Remove ads

The 1854–55 United States House of Representatives elections were held in 31 states for all 234 seats between August 4, 1854, and November 6, 1855, during President Franklin Pierce's term. Each state legislature separately set a date to elect representatives to the House of Representatives before the 34th Congress convened its first session on December 3, 1855.

Quick Facts All 234 seats in the United States House of Representatives 118 seats needed for a majority, First party ...
1854–55 United States House of Representatives elections

 1852 & 1853 August 4, 1854 – November 6, 1855 1856 & 1857 

All 234 seats in the United States House of Representatives[1]
118 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  Thumb Thumb Thumb
Leader William A. Richardson Henry M. Fuller Nathaniel P. Banks
Party Democratic Whig Know Nothing
Leader's seat Illinois 5th Pennsylvania 12th Massachusetts 7th
Last election 150 seats 68 seats 0 seats
Seats won 83[a][2][3] 54[b] 51[2][3][c]
Seat change Decrease 69 Decrease 14 Increase 51
Popular vote 1,418,553[d] 580,929 631,510
Percentage 43.95% 18.00% 19.56%
Swing Decrease 5.87% Decrease 23.61% Increase 19.25%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Party Anti-Nebraska Republican People's
Last election Pre-creation Pre-creation Pre-creation
Seats won 22[b] 13[b] 9[4][b]
Seat change Increase 22 Increase 13 Increase 9
Popular vote 196,461 182,245 102,423
Percentage 6.09% 5.65% 3.17%
Swing New Party New Party New Party

  Seventh party Eighth party
 
Party Free Soil Independent
Last election 4 seats 3 seats
Seats won 1[b] 1[e]
Seat change Decrease 3 Decrease 2
Popular vote 22,928 84,196[f]
Percentage 0.71% 2.61%
Swing Decrease 3.28% Decrease 0.18%

Thumb
Results:
     Democratic gain      Whig gain
     Democratic hold      Whig hold
     American gain      Anti-Nebraska gain
     Republican gain      People's gain
     Independent gain

Speaker before election

Linn Boyd
Democratic

Elected Speaker

Nathaniel P. Banks
Know Nothing/American

Close

This midterm election was among the most disruptive in American history, auguring the collapse of the Second Party System. Both major parties, the Democratic Party and the Whig Party, lost critical voter support. The two parties had been organized as rivals for roughly 20 years. Northern voters strongly opposed to the Kansas–Nebraska Act shifted sharply against the Democrats. The Whigs also lost seats as the party disintegrated over the issue of slavery.

The elected majority temporarily coalesced as the Opposition Party. This transitional party included Whigs, Free Soil members, American Party members or Know Nothings, the People's Party of Indiana, Anti-Nebraska candidates, disaffected Northern Democrats, and members of the nascent Republican Party, which soon would absorb most of these factions and replace the Whigs to rival the Democrats.

Candidates opposed to the Democratic Party won widely in the Northern United States through November 1854. The American Party, ignoring slavery and opposing immigration (particularly by Catholics from Ireland and Germany) won seats from both major parties, but to the net loss of Democrats, in New England and the Southern United States from November 1854 into 1855.

Congress had passed the Kansas–Nebraska Act in May 1854 after aggressive sponsorship by the Pierce Administration and Democrats led by Senator Stephen Douglas, including radical pro-slavery legislators. With widely foreseen risks and immediately negative results, the Act discredited the Democratic Party, fueling new partisan and sectional rancor. The Act repealed the 1820 Missouri Compromise and triggered the violent Bleeding Kansas conflict, creating uncertainty on the Western frontier by abruptly making slavery potentially legal in territories originally comprising the northern portion of the Louisiana Purchase. The numerous contemporary settlers of these territories then were expected to determine the status of slavery locally. This idea appealed to Democratic politicians and to some voters, but proved unworkable particularly in Kansas where more numerous Northern settlers and geographically closer Southern settlers violently disputed the status of slavery. Even some proslavery legislators and voters, particularly Southern Whigs, felt that repealing the Missouri Compromise was politically reckless, and that attempting to push slavery by law and force into territories where most settlers predictably were unlikely to want it could endanger slavery nationally, or even in the South. These fears proved prescient.

More than 21 representatives vied for the post of speaker of the House. After two months and 133 ballots, American Party representative Nathaniel Banks of Massachusetts, also a Free Soiler, defeated Democrat William Aiken of South Carolina by plurality, 103–100.[5] To date, Banks is the only speaker to come from a third party.

