1870–71 United States House of Representatives elections explained

Election Name:1870–71 United States House of Representatives elections
Country:United States
Flag Year:1870
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1868–69 United States House of Representatives elections
Next Election:1872–73 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 6, 1870 –
October 6, 1871
Party1:Republican Party (US)
Image1:Unsuccessful 1884.jpg
Leader1:James G. Blaine
Last Election1:171 seats
Seats1:136
Seat Change1: 35
Popular Vote1:2,719,276
Percentage1:49.59%
Swing1: 2.22%
Party2:Democratic Party (US)
Leader2:Fernando Wood
Last Election2:61 seats
Seats2:94
Seat Change2: 33
Popular Vote2:2,441,956
Percentage2:44.53%
Swing2: 0.40%
Party4:Conservative Party (Virginia, 1867)
Last Election4:6 seats
Seats4:10
Seat Change4: 4
Popular Vote4:160,295
Percentage4:2.92%
Swing4: 0.27%
Party5:Liberal Republican Party (United States)
Last Election5:New Party
Seats5:2
Seat Change5: 2
Popular Vote5:55,551
Percentage5:1.01%
Swing5:Pre-creation
Party7:Independent (US)
Last Election7:0 seats
Seats7:1
Seat Change7: 1
Popular Vote7:98,591
Percentage7:1.80%
Swing7: 0.81%
Map Size:320px
Speaker
Before Election:James G. Blaine
After Election:James G. Blaine
Before Party:Republican Party (US)
After Party:Republican Party (US)

The 1870–71 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between June 6, 1870, and October 6, 1871. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before or after the first session of the 42nd United States Congress convened on March 4, 1871. They occurred in the middle of President Ulysses S. Grant's first term. Elections were held for all 243 seats, representing 37 states.

With Grant's administration rocked by a number of scandals (including a shady deal for gold speculation that led to a crash in the market and several business deals that saw high-ranking governmental officials gain kickbacks) and Reconstruction winding down, his Republican Party lost seats to the opposition Democratic Party but retained an overall majority. Also, since white-supremacist governments controlled by the Democratic Party were reestablishing themselves in some portions of the Southern United States, the Democrats were able to make huge gains in this election.

Election summaries

104139
DemocraticRepublican
StateTypeTotal
seats
DemocraticRepublican
SeatsChangeSeatsChange
MississippiDistrict505
AlabamaDistrict63 13 1
ArkansasDistrict312
CaliforniaDistrict30 23 2
ConnecticutDistrict413
DelawareAt-large110
FloridaAt-large11 10 1
GeorgiaDistrict743
IllinoisDistrict
+ 1 at-large
146 28 2
IndianaDistrict115 16 1
IowaDistrict606
KansasAt-large101
KentuckyDistrict990
LouisianaDistrict505
MaineDistrict505
MarylandDistrict550
MassachusettsDistrict10010
MichiganDistrict61 15 1
MinnesotaDistrict20 12 1
MissouriDistrict94 25 2
NebraskaAt-large101
NevadaAt-large11 10 1
New HampshireDistrict33 30 3
New JerseyDistrict52 13 1
New YorkDistrict3116 315 3
North CarolinaDistrict75 42 4
OhioDistrict195 114 1
OregonAt-large110
PennsylvaniaDistrict2411 313 3
Rhode IslandDistrict202
South CarolinaDistrict404
TennesseeDistrict86 62 6
TexasDistrict44 30 3
VermontDistrict303
VirginiaDistrict85 53
West VirginiaDistrict32 21 2
WisconsinDistrict62 14 1
Total243104
37139
32

The previous election included 5 Conservatives

Election dates

In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform nationwide date for choosing Presidential electors.[1] 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 this date as well. In 1870, there remained 12 States that held elections before Election Day, and 4 that held it after at this time:

Special elections

|-! |-! |-! |-! | Benjamin F. Hopkins| | Republican| 1866| | Incumbent died January 1, 1870.
New member elected February 15, 1870.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|}

Alabama

See also: List of United States representatives from Alabama.

Arizona Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Arkansas

See also: List of United States representatives from Arkansas.

|-! | Logan Roots| | Republican| 1868| | Incumbent defeated.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | Anthony A.C. Rogers| | Democratic| 1868| | Incumbent defeated.
New member elected.
Republican gain.| nowrap | |-! | Thomas Boles| | Republican| 1868| | Incumbent defeated.
New member elected.
Liberal Republican gain.| nowrap |

|}

California

Election Name:California elections
Country:California
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1868 United States House of Representatives elections in California
Previous Year:1868
Next Election:1872 United States House of Representatives elections in California
Next Year:1872
Seats For Election:3 seats
Election Date:September 6, 1871
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Last Election1:1
Seats1:3
Seat Change1: 2
Popular Vote1:62,539
Percentage1:52.3%
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Last Election2:2
Seats2:0
Seat Change2: 2
Popular Vote2:57,065
Percentage2:47.7%
Map Size:160px

See main article: 1871 United States House of Representatives elections in California.

