1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections explained

Election Name:1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections
Country:United States
Flag Year:1848
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1848–49 United States House of Representatives elections
Next Election:1852–53 United States House of Representatives elections
Seats For Election:All 233 seats in the United States House of Representatives
Majority Seats:117
Election Date:August 5, 1850 – November 4, 1851
Image1:LinnBoyd.jpg
Leader1:Linn Boyd
Party1:Democratic Party (US)
Last Election1:113 seats
Seats1:120
Seat Change1: 7
Popular Vote1:1,142,783
Percentage1:43.31%
Swing1: 0.85%
Leader2:Edward Stanly
Party2:Whig Party (US)
Last Election2:106 seats
Seats2:82
Seat Change2: 24
Popular Vote2:1,105,286
Percentage2:41.89%
Swing2: 2.95%
Party4:Union
Color4:ffaadd
Last Election4:Pre-creation
Seats4:15
Seat Change4: 15
Popular Vote4:123,727
Percentage4:4.69%
Swing4:New Party
Party5:Southern Rights Party (US)
Last Election5:Pre-creation
Seats5:8
Seat Change5: 8
Popular Vote5:109,060
Percentage5:4.13%
Swing5:New Party
Party7:Free Soil Party
Last Election7:8 seats
Seats7:4
Seat Change7: 4
Popular Vote7:82,221
Percentage7:3.12%
Swing7: 5.54%
Party8:Independent (US)
Last Election8:3 seats
Seats8:4
Seat Change8: 1
Popular Vote8:70,262
Percentage8:2.79%
Swing8: 1.03%
Speaker
Before Election:Howell Cobb
After Election:Linn Boyd
Before Party:Democratic Party (US)
After Party:Democratic Party (US)

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.

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.

Election summaries

StateTypeDateTotal
seats
DemocraticFree SoilSouthern RightsUnionWhig
SeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChange
IowaDistrictAugust 5, 1850220000
MissouriDistrictAugust 5, 185052300033
VermontDistrictSeptember 3, 1850410003
MaineDistrictSeptember 9, 1850750002
FloridaAt-largeOctober 7, 1850100001
OhioDistrictOctober 8, 18502111110091
PennsylvaniaDistrictOctober 8, 185024156010094
South CarolinaDistrictdata-sort-value="October 14, 1850" October 14–15, 1850770000
IllinoisDistrictNovember 5, 1850
(Election Day)
760001
MichiganDistrict31100021
New JerseyDistrict54300013
New YorkDistrict34171601001715
WisconsinDistrict32110001
MassachusettsDistrictNovember 11, 18501011210071
DelawareAt-largeNovember 12, 185011100001
Late elections (after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term)
New HampshireDistrictMarch 11, 185142010021
Rhode IslandDistrictApril 2, 185121100011
ConnecticutDistrictApril 7, 185143101001
AlabamaDistrictAugust 4, 185174100112
ArkansasAt-largeAugust 4, 1851110000
IndianaDistrictAugust 4, 1851108010021
KentuckyDistrictAugust 4, 1851105100051
TexasDistrictAugust 4, 1851220000
North CarolinaDistrictAugust 7, 1851930006
TennesseeDistrictAugust 7, 18511170004
CaliforniaAt-largeSeptember 3, 18512210000
MarylandDistrictOctober 1, 185162100041
GeorgiaDistrictOctober 6, 18518040226604
VirginiaDistrictOctober 23, 185115130002
MississippiDistrictdata-sort-value="November 3, 1851" November 3–4, 1851404011330
LouisianaDistrictNovember 4, 185142100021
Total233130
174
53
310
1086
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.

Special elections

31st Congress

32nd Congress

Alabama

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

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Arkansas

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

|-! | Robert W. Johnson| | Democratic| 1846| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |}

California

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

|-! rowspan=2 |
| George W. Wright| | Independent| 1849| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| rowspan=2 nowrap |

|-| Edward Gilbert| | Democratic| 1849| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.|}

Connecticut

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

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Delaware

See also: List of United States representatives from Delaware.

The election was held November 12, 1850.

|-! | John W. Houston| | Whig| 1844| |Incumbent retired. New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |}

Florida

See also: List of United States representatives from Florida.

The election was held October 7, 1850.

|-! | Edward C. Cabell| | Whig| 1845| |Incumbent re-elected.
Whig hold.| nowrap | |}

Georgia

See also: List of United States representatives from Georgia.

Elections were held October 6, 1851.

|-! | Joseph W. Jackson| | Democratic| 1850| |Incumbent re-elected.
Southern Rights gain.| nowrap | |-! | Marshall Johnson Wellborn| | Democratic| 1848| | New member elected.
Union gain| nowrap | |-! | Allen F. Owen| | Whig| 1848| | New member elected.
Southern Rights gain| nowrap | |-! | Hugh A. Haralson| | Democratic| 1842| | New member elected.
Union gain| nowrap | |-! | Thomas C. Hackett| | Democratic| 1848| | New member elected.
Union gain| nowrap | |-! | Howell Cobb| | Democratic| 1842| | Incumbent retired. New member elected.
Union gain| nowrap | |-! | Alexander Hamilton Stephens| | Democratic| 1843| |Incumbent re-elected.
Union gain| nowrap | |-! | Robert Toombs| | Whig| 1844| |Incumbent re-elected.
Union gain| nowrap | |}

Illinois

See also: List of United States representatives from Illinois.