Remove ads

Election summaries

More information State, Type ...
State Type Date Total
seats
Opposition Democratic Know Nothing
Seats Change[g] Seats Change Seats Change
Arkansas Districts August 4, 1854 2 0 Steady 2 Steady 0 Steady
Iowa Districts August 7, 1854 2 1 Steady 1 Steady 0 Steady
Missouri Districts 7 6 Increase2 1 Decrease2 0 Steady
Vermont Districts September 5, 1854 3 3 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
California At-large September 6, 1854 2 0 Steady 2 Steady 0 Steady
Maine Districts September 11, 1854 6 5 Increase2 1 Decrease2 0 Steady
Florida At-large October 2, 1854 1 0 Steady 1 Steady 0 Steady
South Carolina Districts October 9–10, 1854 6 0 Steady 6 Steady 0 Steady
Indiana Districts October 10, 1854 11 9 Increase8 2 Decrease8 0 Steady
Ohio Districts 21 21 Increase12 0 Decrease12 0 Steady
Pennsylvania Districts 25 17 Increase8 7 Decrease9 1 Increase1
Illinois Districts November 7, 1854
(Election Day)[h]
9 4 Steady 5 Steady 0 Steady
Michigan Districts 4 3 Increase3 1 Decrease3 0 Steady
New Jersey Districts 5 4 Increase3 1 Decrease3 0 Steady
New York Districts 33 25 Increase13 5 Decrease16 3 Increase3
Wisconsin Districts 3 2 Increase2 1 Decrease2 0 Steady
Massachusetts Districts November 12, 1854 11 0 Decrease10 0 Decrease1 11 Increase11
Delaware At-large November 14, 1854 1 0 Steady 0 Decrease1 1 Increase1
Late elections (after the March 4, 1855 beginning of the term)
New Hampshire Districts March 13, 1855 3 0 Steady 0 Decrease3 3 Increase3
Connecticut Districts April 2, 1855 4 0 Steady 0 Decrease4 4 Increase4
Rhode Island Districts April 4, 1855 2 0 Steady 0 Decrease2 2 Increase2
Virginia Districts May 24, 1855 13 0 Steady 12 Decrease1 1 Increase1
North Carolina Districts August 2, 1855 8 0 Decrease3 5 Steady 3 Increase3
Tennessee Districts 10 0 Decrease5 5 Steady 5 Increase5
Alabama Districts August 6, 1855 7 0 Decrease1 5 Decrease1 2 Increase2
Kentucky Districts 10 0 Decrease5 4 Decrease1 6 Increase6
Texas Districts 2 0 Steady 1 Decrease1 1 Increase1
Georgia Districts October 1, 1855 8 0 Decrease2 6 Steady 2 Increase2
Louisiana Districts November 5, 1855 4 0 Decrease1 3 Steady 1 Increase1
Mississippi Districts[i] November 5–6, 1855 5 0 Steady 4 Decrease1 1 Increase1
Maryland Districts November 6, 1855 6 0 Decrease2 2 Decrease2 4 Increase4
Total 234 100[2][3]
42.7%
Increase29[j] 83[2][3]
35.0%
Decrease75 51[2][3]
21.8%
Increase51
Close
83 51 100
Democratic Know Nothing Opposition
More information Popular vote ...
Popular vote
Democratic
43.95%
Know Nothing
19.56%
Whig
18.00%
Anti-Nebraska
6.09%
Republican
5.65%
People's
3.17%
Independent
2.61%
Free Soil
0.71%
Others
0.26%
Close
More information House seats ...
House seats
Democratic
34.62%
Whig
23.08%
Know Nothing
21.79%
Anti-Nebraska
9.40%
Republican
5.56%
People's
3.85%
Independent
0.43%
Free Soil
0.43%
Close
Remove ads

Special elections

There were four special elections to the 33rd United States Congress, listed here by date and district.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Pennsylvania 8 Henry A. Muhlenberg Democratic 1852 Incumbent died January 9, 1854.
New member elected February 4, 1854.
Democratic hold.
Massachusetts 1 Zeno Scudder Whig 1850 Incumbent resigned March 4, 1854.
New member elected April 17, 1854.
Whig hold.
  • Green tickY Thomas D. Eliot (Whig) 52.04%
  • Abraham H. Howland (Independent) 47.96%
New York 12 Gilbert Dean Democratic 1850 Incumbent resigned July 3, 1854.
New member elected November 7, 1854.
Whig gain.
Kentucky 3 Presley Ewing Whig 1851 Incumbent died September 27, 1854.
New member elected November 13, 1854.
Whig hold.
Close
Remove ads

