The 1848–49 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 1848 and November 1849. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the

31st United States Congress The 31st United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1849, ...

convened on December 3, 1849. The new state of Wisconsin elected its first representatives, and California also held its first congressional elections before officially achieving statehood in 1850, increasing the size of the House to 233 seats. These elections spanned the

1848 United States presidential election The 1848 United States presidential election was the 16th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 7, 1848. In the aftermath of the Mexican–American War, General Zachary Taylor of the Whig Party defeated Senator Lewis Cass ...

and took place amid the U.S. victory over Mexico in the (1846–48) Mexican–American War. The Whigs lost their House majority as Democrats, whose support had driven the war, gained a House plurality. Among minor parties, the Free Soil Party won nine Northern seats, while the American or "

Know Nothing The Know Nothing party was a nativist political party and movement in the United States in the mid-1850s. The party was officially known as the "Native American Party" prior to 1855 and thereafter, it was simply known as the "American Party". ...

" Party retained one. Following the discovery of gold in January 1848, California boomed, creating immediate pressure for statehood. The Compromise of 1850, though largely crafted in the Senate, was also passed by the House, brokering its admission to the Union. Anticipating statehood, California elected two members at-large on November 13, 1849, to be seated September 11, 1850. As neither major party held a majority when Congress convened on December 3, 1849 ⁠— the Democrats finished three seats short, while the Whigs had lost 12 seats and the majority ⁠— the election of a Speaker proved contentious. The Whigs were sectionally split, with Northern Whigs nominating incumbent speaker

Robert C. Winthrop Robert Charles Winthrop (May 12, 1809 – November 16, 1894) was an American lawyer and philanthropist, who served as the speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He was a descendant of John Winthrop. Early life Robert Charles ...

of Massachusetts and Southern Whigs supporting

Meredith P. Gentry Meredith Poindexter Gentry (September 15, 1809 – November 2, 1866) was an American politician who represented Tennessee's eighth and seventh districts in the United States House of Representatives. Biography Gentry was born in Rockingham ...

of Tennessee. Democrats primarily supported Howell Cobb of Georgia; 13 other Democratic hopefuls also garnered support. The small Free Soil Party, opposing expansion of slavery into the Western territories, supported David Wilmot of Pennsylvania, author of the Wilmot Proviso, calling attention to slave power's hold over both major parties. After nearly three weeks of heated debate, the House suspended its majority rule for the Speaker election: Cobb was elected on the 63rd ballot by

plurality Plurality may refer to: Voting * Plurality (voting), or relative majority, when a given candidate receives more votes than any other but still fewer than half of the total ** Plurality voting, system in which each voter votes for one candidate and ...

Election summaries

Wisconsin was apportioned an additional seat in 1848, and two more seats were added for the new state of California.

Special elections

30th Congress

, - ! , John W. Hornbeck , , Whig ,

1846 Events January–March * January 5 – The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Country with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom. * January 13 – The Milan–Venice railway' ...

, , Incumbent died January 16, 1848.
New member elected March 6, 1848.
Democratic gain.
Successor was not a candidate for the next term; see below. , nowrap , , - ! , John Quincy Adams , , Whig ,

1830 It is known in European history as a rather tumultuous year with the Revolutions of 1830 in France, Belgium, Poland, Switzerland and Italy. Events January–March * January 11 – LaGrange College (later the University of North Alabama) b ...

, , Incumbent died February 23, 1848.
New member elected April 3, 1848.
Whig hold.
Successor later re-elected for the next term; see below. , nowrap , , - ! , James A. Black , , Democratic ,

1843 Events January–March * January ** Serial publication of Charles Dickens's novel ''Martin Chuzzlewit'' begins in London; in the July chapters, he lands his hero in the United States. ** Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" ...

, , Incumbent died April 3, 1848.
New member elected October 10, 1848.
Democratic hold.
Successor later re-elected for the next term; see below. , nowrap , , - ! , John M. Holley , , Whig ,

, , Incumbent died March 8, 1848.
New member elected November 7, 1848.
Whig hold.
Successor later re-elected for the next term; see below. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Alexander D. Sims Alexander Dromgoole Sims (June 12, 1803 – November 22, 1848) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina. Born near Randals Ordinary, Virginia, Sims was a nephew of George Coke Dromgoole. He attended the rural schools of his native cou ...

, , Democratic ,

1844 In the Philippines, it was the only leap year with 365 days, as December 31 was skipped when 1845 began after December 30. Events January–March * January 15 – The University of Notre Dame, based in the city of the same name, receives ...

