1868–69 United States House of Representatives elections explained

Election Name:	1868–69 United States House of Representatives elections
Country:	United States
Flag Year:	1867
Type:	legislative
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	1866–67 United States House of Representatives elections
Next Election:	1870–71 United States House of Representatives elections
Seats For Election:	All 243 seats in the United States House of Representatives
Majority Seats:	122
Election Date:	June 1, 1868 – August 2, 1869
Image1:	Unsuccessful 1884.jpg
Leader1:	James Blaine
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Last Election1:	175 seats
Seats1:	171
Seat Change1:	4
Popular Vote1:	3,050,307
Percentage1:	51.81%
Swing1:	3.55%
Leader2:	Michael Kerr
Party2:	Democratic Party (US)
Last Election2:	47 seats
Seats2:	67
Seat Change2:	20
Popular Vote2:	2,598,042
Percentage2:	44.13%
Swing2:	3.44%
Party4:	Conservative Party (Virginia, 1867)
Last Election4:	2 seats
Seats4:	5
Seat Change4:	3
Popular Vote4:	187,553
Percentage4:	3.19%
Swing4:	1.19%
Party5:	Independent (US)
Last Election5:	2 seats
Seats5:	0
Seat Change5:	2
Popular Vote5:	58,332
Percentage5:	0.99%
Swing5:	0.77%
Speaker
Before Election:	Theodore M. Pomeroy
After Election:	James Blaine
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Party:	Republican Party (US)

The 1868–69 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between June 1, 1868, and August 2, 1869. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before or after the first session of the 41st United States Congress convened on March 4, 1869. They coincided with the 1868 United States presidential election, which was won by Ulysses S. Grant. Elections were held for all 243 seats, representing 37 states. All of the former Confederate states were represented in Congress for the first time since they seceded from the Union.

The Democrats gained 20 seats, but Grant's Republican Party retained a commanding majority in the Reconstruction era following the American Civil War, holding onto a firm legitimacy through an association with victory. As more Southern states exited Reconstruction, more Democratic seats appeared in the South. However, Democratic gains in the South were limited, as the Republican power-brokers of Reconstruction held a great deal of influence. The small Conservative Party of Virginia also picked up several seats in Virginia, as it had support among wealthy Southern leaders who wanted to increase the region's power.

Election summary

Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia were readmitted during this Congress, leaving Congress without vacant State delegations for the first time since 1860. Georgia had been partially readmitted in the previous Congress, but was not initially admitted to the 41st Congress. With Georgia's final readmission in 1870, all former Confederate states were once more represented in Congress.

↓

67	5	171
Democratic		Republican

State	Type	Total seats	Democratic	Conservative	Republican
				Seats		Change		Seats		Change		Seats		Change
Alabama	District	6		2	data-sort-value=2	2		0	data-sort-value=0			4	data-sort-value=-2	2
Arkansas	District	3		1	data-sort-value=1	1		0	data-sort-value=0			2	data-sort-value=-1	1
California	District	3		2	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			1	data-sort-value=0
Connecticut	District	4		1	data-sort-value=-2	2		0	data-sort-value=0			3	data-sort-value=2	2
Delaware	At-large	1		1	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0
Florida	At-large	1		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			1	data-sort-value=0
Georgia	District	7		4	data-sort-value=2	2		0	data-sort-value=0			3	data-sort-value=-1	1
Illinois	District + 1 at-large	14		4	data-sort-value=1	1		0	data-sort-value=0			10	data-sort-value=-1	1
Indiana	District	11		4	data-sort-value=1	1		0	data-sort-value=0			7	data-sort-value=-1	1
Iowa	District	6		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			6	data-sort-value=0
Kansas	At-large	1		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			1	data-sort-value=0
Kentucky	District	9		9	data-sort-value=2	2		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=-1	1
Louisiana	District	5		0	data-sort-value=-1	1		0	data-sort-value=0			5	data-sort-value=1	1
Maine	District	5		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			5	data-sort-value=0
Maryland	District	5		5	data-sort-value=2	2		0	data-sort-value=-1	1		0	data-sort-value=-1	1
Massachusetts	District	10		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			10	data-sort-value=0
Michigan	District	6		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			6	data-sort-value=0
Minnesota	District	2		1	data-sort-value=1	1		0	data-sort-value=0			1	data-sort-value=-1	1
Mississippi	District	5		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			5	data-sort-value=5	5
Missouri	District	9		2	data-sort-value=1	1		0	data-sort-value=0			7	data-sort-value=-1	1
Nebraska	At-large	1		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			1	data-sort-value=0
Nevada	At-large	1		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			1	data-sort-value=0
New Hampshire	District	3		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			3	data-sort-value=0
New Jersey	District	5		3	data-sort-value=1	1		0	data-sort-value=0			2	data-sort-value=-1	1
New York	District	31		12	data-sort-value=2	2		0	data-sort-value=0			19	data-sort-value=-2	2
North Carolina	District	7		1	data-sort-value=1	1		0	data-sort-value=-1	1		6	data-sort-value=0
Ohio	District	19		6	data-sort-value=3	3		0	data-sort-value=0			13	data-sort-value=-3	3
Oregon	At-large	1		1	data-sort-value=1	1		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=-1	1
Pennsylvania	District	24		6	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			18	data-sort-value=0
Rhode Island	District	2		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			2	data-sort-value=0
South Carolina	District	4		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			4	data-sort-value=0
Tennessee	District	8		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			8	data-sort-value=0
Texas	District	4		1	data-sort-value=1	1		0	data-sort-value=0			3	data-sort-value=3	3
Vermont	District	3		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			3	data-sort-value=0
Virginia	District	8		0	data-sort-value=0			5	data-sort-value=5	5		3	data-sort-value=3	3
West Virginia	District	3		0	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			3	data-sort-value=0
Wisconsin	District	6		1	data-sort-value=0			0	data-sort-value=0			5	data-sort-value=0
Total		243		67	data-sort-value=22	22		5	data-sort-value=3	3		171	data-sort-value=-6	6