Alabama

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Alabama 1 Philip Phillips Democratic 1853 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
Alabama 2 James Abercrombie Whig 1851 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
Alabama 3 James F. Dowdell Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Alabama 4 William Russell Smith Democratic 1851 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Know Nothing gain.
Alabama 5 George S. Houston Democratic 1843 Incumbent re-elected.
Alabama 6 Williamson R. W. Cobb Democratic 1847 Incumbent re-elected.
Alabama 7 Sampson Willis Harris Democratic 1847 Incumbent re-elected.
Close

Arkansas

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Arkansas 1 Alfred B. Greenwood Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas 2 Edward A. Warren Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Close
Remove ads

California

Note: From statehood to 1864, California's representatives were elected at-large, with the top two vote-getters winning election from 1849 to 1858.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
California at-large
2 seats
Milton S. Latham Democratic 1852 Incumbent withdrew.
Democratic hold.
(Elected on a general ticket)
James A. McDougall Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic hold.
Close
Remove ads

Connecticut

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Connecticut 1 James T. Pratt Democratic 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Connecticut 2 Colin M. Ingersoll Democratic 1851 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
Connecticut 3 Nathan Belcher Democratic 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
  • Green tickY Sidney Dean (Know Nothing) 67.4%
  • Joel W. White (Democratic) 32.4%
Connecticut 4 Origen S. Seymour Democratic 1851 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
Close

Delaware

Thumb
Delaware's result by county,
  Cullen—50-60%
More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Delaware at-large George R. Riddle Democratic 1850 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Close
Remove ads

Florida

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Florida at-large Augustus Maxwell Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
Close

Georgia

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Georgia 1 James Lindsay Seward Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Georgia 2 Alfred H. Colquitt Democratic 1853 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Georgia 3 Jack Bailey Democratic 1851 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
Georgia 4 William B. W. Dent Democratic 1853 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Georgia 5 Elijah W. Chastain Democratic 1851 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY John H. Lumpkin (Democratic) 58.61%
  • Lewis Tumblin (Know Nothing) 41.39%
Georgia 6 Junius Hillyer Democratic 1851 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Howell Cobb (Democratic) 63.78%
  • Leonidas Franklin (Know Nothing) 36.22%
Georgia 7 David A. Reese Whig 1853 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
Georgia 8 Alexander H. Stephens Whig 1853 Incumbent re-elected as a Democrat.
Democratic gain.
Close

Illinois

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Illinois 1 Elihu B. Washburne Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected as a Republican.
  • Green tickY Elihu B. Washburne (Republican) 69.33%
  • William M. Jackson (Democratic) 22.99%
  • E. P. Ferry (Anti-Nebraska) 7.68%
Illinois 2 John Wentworth Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY James H. Woodworth (Republican) 53.05%
  • Robert S. Blackwell (Whig) 19.84%
  • John B. Turner (Democratic) 19.48%
  • Edward L. Mayo (Anti-Nebraska) 7.63%
Illinois 3 Jesse O. Norton Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected as a Republican.
  • Green tickY Jesse O. Norton (Republican) 62.76%
  • John A. Drake (Democratic) 37.24%
Illinois 4 James Knox Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected as a Republican.
Illinois 5 William A. Richardson Democratic 1847 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
Illinois 6 Richard Yates Whig 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
Illinois 7 James C. Allen Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
Election disqualified.
Democratic loss.
Illinois 8 William Henry Bissell Independent
Democratic
1848 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
  • Green tickY Lyman Trumbull (Democratic) 59.87%
  • Philip Bond Fouke (Democratic) 40.13%
Illinois 9 Willis Allen Democratic 1850 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Samuel S. Marshall (Democratic) 64.67%
  • G. Jay S. Turney (Republican) 22.15%
  • DeWitt C. Barber (Unknown) 9.71%
  • A. Grow (Unknown) 2.05%
  • S. A. Rowan (Unknown) 1.42%
Close

Indiana

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Indiana 1 Smith Miller Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Smith Miller (Democratic) 52.15%
  • Sam Hall (People's) 47.85%
Indiana 2 William Hayden English Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
Indiana 3 Cyrus L. Dunham Democratic 1849 Incumbent lost re-election.
People's gain.
Indiana 4 Jim Lane Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
People's gain.
  • Green tickY William Cumback (People's) 51.92%
  • William G. Holman (Democratic) 48.08%
Indiana 5 Samuel W. Parker Whig 1851 Incumbent retired.
People's gain.
Indiana 6 Thomas A. Hendricks Democratic 1851 Incumbent lost re-election.
People's gain.
Indiana 7 John G. Davis Democratic 1851 Incumbent lost re-election.
People's gain.
Indiana 8 Daniel Mace Democratic 1851 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
People's gain.
  • Green tickY Daniel Mace (People's) 56.92%
  • James Davis (Democratic) 43.08%
Indiana 9 Norman Eddy Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
People's gain.
Indiana 10 Ebenezer M. Chamberlain Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
People's gain.
Indiana 11 Andrew J. Harlan Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
People's gain.
  • Green tickY John U. Pettit (People's) 56.59%
  • James R. Slack (Democratic) 43.41%
Close

