New York's at-large congressional seat explained

State:	New York
District Number:	AL
Obsolete:	yes
Created:	1870 1880 1930
Eliminated:	1875 1885 1940
Years:	1873–1875 1883–1885 1933–1945
Population Year:	1870 1880 1940

On three occasions in New York history, some members of the United States House of Representatives were elected statewide at-large. This was due to an increase of the number of representatives after the previous federal census, and the failure of the State Legislature to re-apportion the congressional districts in time for the next election.

In 1872 and 1882, one representative each was elected for the ensuing term. The Legislature then re-apportioned the congressional districts before the elections in 1874 and 1884.

From 1933 to 1945, two representatives elected at-large sat in the House because the Legislature could not agree on a re-apportionment of the districts. For the election to the 79th United States Congress, which was held in 1944, the congressional districts were finally re-apportioned.

List of members representing the district

1873–1875: one seat

New York gained one seat following the 1870 census.

1883–1885: one seat

New York gained one seat following the 1880 census.

1933–1945: two seats

New York gained two seats following the 1930 census.

Years	Cong ress	Representative	Party	Electoral history	Representative	Party	Electoral history
Years	Cong ress	Seat A			Seat B
nowrap	March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935		align=left	John Fitzgibbons		Democratic	Elected in 1932. Retired.	align=left	Elmer E. Studley		Democratic	Elected in 1932. Retired.
nowrap	January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1943		nowrap rowspan=2 align=left	Matthew J. Merritt	Democratic	Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Retired.	align=left	Caroline O'Day		Democratic	Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Retired.
nowrap	January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1945		align=left	Winifred C. Stanley			Republican	Elected in 1942. Retired.

References

Book: Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. 1989. Macmillan Publishing Company. New York.
Book: Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. 1982. Macmillan Publishing Company. New York.
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present