Election dates

Mississippi held rejected elections on July 1, 1868. New (accepted) elections were held December 1, 1869.

In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform nationwide date for choosing presidential electors. This law did not affect election dates for Congress, which remained within the jurisdiction of State governments, but over time, the States moved their congressional elections to that date. 1868 was the first year in which the majority of States (20 of 37) held their elections on that date. There were still 9 states which held elections before that date and 4 that held regular elections after that date, in addition to 4 readmitted states that held elections after that date.

• Early dates (1868):
  • June 1: Oregon
  • September 1: Vermont
  • September 14: Maine
  • October 13: Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania
  • October 22: West Virginia
• Late dates (regular elections):
  • December 29, 1868: Florida
  • March 9, 1869: New Hampshire
  • April 5, 1869: Connecticut
  • August 2, 1869: Alabama
• Readmitted states:
  • July 6, 1869: Virginia
  • December 1, 1869: Mississippi (also held elections to the 42nd Congress on the same day)
  • December 3, 1868: Texas
  • December 20–22, 1870: Georgia

Special elections

See also: List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives.

There were special elections in 1868 and 1869 to the 40th United States Congress and 41st United States Congress.

Special elections are sorted by date then district.

40th Congress

Readmission of state are treated here as regular (late) elections, not special elections.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Representative	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
	Cornelius S. Hamilton		Republican	1866		Incumbent died December 22, 1867. New member elected January 27, 1868. Republican hold. Winner would later be re-elected to the next term; see below.	nowrap
	Thaddeus Stevens		Republican	1848		Incumbent died August 11, 1868. New member elected October 13, 1868. Republican hold. Winner was also elected the same day to the next term; see below.	nowrap
	Darwin A. Finney		Republican	1866		Incumbent died August 25, 1868. New member elected October 13, 1868. Republican hold. Winner was not a candidate for the same day's election to the next term; see below.	nowrap
	Joseph W. McClurg		Republican	1862		Incumbent resigned in July 1868. New member elected November 3, 1868. Republican hold. Winner was not a candidate for the same day's election to the next term; see below.	nowrap
	James M. Hinds		Republican	1868		Incumbent died October 22, 1868. New member elected on an unknown date. Republican hold. Winner was not elected to the next term; see below.	nowrap

41st Congress

Readmission of state are treated here as regular (late) elections, not special elections.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Representative	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
	George S. Boutwell		Republican	1862		Incumbent resigned March 12, 1869, after being appointed United States Secretary of the Treasury. New member elected November 2, 1869. Republican hold.	nowrap
	Elihu B. Washburne		Republican	1852		Incumbent resigned March 6, 1869, to become U.S. Secretary of State. New member elected December 6, 1869. Republican hold.	nowrap

Alabama

See also: List of United States representatives from Alabama.

1869 elections to the next term

Arkansas

See also: List of United States representatives from Arkansas.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Representative	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected. Republican gain.	nowrap
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected. Democratic gain.	nowrap
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected. Republican gain.	nowrap

California

Election Name:	California elections
Country:	California
Type:	legislative
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	United States House of Representatives elections in California, 1867
Previous Year:	1867
Next Election:	United States House of Representatives elections in California, 1871
Next Year:	1871
Seats For Election:	All 3 seats
Election Date:	November 3, 1868
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Last Election1:	2
Seats1:	2
Popular Vote1:	54,548
Percentage1:	50.3%
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Last Election2:	1
Seats2:	1
Popular Vote2:	53,873
Percentage2:	49.7%
Map Size:	160px

See main article: 1868 United States House of Representatives elections in California.