Iowa

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Iowa 1 Bernhart Henn Democratic 1850 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Augustus Hall (Democratic) 50.27%
  • R. L. Clark (Whig) 49.50%
  • J. L. Ashbaugh (Independent) 0.23%
Iowa 2 William Vandever Whig 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig hold.
Close

Kentucky

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[8]
Kentucky 1 Linn Boyd Democratic 1839 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Kentucky 2 Benjamin E. Grey Whig 1851 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.[k]
Kentucky 3 Francis Bristow Whig 1854 (special) Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
  • Green tickY Warner Underwood (Know Nothing) 56.89%
  • James P. Bates (Democratic) 43.12%
Kentucky 4 James Chrisman Democratic 1853 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Kentucky 5 Clement S. Hill Whig 1853 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
  • Green tickY Joshua Jewett (Democratic) 51.64%
  • C. G. Wintersmith (Whig) 48.37%
Kentucky 6 John Milton Elliott Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Kentucky 7 William Preston Whig 1852 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Kentucky 8 John C. Breckinridge Democratic 1851 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
Kentucky 9 Leander Cox Whig 1853 Incumbent re-elected as a Know Nothing.
Know Nothing gain.
Richard H. Stanton
Redistricted from the 10th district
Democratic 1849 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic loss.
Kentucky 10 None (new district) New seat.
Know Nothing gain.
  • Green tickY Samuel F. Swope (Know Nothing) 51.72%
  • Henry C. Harris (Democratic) 48.28%
Close

Louisiana

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Louisiana 1 William Dunbar Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
Louisiana 2 Theodore G. Hunt Whig 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
Louisiana 3 John Perkins Jr. Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Louisiana 4 Roland Jones Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY John M. Sandidge (Democratic) 58.05%
  • William B. Lewis (Know Nothing) 41.95%
Close

Maine

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Maine 1 Moses Macdonald Democratic 1850 Incumbent retired.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY John M. Wood (Republican) 59.36%
  • Samuel Wells (Democratic) 39.91%
  • Lorenzo D. Wilkinson (Independent) 0.74%
Maine 2 Samuel Mayall Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY John J. Perry (Republican) 56.88%
  • William K. Kimball (Democratic) 42.46%
  • Charles J. Gilman (Independent) 0.66%
Maine 3 E. Wilder Farley Whig 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain.
Maine 4 Samuel P. Benson Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected as a Republican.
Maine 5 Israel Washburn Jr. Whig 1850 Incumbent re-elected as a Republican.
Maine 6 Thomas J. D. Fuller Democratic 1848 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Thomas J. D. Fuller (Democratic) 42.39%
  • James A. Milliken (Republican) 38.74%
  • Noah Smith (Whig) 18.88%
Close

Maryland

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Maryland 1 John Rankin Franklin Whig 1853 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
Maryland 2 Jacob Shower Democratic 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Maryland 3 Joshua Van Sant Democratic 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Maryland 4 William T. Hamilton Democratic 1849 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Maryland 5 Henry May Democratic 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Maryland 6 Augustus Rhodes Sollers Whig 1853 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
Close

Massachusetts

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Massachusetts 1 Thomas D. Eliot Whig 1854 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Massachusetts 2 Samuel L. Crocker Whig 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Massachusetts 3 J. Wiley Edmands Whig 1852 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
  • Green tickY William S. Damrell (Know Nothing) 74.76%
  • Nathaniel F. Safford (Whig) 16.67%
  • Edward Avery (Democratic) 5.38%
  • Arthur W. Austin (Independent) 2.26%
Massachusetts 4 Samuel H. Walley Whig 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Massachusetts 5 William Appleton Whig 1850 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Massachusetts 6 Charles W. Upham Whig 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Massachusetts 7 Nathaniel P. Banks Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Know Nothing gain.
Massachusetts 8 Tappan Wentworth Whig 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Massachusetts 9 Alexander DeWitt Free Soil 1852 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Know Nothing gain.
  • Green tickY Alexander DeWitt (Know Nothing) 76.97%
  • Isaac Davis (Democratic) 13.36%
  • Ira M. Barton (Whig) 7.45%
  • Alfred Mowrey (Independent) 1.42%
  • William P. Marble (Independent) 0.46%
  • Scattering 0.34%
Massachusetts 10 Edward Dickinson Whig 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Massachusetts 11 John Z. Goodrich Whig 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Close