, , Incumbent died November 22, 1848.
New member elected January 9, 1849.
Democratic hold.
Successor later elected for the next term; see below. , nowrap , , - ! , , , , New delegate elected October 30, 1848.

31st Congress

, - ! ,

, , Democratic ,

, , Incumbent had been re-elected, see below, but died November 22, 1848.
New member elected January 16, 1849.
Democratic.
Successor having already been elected to finish the current term; see above. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Rodolphus Dickinson Rodolphus Dickinson (December 28, 1797 – March 20, 1849) was a U.S. Representative from Ohio, father of Edward F. Dickinson. Born in Hatfield, Massachusetts, Dickinson attended the public schools and Williams College, Williamstown, Massachuse ...

, , Democratic , , Incumbent died March 20, 1849.
New member elected in 1849. , - ! , , , , - ! , , ,

Alabama

Elections were held August 6, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Arkansas

The election was held August 7, 1848. , - ! ,

Thomas W. Newton Thomas Willoughby Newton (January 18, 1804 – September 22, 1853) was a Whig member of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Arkansas. Thomas was born in Alexandria, Virginia in 1804. Newton had little schooling in his e ...

, , Whig , 1847 (special) , , Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain. , nowrap ,

California

In California two at-large members were elected November 13, 1849 in anticipation of statehood and seated September 11, 1850. , - ! rowspan=2 ,
, colspan=3 , None , , New seat.
Independent gain. , rowspan=2 nowrap , , - , colspan=3 , None , , New seat.
Democratic gain.

Connecticut

Elections were held April 2, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Delaware

The election was held November 6, 1848. , - !

Florida

Florida's single at-large member was elected October 2, 1848. , - ! ,

Edward C. Cabell Edward Carrington Cabell (February 5, 1816 – February 28, 1896) was the first U.S. Representative from Florida. Biography Born in Richmond, Virginia; attended Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), Lexington, Virginia in 183 ...

, , Whig ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Georgia

Elections were held October 2, 1848. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Illinois

Elections were held August 7, 1848. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Indiana

Elections were held August 10, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Iowa

Elections were held August 7, 1848. , - ! , - !

Kentucky

Elections were held August 6, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Louisiana

Elections were held November 5, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Maine

Elections were held September 11, 1848. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Maryland

Elections were held October 3, 1849 elections were after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the new term, but still before the Congress convened in December 1849. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Massachusetts

Elections were held November 13, 1848. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , John G. Palfrey , , Whig ,

, , Incumbent lost re-election as Free Soil candidate.
No member elected due to failure to achieve majority vote.
Whig loss. , nowrap , , - ! , - ! , - ! ,

Julius Rockwell Julius Rockwell (April 26, 1805May 19, 1888) was a United States politician from Massachusetts, and the father of Francis Williams Rockwell. Rockwell was born in Colebrook, Connecticut and educated at private schools and then Yale, where he ...

, , Whig , 1844 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , - ! , - !

Michigan

Elections were held November 7, 1848. , - ! , Robert McClelland , ,

, , Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Charles E. Stuart Charles Edward Stuart (November 25, 1810May 19, 1887) was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan. Biography Stuart was born in New York, either near Waterloo, New York, or in Columbia County. He studied law, was admi ...

, ,

1847 Events January–March * January 4 – Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the U.S. government. * January 13 – The Treaty of Cahuenga ends fighting in the Mexican–American War in California. * January 16 – John C. Frémont ...

, , Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Whig gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Kinsley S. Bingham , ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Minnesota Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Mississippi

Elections were held November 5–6, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849. , - ! , Jacob Thompson , , Democratic ,

1839 Events January–March * January 2 – The first photograph of the Moon is taken, by French photographer Louis Daguerre. * January 6 – Night of the Big Wind: Ireland is struck by the most damaging cyclone in 300 years. * January 9 – T ...

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Winfield S. Featherston , , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Patrick W. Tompkins Patrick Watson Tompkins (1804May 8, 1853) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from Mississippi from 1847 to 1849. Biography Born in Kentucky in 1804, Tompkins received a limited education. He stud ...

, , Whig ,

, , Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Albert G. Brown Albert Gallatin Brown (May 31, 1813June 12, 1880) was Governor of Mississippi from 1844 to 1848 and a Democratic United States Senator from Mississippi from 1854 to 1861, when he withdrew during secession. Early life He was born to Joseph and ...

, , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Missouri

Elections were held August 7, 1848. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

New Hampshire

Elections were held March 13, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

New Jersey

Elections were held November 7, 1848. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

New York

Elections were held November 7, 1848. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

North Carolina

Elections were held August 7, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Ohio

Elections were held October 10, 1848. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Oregon Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Pennsylvania

Elections were held October 10, 1848. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Rhode Island

Elections were held April 4, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849. , - ! , - !

South Carolina

Elections were held October 9–10, 1848. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! ,

, , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected.
Incumbent then died November 22, 1848, leading to two special elections. , nowrap , , - ! , - ! , - !

Tennessee

Elections were held August 2, 1849. , - ! ,

Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808July 31, 1875) was the 17th president of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. He assumed the presidency as he was vice president at the time of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Johnson was a Dem ...

, , Democratic ,

1842 Events January–March * January ** Michael Alexander takes office, as the first appointee to the Anglican-German Bishopric in Jerusalem. ** American medical student William E. Clarke of Berkshire Medical College becomes the first pe ...

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! ,

William M. Cocke William Michael Cocke (July 16, 1815 – February 6, 1896) was an American politician who represented Tennessee's second district in the United States House of Representatives. Biography Cocke was born in Rutledge, Tennessee on July 16, 1815. ...

, , Whig ,

1845 Events January–March * January 10 – Elizabeth Barrett receives a love letter from the younger poet Robert Browning; on May 20, they meet for the first time in London. She begins writing her ''Sonnets from the Portuguese''. * January 23 ...

, , Incumbent lost re-election as a Democrat.
New member elected.
Whig hold. , nowrap , , - ! ,

John H. Crozier John Hervey Crozier (February 10, 1812 – October 25, 1889) was an American attorney and politician active primarily in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, during the mid-nineteenth century. Described as "an orator of uncommon brilliancy" and "one of ...

, , Whig ,

, , Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig hold. , nowrap , , - ! , Hugh L.W. Hill , , Democratic ,

, , Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold. , nowrap , , - ! ,

George W. Jones George Wallace Jones (April 12, 1804 – July 22, 1896) was an American frontiersman, entrepreneur, attorney, and judge, was among the first two United States Senators to represent the state of Iowa after it was admitted to the Union in 1846 ...

, , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! ,

James H. Thomas James Houston Thomas (September 22, 1808 – August 4, 1876) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for Tennessee's 6th congressional district. Biography Thomas was born in Iredell County, North Car ...

, , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! ,

, , Whig ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Washington Barrow George Washington Barrow (October 5, 1807 – October 19, 1866) was a slave owner, American politician, a member of the United States House of Representatives for Tennessee's 8th congressional district; he later fought against the Union as a mem ...

, , Whig ,

, , Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Lucien B. Chase , , Democratic ,

, , Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold. , nowrap , , - ! , Frederick P. Stanton , , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! ,

William T. Haskell William T. Haskell (July 21, 1818 – March 12, 1859) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for Tennessee's 11th congressional district. Biography Haskell was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on Jul ...

, , Whig ,

, , Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig hold. , nowrap ,

Texas

Elections were held August 6, 1849. , - ! , - !

Vermont

Elections were held September 5, 1848. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Virginia

Elections were held April 26, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Wisconsin

Wisconsin members were first elected in advance of its June 1848 statehood. It elected two members to finish the current term in the 30th Congress, and then it gained an elected an additional member for elections to the

31st Congress The 31st United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1849, ...

30th Congress

Wisconsin's two members were elected May 8, 1848. , - ! , colspan=3 , New seat , , New seat.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , colspan=3 , New seat , , New seat.
Democratic gain. , nowrap ,

31st Congress

Wisconsin's three members were elected November 7, 1848. , - ! , William Pitt Lynde , ,

Democratic Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

1848 1848 is historically famous for the wave of revolutions, a series of widespread struggles for more liberal governments, which broke out from Brazil to Hungary; although most failed in their immediate aims, they significantly altered the polit ...

, , Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Free Soil gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Mason C. Darling , ,

, , Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig gain. , nowrap , , - ! , colspan=3 , New seat , , New seat.
Democratic gain. , nowrap ,

Non-voting delegates

Going into these elections, there were no incumbent delegates, because the only territory — Wisconsin Territory — became a state in 1848. Two new territories — Minnesota Territory and Oregon Territory — were granted delegates in 1849. , - ! , colspan=3 , New district , , New seat.
New delegate elected July 7, 1849.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , colspan=3 , New district , , New seat.
New delegate elected in 1849.
Democratic gain. , nowrap ,

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * *

External links

Office of the Historian
(Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives) {{DEFAULTSORT:1848-49 United States House of Representatives elections

Election summaries

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Alabama

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See also

Notes

References

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