See also: List of United States representatives from California.

California's delegation remained at two Democrats and one Republican.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Representative	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
	Samuel Beach Axtell		Democratic	1867	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	William Higby		Republican	1863		Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Republican hold.	nowrap
	James A. Johnson		Democratic	1867	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap

Colorado Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Dakota Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Connecticut

See also: List of United States representatives from Connecticut.

Delaware

See also: List of United States representatives from Delaware.

Florida

Election Name:	United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 1868^[1]
Country:	Florida
Type:	legislative
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	1865 United States House of Representatives election in Florida
Previous Year:	1865
Next Election:	1870 United States House of Representatives election in Florida
Next Year:	1870
Seats For Election:	Florida's single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives
Election Date:	May 5, 1868 and December 29, 1868
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Seats1:	1
Popular Vote1:	14,108
Percentage1:	58.1%
Party2:	Democratic Party (US)
Seats2:	0
Popular Vote2:	7,915
Percentage2:	32.6%
Party3:	Independent (US)
Seats3:	0
Popular Vote3:	2,276
Percentage3:	9.4%

See main article: 1868 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida.

See also: List of United States representatives from Florida. Florida had been unrepresented in Congress since January 21, 1861, when its sole member and both senators withdrew from Congress following the secession of Florida from the Union. Following the end of the Civil War, an election had been held in 1865, but it was rejected by Congress. In 1868, Congress readmitted Florida following Reconstruction.

Election to the current term

The first election, for the duration of the 40th congress, was held May 5, 1868.^[2]

Hamilton was seated on July 1, 1868,^[3] during the 2nd session of the 40th Congress.

Election to the next term

Florida elected its one at-large member on December 29, 1868, re-electing Hamilton, who had just been elected in May to finish the current term.^[4]

Georgia

See also: List of United States representatives from Georgia.

Idaho Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Illinois

See also: List of United States representatives from Illinois.

Indiana

See also: List of United States representatives from Indiana.

Iowa

See also: List of United States representatives from Iowa.

Kansas

See also: List of United States representatives from Kansas.

Kentucky

See also: List of United States representatives from Kentucky and 1868 United States Senate special election in Kentucky.

Louisiana

See also: List of United States representatives from Louisiana.

Maine

See also: List of United States representatives from Maine.

Maryland

See also: List of United States representatives from Maryland.

Massachusetts

See also: List of United States representatives from Massachusetts and 1869 United States Senate election in Massachusetts.

|-! | Thomas D. Eliot| | Republican| 1858| |Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|-! | Oakes Ames| | Republican| 1862| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Ginery Twichell| | Republican| 1866| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Samuel Hooper| | Republican| 1861 (special)| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Benjamin Butler| | Republican| 1866| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Nathaniel P. Banks| | Republican| 1865 (special)| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | George S. Boutwell| | Republican| 1862| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | George F. Hoar| | Republican| 1862| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|-! | William B. Washburn| | Republican| 1862| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Henry L. Dawes| | Republican| 1856| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|}

Michigan

See also: List of United States representatives from Michigan.

Minnesota

See also: List of United States representatives from Minnesota.

Mississippi

See also: List of United States representatives from Mississippi.

1868 rejected elections

Mississippi elected its members July 1, 1868, but that election was later rejected by the House.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Representative	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected, but election rejected by the House.	nowrap
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected, but election rejected by the House.	nowrap
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected, but election rejected by the House.	nowrap
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected, but election rejected by the House.	nowrap
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected, but election rejected by the House.	nowrap

1869 accepted elections

Mississippi then held new elections December 1, 1869 both: to finish the term in the 40th Congress and to the next term (starting in 1871) in the 41st Congress. Both elections had the same vote totals and were accepted by the House. The new members were seated in 1870.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Representative	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected to finish the term and to the next term. Republican gain.	nowrap
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected to finish the term and to the next term. Republican gain.	nowrap
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected to finish the term and to the next term. Republican gain.	nowrap
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected to finish the term and to the next term. Republican gain.	nowrap
	None, seat not admitted				New member elected to finish the term and to the next term. Republican gain.	nowrap

Missouri

See also: List of United States representatives from Missouri.

Montana Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Nebraska

See also: List of United States representatives from Nebraska. |-! | John Taffe| | Republican | 1866| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|}

Nevada

See also: List of United States representatives from Nevada.

New Hampshire

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

New Jersey

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

New Mexico Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

New York

See also: List of United States representatives from New York and 1869 United States Senate election in New York.