Michigan

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Michigan 1 David Stuart Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain.
Michigan 2 David A. Noble Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain.
Michigan 3 Samuel Clark Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain.
Michigan 4 Hestor L. Stevens Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Close

Mississippi

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Mississippi 1 Daniel B. Wright Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 2 William S. Barry Democratic 1853 Incumbent retired to run for state representative.
Democratic hold.
Mississippi 3 William Barksdale
Redistricted from the at-large district
Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 4 Otho R. Singleton
Redistricted from the 3rd district
Democratic 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Mississippi 5 None (New seat) New seat.
Democratic gain.
Close

Missouri

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Missouri 1 Thomas Hart Benton Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
Missouri 2 Alfred W. Lamb Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
Missouri 3 James J. Lindley Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
Missouri 4 Mordecai Oliver Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Mordecai Oliver (Whig) 41.95%
  • S.L. Leonard (Democratic) 34.21%
  • Shelton J. Howe (Benton Democratic) 19.08%
  • J. F. Pitt (Ind. Whig) 4.76%
Missouri 5 John G. Miller Whig 1850 Incumbent re-elected.
Missouri 6 John S. Phelps Democratic 1844 Incumbent re-elected.
Missouri 7 Samuel Caruthers Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
Close

New Hampshire

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New Hampshire 1 George W. Kittredge Democratic 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
New Hampshire 2 George W. Morrison Democratic 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
New Hampshire 3 Harry Hibbard Democratic 1849 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
Close

New Jersey

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New Jersey 1 Nathan T. Stratton Democratic 1850 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
  • Green tickY Isaiah D. Clawson (Whig) 42.94%
  • Thomas W. Mulford (Democratic) 30.02%
  • John W. Hazelton (Temperance) 27.05%
New Jersey 2 Charles Skelton Democratic 1850 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
New Jersey 3 Samuel Lilly Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
New Jersey 4 George Vail Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY George Vail (Democratic) 51.65%
  • Peter Osborne (Anti-Nebraska) 48.35%
New Jersey 5 Alexander C. M. Pennington Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
Close