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

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Indiana

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

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Iowa

See also: List of United States representatives from Iowa. Elections were held August 5, 1850.

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Kentucky

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

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Louisiana

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

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Maine

See also: List of United States representatives from Maine.

Elections were held September 9, 1850.

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Maryland

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

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Massachusetts

See also: List of United States representatives from Massachusetts.

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

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|-! | colspan=3 | Vacant due to failure to elect.| | New member elected on the 4th ballot.
Whig gain.| nowrap |





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|-! | Julius Rockwell| | Whig| 1844 | | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected on the fourth ballot.
Whig hold.| nowrap |






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Michigan

See also: List of United States representatives from Michigan.

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

|-! | Alexander W. Buel| | 1848| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Whig gain.| nowrap |

|-! | William Sprague| | Whig| 1848| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Kinsley S. Bingham| | 1846| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig gain.| nowrap |

|}

Minnesota Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Mississippi

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

|-! | Jacob Thompson| | Democratic| 1839| | Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate.
New member elected.
Union gain. | nowrap |

|-! | Winfield S. Featherston| | Democratic| 1847| | Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate.
New member elected.
Union gain. | nowrap |

|-! | William McWillie| | Democratic| 1849| | Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate.
New member elected.
Union gain. | nowrap |

|-! | Albert G. Brown| | Democratic| 1847| | Incumbent re-elected.
Southern Rights gain. | nowrap |

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Missouri

See also: List of United States representatives from Missouri.

Elections were held August 5, 1850.

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New Hampshire

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

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New Jersey

See also: List of United States representatives from New Jersey.

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

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New Mexico Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

New York

See also: List of United States representatives from New York.

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

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North Carolina

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

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Ohio

See also: List of United States representatives from Ohio.

Elections were held October 8, 1850.

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Oregon Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Pennsylvania

See also: List of United States representatives from Pennsylvania.

Elections were held October 8, 1850.

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Rhode Island

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

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South Carolina

See also: List of United States representatives from South Carolina.

Elections were held October 14–15, 1850.

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Tennessee

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

|-! | Andrew Johnson| | Democratic| 1842| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Albert G. Watkins| | Whig| 1849| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Josiah M. Anderson| | Whig| 1849| |Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | John H. Savage| | Democratic| 1849| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | George W. Jones| | Democratic| 1842| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | George W. Jones (Democratic) 100%[4]

|-! | James H. Thomas| | Democratic| 1847| |Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Independent Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Meredith P. Gentry| | Whig| 1845| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | Meredith P. Gentry (Whig) 100%[5]

|-! | Andrew Ewing| | Democratic| 1849| |Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Isham G. Harris| | Democratic| 1849| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Frederick P. Stanton| | Democratic| 1845| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Christopher H. Williams| | Whig| 1849 | Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | Christopher H. Williams (Whig) 100%[6]

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Texas

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

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Utah Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont

See also: List of United States representatives from Vermont.

Elections were held September 3, 1850.

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Virginia

See also: List of United States representatives from 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.

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Wisconsin

See also: List of United States representatives from Wisconsin.

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

|-! | Charles Durkee| | Free Soil| 1848| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | Orsamus Cole| | Whig| 1848| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | James Duane Doty| | Democratic| 1848| | Incumbent won re-election as an Independent.
Independent Democratic gain.| nowrap | |}

Non-voting delegates

See also: Non-voting members of the United States House of Representatives.

|-! | Henry Hastings Sibley| | Democratic| 1848
1849
1849 | Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | colspan=3 | New seat| | New seat.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Samuel Thurston| | Democratic| 1849 | | Incumbent died April 9, 1851.
New delegate elected June 2, 1851.[7]
Democratic hold.| nowrap |

|-! | colspan=3 | New seat| | New seat.
Independent gain.| nowrap |

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See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MI - District 01 Race - Nov 05, 1850 . Our Campaigns . January 11, 2010 . June 27, 2022 .
  2. Web site: MI - District 02 Race - Nov 05, 1850 . Our Campaigns . January 11, 2010 . June 27, 2022 .
  3. Web site: MI - District 03 Race - Nov 05, 1850 . Our Campaigns . January 11, 2010 . June 27, 2022 .
  4. Web site: TN - District 05 . Our Campaigns . 16 February 2021.
  5. Web site: TN - District 07 . Our Campaigns . 16 February 2021.
  6. Web site: TN - District 11 . Our Campaigns . 16 February 2021.
  7. Web site: Earliest Authorities in Oregon . Oregon Secretary of State . 23.