 | |||||
Pennsylvania 3 | |||||
Pennsylvania 4 | |||||
Pennsylvania 5 | |||||
Pennsylvania 6 | |||||
Pennsylvania 7 | |||||
Pennsylvania 8 | |||||
Pennsylvania 9 | |||||
Pennsylvania 10 | |||||
Pennsylvania 11 | |||||
Pennsylvania 12 | |||||
Pennsylvania 13 | |||||
Pennsylvania 14 | |||||
Pennsylvania 15 | |||||
Pennsylvania 16 | |||||
Pennsylvania 17 | |||||
Pennsylvania 18 | |||||
Pennsylvania 19 | |||||
Pennsylvania 20 | |||||
Pennsylvania 21 | |||||
Pennsylvania 22 | |||||
Pennsylvania 23 | |||||
Pennsylvania 24 |
Elections were held April 2, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Rhode Island 1 | |||||
Rhode Island 2 |
Elections were held October 14–15, 1850.
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 |
Elections were held August 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Tennessee 1 | Andrew Johnson | Democratic | 1842 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Tennessee 2 | Albert G. Watkins | Whig | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Tennessee 3 | Josiah M. Anderson | Whig | 1849 | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. |
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Tennessee 4 | John H. Savage | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Tennessee 5 | George W. Jones | Democratic | 1842 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌ George W. Jones (Democratic) 100%[34] |
Tennessee 6 | James H. Thomas | Democratic | 1847 | Incumbent lost re-election. Independent Democratic gain. |
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Tennessee 7 | Meredith P. Gentry | Whig | 1845 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌ Meredith P. Gentry (Whig) 100%[36] |
Tennessee 8 | Andrew Ewing | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent retired. Whig gain. |
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Tennessee 9 | Isham G. Harris | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Tennessee 10 | Frederick P. Stanton | Democratic | 1845 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Tennessee 11 | Christopher H. Williams | Whig | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌ Christopher H. Williams (Whig) 100%[40] |
Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
See Non-voting delegates, below.
Elections were held September 3, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates[41] | |
Vermont 1 | William Henry | Whig | 1846 | Incumbent retired. Whig hold. |
First ballot
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Vermont 2 | William Hebard | Whig | 1848 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Vermont 3 | James Meacham | Whig | 1849 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Vermont 4 | Lucius B. Peck | Democratic | 1846 | Incumbent retired. Free Soil gain. |
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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.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
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Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates[42] | |
Virginia 1 | John Millson | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia 2 | Richard Kidder Meade | Democratic | 1847 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia 3 | Thomas H. Averett | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia 4 | Thomas S. Bocock | Democratic | 1847 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia 5 | Paulus Powell | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia 6 | James Seddon | Democratic | 1845 1847 (retired) 1849 |
Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. |
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Virginia 7 | Thomas H. Bayly | Democratic | 1844 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia 8 | Alexander Holladay | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia 9 | Jeremiah Morton | Ind. Whig | 1849 | Incumbent lost re-election as a Democrat. Whig gain. |
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Virginia 10 | Richard Parker | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent retired. Whig gain. |
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Virginia 11 | James McDowell | Democratic | 1846 (special) | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. |
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Virginia 12 | Henry A. Edmundson | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia 13 | Fayette McMullen | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia 14 | James M. H. Beale | Democratic | 1849 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia 15 | Thomas Haymond | Whig | 1849 (special) | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. |
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Elections were held November 5, 1850.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates[43] | |
Wisconsin 1 | Charles Durkee | Free Soil | 1848 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Wisconsin 2 | Orsamus Cole | Whig | 1848 | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. |
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Wisconsin 3 | James Duane Doty | Democratic | 1848 | Incumbent won re-election as an Independent. Independent Democratic gain. |
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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. |
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New Mexico Territory | New seat | New seat. Democratic gain. |
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Oregon Territory | Samuel Thurston | Democratic | 1849 (new seat) | Incumbent died April 9, 1851. New delegate elected June 2, 1851.[45] Democratic hold. |
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Utah Territory | New seat | New seat. Independent gain. |
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