New York

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New York 1 James Maurice Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
  • Green tickY William Valk (Know Nothing) 31.19%
  • Daniel B. Allen (Hard Shell Democratic) 20.49%
  • Harvey W. Vail (Whig) 19.81%
  • Frederick Lord (Soft Shell Democratic) 16.48%
  • Gabriel P. Disosway (Temperance) 11.40%
New York 2 Thomas W. Cumming Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
New York 3 Hiram Walbridge Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
  • Green tickY Guy R. Pelton (Whig) 49.06%
  • George D. Clinton (Hard Shell Democratic) 30.70%
  • William Miner (Soft Shell Democratic) 20.24%
New York 4 Michael Walsh Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY John Kelly (Soft Shell Democratic) 40.54%
  • Michael Walsh (Hard Shell Democratic) 40.30%
  • Sanford L. Macomber (Whig) 10.89%
  • John W. Boyce (Know Nothing) 8.27%
New York 5 William M. Tweed Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
New York 6 John Wheeler Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John Wheeler (Hard Shell Democratic) 51.58%
  • John M. Murphy (Soft Shell Democratic) 25.61%
  • Charles H. Marshall (Whig) 22.81%
New York 7 William A. Walker Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
New York 8 Francis B. Cutting Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
  • Green tickY Abram Wakeman (Whig) 51.87%
  • James L. Curtis (Hard Shell Democratic) 32.52%
  • Edward B. Fellows (Soft Shell Democratic) 15.61%
New York 9 Jared V. Peck Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
New York 10 William Murray Democratic 1850 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
  • Green tickY Ambrose S. Murray (Whig) 44.05%
  • Charles S. Woodworth (Hard Shell Democratic) 38.59%
  • Jonathan Stratton (Soft Shell Democratic) 17.36%
New York 11 Theodoric R. Westbrook Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
  • Green tickY Rufus H. King (Whig) 62.98%
  • Elisha P. Strong (Democratic) 37.03%
New York 12 Isaac Teller Whig 1854 (special) Incumbent retired.
Whig hold.
  • Green tickY Killian Miller (Whig) 51.07%
  • Hugh McClelland (Soft Shell Democratic) 33.78%
  • William H. Wilson (Hard Shell Democratic) 15.16%
New York 13 Russell Sage Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Russell Sage (Whig) 63.22%
  • Henry A. Clum (Soft Shell Democratic) 18.86%
  • Alanson Cook (Hard Shell Democratic) 17.92%
New York 14 Rufus W. Peckham Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
  • Green tickY Samuel Dickson (Whig) 30.91%
  • John W. Harcourt (Know Nothing) 28.45%
  • John V. L. Pruyn (Soft Shell Democratic) 25.62%
  • Hamilton David (Hard Shell Democratic) 15.03%
New York 15 Charles Hughes Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
New York 16 George A. Simmons Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY George A. Simmons (Whig) 48.18%
  • Jerome B. Bailey (Know Nothing) 27.06%
  • Gorton T. Thomas (Soft Shell Democratic) 15.02%
  • Joseph R. Flanders (Hard Shell Democratic) 9.75%
New York 17 Bishop Perkins Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
New York 18 Peter Rowe Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
New York 19 George W. Chase Whig 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig hold.
  • Green tickY Jonas A. Hughston (Whig) 43.25%
  • Lewis R. Palmer (Soft Shell Democratic) 41.33%
  • William B. Hawes (Free Soil) 8.59%
  • Hezekiah Sturgis (Hard Shell Democratic) 6.84%
New York 20 Orsamus B. Matteson Whig Incumbent re-elected.
New York 21 Henry Bennett Whig 1848 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Henry Bennett (Whig) 56.03%
  • Edward Tompkins (Hard Shell Democratic) 32.04%
  • Oliver C. Crocker (Soft Shell Democratic) 11.93%
New York 22 Gerrit Smith Free Soil 1852 Incumbent resigned August 7, 1854.
Whig gain.
  • Green tickY Andrew Z. McCarty (Whig) 32.19%
  • Leander Babcock (Soft Shell Democratic) 27.50%
  • Charles G. Case (Free Soil) 21.24%
  • William Lewis (Hard Shell Democratic) 19.08%
New York 23 Caleb Lyon Independent 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
  • Green tickY William A. Gilbert (Whig) 46.35%
  • Willard Ives (Soft Shell Democratic) 41.86%
  • Lysander Brown (Hard Shell Democratic) 11.22%
  • Reuben Goodale (Abolition) 0.58%
New York 24 Daniel T. Jones Democratic 1850 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
  • Green tickY Amos P. Granger (Whig) 37.50%
  • Thomas G. Alvord (Soft Shell Democratic) 32.08%
  • B. Davis Noxon (Know Nothing) 26.62%
  • Sanford Parker (Hard Shell Democratic) 3.80%
New York 25 Edwin B. Morgan Whig 1850 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Edwin B. Morgan (Whig) 48.35%
  • George H. Middleton (Soft Shell Democratic) 43.50%
  • William F. Aldrich (Hard Shell Democratic) 8.15%
New York 26 Andrew Oliver Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Andrew Oliver (Soft Shell Democratic) 47.74%
  • James M. Seeley (Whig) 37.06%
  • Thomas M. Howell (Hard Shell Democratic) 15.20%
New York 27 John J. Taylor Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
New York 28 George Hastings Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
New York 29 Davis Carpenter Whig 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
New York 30 Benjamin Pringle Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Benjamin Pringle (Whig) 57.59%
  • Albert P. Laning (Soft Shell Democratic) 23.62%
  • Charles W. Belden (Hard Shell Democratic) 14.60%
  • Nathan V. Hull (Free Soil) 4.19%
New York 31 Thomas T. Flagler Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Thomas T. Flagler (Whig) 76.63%
  • Alden S. Blair (Democratic) 13.12%
  • Edward J. Chase (Free Soil) 10.25%
New York 32 Solomon G. Haven Whig 1850 Incumbent re-elected.
New York 33 Reuben Fenton Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
  • Green tickY Francis S. Edwards (Know Nothing) 55.49%
  • Reuben Fenton (Soft Shell Democratic) 42.47%
  • Ebenezer A. Lester (Hard Shell Democratic) 1.64%
  • George W. Patterson (Whig) 0.40%
Close

North Carolina

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
North Carolina 1 Henry M. Shaw Democratic 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
North Carolina 2 Thomas Hart Ruffin Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
North Carolina 3 William S. Ashe Democratic 1849 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Warren Winslow (Democratic) 54.94%
  • David Reid (Know Nothing) 45.06%
North Carolina 4 Sion H. Rogers Whig 1853 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
North Carolina 5 John Kerr Jr. Whig 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
North Carolina 6 Richard C. Puryear Whig 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
North Carolina 7 F. Burton Craige Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY F. Burton Craige (Democratic) 62.17%
  • Samuel N. Stowe (Know Nothing) 37.83%
North Carolina 8 Thomas L. Clingman Democratic 1843
1845 (lost)
1847
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Thomas L. Clingman (Democratic) 55.10%
  • Leander B. Carmichael (Know Nothing) 44.90%
Close