North Carolina

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

Ohio

See also: List of United States representatives from Ohio and 1868 Ohio's 8th congressional district special election.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Representative	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates^[5]
	Benjamin Eggleston		Republican	1864		Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.	nowrap
	Samuel F. Cary		Ind-Republican	1867		Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican hold.	nowrap
	Robert C. Schenck		Republican	1862	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	William Lawrence		Republican	1864	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	William Mungen		Democratic	1866	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	Reader W. Clarke		Republican	1864		Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.	nowrap
	Samuel Shellabarger		Republican	1864		Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.	nowrap
	John Beatty		Republican	1868	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	Ralph P. Buckland		Republican	1864		Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.	nowrap
	James M. Ashley		Republican	1862		Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.	nowrap
	John Thomas Wilson		Republican	1866	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	Philadelph Van Trump		Democratic	1866	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	Columbus Delano		Republican	1866		Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.	nowrap
	Martin Welker		Republican	1864	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	Tobias A. Plants		Republican	1864		Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.	nowrap
	John Bingham		Republican	1864	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	Ephraim R. Eckley		Republican	1862		Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.	nowrap
	Rufus P. Spalding		Republican	1862		Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.	nowrap
	James A. Garfield		Republican	1862	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap

Oregon

See also: List of United States representatives from Oregon.

Pennsylvania

See also: List of United States representatives from Pennsylvania and 1869 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania.

Rhode Island

See also: List of United States representatives from Rhode Island.

South Carolina

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

Tennessee

See also: List of United States representatives from Tennessee.

|-! | Roderick R. Butler| | Republican | 1867| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Horace Maynard| | Republican| 1865| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | William B. Stokes| | Republican| 1865| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | James Mullins| | Republican| 1867| |Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|-! | John Trimble| | Republican| 1867| |Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|-! | Samuel M. Arnell| | Republican| 1865| Incumbent re-elected.|

|-! | Isaac R. Hawkins| | Republican| 1865| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | David A. Nunn| | Republican| 1867| |Incumbent lost re-election as an Independent Republican.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|}

Texas

See also: List of United States representatives from Texas.

Utah Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont

See also: List of United States representatives from Vermont.

Virginia

See also: List of United States representatives from Virginia.

Washington Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

West Virginia

See also: List of United States representatives from West Virginia.

|-! | Chester D. Hubbard| | Republican| 1864| | Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|-! | Bethuel Kitchen| | Republican| 1866| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|-! | Daniel Polsley| | Republican| 1866| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|}

Wisconsin

See also: List of United States representatives from Wisconsin. Wisconsin elected six members of congress on Election Day, November 3, 1868.^[6]

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
	Halbert E. Paine		Republican	1864	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	Benjamin F. Hopkins		Republican	1866	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	Amasa Cobb		Republican	1862	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	Charles A. Eldredge		Democratic	1862	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	Philetus Sawyer		Republican	1864	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap
	Cadwallader C. Washburn		Republican	1866	Incumbent re-elected.	nowrap

Non-voting delegates

Colorado Territory

See also: List of United States representatives from Colorado.

Montana Territory

The election date is speculative.

Wyoming Territory

On July 25, 1868, an act of Congress gave Wyoming Territory the authority to elect a congressional delegate, although the first delegate did not take his seat until 1869.^[7]

See also

• 1868 United States elections
  • 1868 United States presidential election
  • 1868–69 United States Senate elections
• 40th United States Congress
• 41st United States Congress

Bibliography

• Book: Congressional Directory for the First Session of the Forty-First Congress . Ben. Perley Poore . 1869 . 2nd . Washington DC . Government Printing Office . Massachusetts . 2027/nyp.33433081796686 .
• Book: Dubin, Michael J. . United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results of the Elections of the 1st Through 105th Congresses . McFarland and Company . March 1, 1998 . 978-0786402830.
• Book: Martis, Kenneth C. . The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789-1989 . Macmillan Publishing Company . January 1, 1989 . 978-0029201701.
• Book: John L. . Moore . Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections . Congressional Quarterly Inc. . Third . 1994 . 978-0871879967.
• Web site: Party Divisions of the House of Representatives* 1789–Present . Office of the Historian, House of United States House of Representatives . January 21, 2015.

External links

• Office of the Historian (Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)

Notes and References

1. May results shown here, see article for December election results
2. Web site: Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - May 05, 1868. www.ourcampaigns.com.
3. Web site: 40th Congress membership roster . May 13, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130309015130/http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/bioguide-front/40.pdf . March 9, 2013 . dead .
4. Web site: Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - Dec 29, 1868. www.ourcampaigns.com.
5. Book: History of the Republican Party in Ohio . Joseph P . Smith . 1898 . I . 258, 259 . the Lewis Publishing Company . Chicago .
6. Web site: Wisconsin U.S. House Election Results . Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120405132933/http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/cspg/research/election_data_archive/pdf/WI_US_House_Election_Results.pdf . April 5, 2012 . August 27, 2014 .
7. Web site: House History. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. April 15, 2010.