Ohio

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Ohio 1 David T. Disney Democratic 1848 Incumbent retired.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 2 John Scott Harrison Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 3 Lewis D. Campbell Whig 1848 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 4 Matthias H. Nichols Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 5 Alfred Edgerton Democratic 1850 Incumbent retired.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
  • Green tickY Richard Mott (Anti-Nebraska) 61.62%
  • Henry S. Cowager (Democratic) 38.38%
Ohio 6 Andrew Ellison Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 7 Aaron Harlan Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 8 Moses Bledso Corwin Whig 1852 Incumbent retired.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
  • Green tickY Benjamin Stanton (Anti-Nebraska) 75.84%
  • Enoch G. Dial (Democratic) 23.10%
  • J. Newell (Unknown) 1.06%
Ohio 9 Frederick W. Green Democratic 1850 Incumbent retired.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
  • Green tickY Cooper K. Watson (Anti-Nebraska) 59.92%
  • Josiah S. Plants (Democratic) 40.08%
Ohio 10 John L. Taylor Democratic 1846 Incumbent retired.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
  • Green tickY Oscar F. Moore (Anti-Nebraska) 65.32%
  • James W. Davis (Democratic) 34.68%
Ohio 11 Thomas Ritchey Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 12 Edson B. Olds Democratic 1848 Incumbent lost re-election.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 13 William D. Lindsley Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 14 Harvey H. Johnson Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 15 William R. Sapp Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
  • Green tickY William R. Sapp (Anti-Nebraska) 58.99%
  • William Dunbar (Democratic) 41.02%
Ohio 16 Edward Ball Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
  • Green tickY Edward Ball (Anti-Nebraska) 58.89%
  • William Galligher (Democratic) 41.11%
Ohio 17 Wilson Shannon Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 18 George Bliss Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 19 Edward Wade Free Soil 1852 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
  • Green tickY Edward Wade (Anti-Nebraska) 71.07%
  • Eli T. Wilder (Democratic) 28.42%
  • Irad Kelly (Independent) 0.51%
Ohio 20 Joshua Reed Giddings Free Soil 1843 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Ohio 21 Andrew Stuart Democratic 1848 Incumbent lost re-election.
Anti-Nebraska gain.
Close

Pennsylvania

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Pennsylvania 1 Thomas B. Florence Democratic 1848 Incumbent re-elected.
Pennsylvania 2 Joseph R. Chandler Whig 1848 Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig hold.
Pennsylvania 3 John Robbins Democratic 1848 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
Pennsylvania 4 William Henry Witte Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
Pennsylvania 5 John McNair Democratic 1850 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Pennsylvania 6 William Everhart Whig 1852 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
Pennsylvania 7 Samuel A. Bridges Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain.
Pennsylvania 8 J. Glancy Jones Democratic 1854 Incumbent re-elected.
Pennsylvania 9 Isaac E. Hiester Whig 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Independent gain.
Pennsylvania 10 Ner Middleswarth Whig 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig hold.
  • Green tickY John C. Kunkel (Whig) 55.99%
  • Amos Boughter (Democratic) 43.01%
  • George A. Seiler (Independent) 1.00%
Pennsylvania 11 Christian M. Straub Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig gain.
Pennsylvania 12 Hendrick B. Wright Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain.
Pennsylvania 13 Asa Packer Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Asa Packer (Democratic) 58.67%
  • Edward F. Stewart (Whig) 41.33%
Pennsylvania 14 Galusha A. Grow Democratic 1850 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Galusha A. Grow (Democratic) 95.22%
  • Jim Grow (Independent) 4.56%
  • Olin L. Hawley (Independent) 0.23%
Close

Rhode Island

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Rhode Island 1 Thomas Davis Democratic 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Rhode Island 2 Benjamin B. Thurston Democratic 1851 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Know Nothing gain.
Close

South Carolina

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
South Carolina 1 John McQueen Democratic 1849 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John McQueen (Democratic) 67.44%
  • I. D. Wilson (Unknown) 32.56%
South Carolina 2 William Aiken Jr. Democratic 1850 Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 3 Laurence M. Keitt Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 4 Preston Brooks Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Preston Brooks (Democratic) 66.84%
  • A. C. Garlington (Unknown) 33.16%
South Carolina 5 James L. Orr Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 6 William W. Boyce Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Close

Tennessee

Elections held late, on August 2, 1855.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Tennessee 1 Nathaniel G. Taylor Whig 1854 (special) Incumbent lost re-election as a Know Nothing.
Democratic gain.
Tennessee 2 William M. Churchwell Democratic 1851 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
Tennessee 3 Samuel A. Smith Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 4 William Cullom Whig 1851 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
Tennessee 5 Charles Ready Whig 1853 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Know Nothing gain.
Tennessee 6 George W. Jones Democratic 1842 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 7 Robert M. Bugg Whig 1853 Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
Tennessee 8 Felix Zollicoffer Whig 1853 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Know Nothing gain.
Tennessee 9 Emerson Etheridge Whig 1853 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Know Nothing gain.
Tennessee 10 Frederick P. Stanton Democratic 1845 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
Close

Texas

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Texas 1 George W. Smyth Democratic 1853 Incumbent retired.
Know Nothing gain.
Texas 2 Peter Hansborough Bell Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Close

Vermont

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[24]
Vermont 1 James Meacham Whig 1849 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY James Meacham (Whig) 71.1%
  • Solomon W. Jewett (Democratic) 28.6%
Vermont 2 Andrew Tracy Whig 1852 Incumbent retired.
Whig hold.
  • Green tickY Justin S. Morrill (Whig) 50.6%
  • J. W. Parker (Democratic) 35.7%
  • Oscar L. Shafter (Free Soil) 13.7%
Vermont 3 Alvah Sabin Whig 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Alvah Sabin (Whig) 68.2%
  • William Heywood (Democratic) 31.4%
Close

Virginia

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[25]
Virginia 1 Thomas H. Bayly Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 2 John Millson Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John Millson (Democratic) 53.3%
  • [FNU] Watts (Know Nothing) 46.7%
Virginia 3 John S. Caskie Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John S. Caskie (Democratic) 52.1%
  • William C. Scott (Know Nothing) 47.9%
Virginia 4 William Goode Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 5 Thomas S. Bocock Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 6 Paulus Powell Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Paulus Powell (Democratic) 56.7%
  • [FNU] Ligon (Know Nothing) 43.3%
Virginia 7 William Smith Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 8 Charles J. Faulkner Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 9 John Letcher Democratic 1851 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 10 Zedekiah Kidwell Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Zedekiah Kidwell (Democratic) 54.5%
  • William K. Pendleton (Know Nothing) 45.5%
Virginia 11 Charles S. Lewis Democratic 1854 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.
Know Nothing gain.
Virginia 12 Henry A. Edmundson Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia 13 Fayette McMullen Democratic 1849 Incumbent re-elected.
Close

Wisconsin

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[26]
Wisconsin 1 Daniel Wells Jr. Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 2 Ben C. Eastman Democratic 1850 Incumbent retired.
Republican gain.
Wisconsin 3 John B. Macy Democratic 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain.
Close

Non-voting delegates

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent This race
Delegate Party First elected Results Candidates
Kansas New seat New territory.
New delegate elected December 20, 1854.
Democratic gain.
Minnesota Henry Mower Rice Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
Nebraska
(33rd Congress)
New seat New territory.
New delegate elected December 12, 1854.[28][29]
Democratic gain.
Nebraska
(34th Congress)
Napoleon Bonaparte Giddings Democratic 1854 Incumbent retired.
New delegate elected November 5, 1855.[28]
Democratic hold.
Oregon Joseph Lane Democratic 1851 Incumbent re-elected.
Close

See also

Notes

  1. Includes two Anti-Broderick Democrats (California), one Anti-Benton Democrat (Missouri), one Hard-Shell Democrat (New York), and four Soft-Shell Democrats (New York)
  2. Counted as part of the plurality-winning "Opposition Party."
  3. While Martis, et al. count 51 Know Nothings, Dubin (p. 174) counts 52.
  4. Includes votes for those who ran labeled as an Anti-Broderick Democrat, Anti-Benton Democrat, Hard Shell Democrat or Soft-Shell Democrat.
  5. Included one Independent Whig: Anthony Ellmaker Roberts of Pennsylvania.
  6. Includes votes for those who ran labeled as an Independent, Benton Democrat, Independent Democrat, or Independent American.
  7. Compared to Whigs, Free Soilers, and Independents elected in the previous election of 1852.
  8. In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform date for choosing presidential electors (see: Statutes at Large, 28th Congress, 2nd Session, p. 721). Congressional elections were unaffected by this law, but the date was gradually adopted by the states for congressional elections as well.
  9. At-large district abolished in redistricting.
  10. Compared to just Whig Party members elected in the previous election of 1852. If Whig Party and Free Soil Party members are counted together, the increase was only Increase25.
  11. Listed as unsuccessful for re-election in Congressional bio, but no votes listed in source.
    • United States Congress. "1854–55 United States House of Representatives elections (id: G000453)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  12. Bennett led 578–560 in returns that included the results of Ottoe (175–95 Bennett), Richardson (76–36 Bennett), Dacotah (25–0 Chapman), and Burt (14–10 Chapman) counties. Gov. Izard excluded those results due to irregularities.

References

Bibliography

Wikiwand in your browser!

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.

Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.

Remove ads