See also: List of United States representatives from California.

|-! | Samuel Beach Axtell| | Democratic| 1867| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.| nowrap | |-! | Aaron Sargent| | Republican| 1868| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | James A. Johnson| | Democratic| 1867| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.| nowrap |

|}

Colorado Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Connecticut

See also: List of United States representatives from Alabama.

Dakota Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Delaware

See also: List of United States representatives from Delaware.

District of Columbia

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Florida

Election Name:Florida election
Country:Florida
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1868 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida
Previous Year:1868
Next Election:1872 United States House of Representatives election in Florida
Next Year:1872
Seats For Election:1 seat
Election Date:November 8, 1870 (Election Day)
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Last Election1:1
Seats1:1[2]
Popular Vote1:12,439
Percentage1:51.3%
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Last Election2:0
Seats2:0
Popular Vote2:11,812
Percentage2:48.7%

See main article: 1870 United States House of Representatives election in Florida.

See also: List of United States representatives from Florida.

|-! | Charles M. Hamilton| | Republican| 1868| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|}

Niblack subsequently successfully challenged Walls's election and was seated from Florida's at-large district on January 29, 1873.[3]

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.

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.

Michigan

See also: List of United States representatives from Michigan.

Minnesota

See also: List of United States representatives from Minnesota.

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 York

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

North Carolina

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

New Mexico Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Ohio

See also: List of United States representatives from Ohio.

|-! | Peter W. Strader| | Democratic| 1868| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.| nowrap | |-! | Job E. Stevenson| | Republican| 1868| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | Robert C. Schenck| | Republican| 1862| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | William Lawrence| | Republican| 1864| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | William Mungen| | Democratic| 1866| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.| nowrap | |-! | John Armstrong Smith| | Republican| 1868| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | James J. Winans| | Republican| 1868| | Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap | |-! | John Beatty| | Republican| 1868 | Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | Edward F. Dickinson| | Democratic| 1868| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.| nowrap | |-! | Erasmus D. Peck| | Republican| 1870 | Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | John Thomas Wilson| | Republican| 1866| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | Philadelph Van Trump| | Democratic| 1866| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | George W. Morgan| | Democratic| 1868| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | Martin Welker| | Republican| 1864| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap | |-! | Eliakim H. Moore| | Republican| 1868| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap | |-! | John Bingham| | Republican| 1864| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | Jacob A. Ambler| | Republican| 1868| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | William H. Upson| | Republican| 1868| Incumbent re-elected.| 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.

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 lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | Lewis Tillman| | Republican| 1868| |Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | William F. Prosser| | Republican| 1868| |Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | Samuel M. Arnell| | Republican| 1865| |Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| |-! | Isaac R. Hawkins| | Republican| 1865| |Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | William J. Smith| | Republican| 1868| |Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| 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.

|-! | Isaac H. Duval| | Republican| 1868| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | James McGrew| | Republican| 1868| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | John Witcher| | Republican| 1868| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|}

Wisconsin

See also: List of United States representatives from Wisconsin. Wisconsin elected six members of congress on Election Day, November 8, 1870.

|-! | Halbert E. Paine| | Republican| 1864| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | David Atwood| | Republican| 1870 | | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap | |-! | Amasa Cobb| | Republican| 1862| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap | |-! | Charles A. Eldredge| | Democratic| 1862| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | Philetus Sawyer| | Republican| 1864| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | Cadwallader C. Washburn| | Republican| 1866| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|}

Wyoming Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Non-voting delegates

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

|-! | Richard C. McCormick| | Republican| 1869| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | Allen A. Bradford| | Republican| 1868| | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost renomination.
New delegate elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap | |-! | Solomon L. Spink| | Republican| 1868| | Incumbent lost re-election as a Democrat.
New delegate elected.
Independent Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | colspan=3 | New district| | New seat.
New delegate elected in 1871.
Republican gain.| nowrap | |-! | Jacob K. Shafer| | Democratic| 1868| | Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.|nowrap | |-! | James M. Cavanaugh| | Democratic| 1859
1861
1868| | Incumbent lost renomination.
New delegate elected August 7, 1871.
Republican gain.| nowrap | |-! | José F. Chaves| | Republican| 1868| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | William H. Hooper| | Democratic| 1864| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap | |-! | Selucius Garfielde| | Republican| 1868| Incumbent re-elected June 6, 1870.| nowrap | |-! | Stephen F. Nuckolls| | Democratic| 1869| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.| nowrap |

|}

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Statutes at Large, 28th Congress, 2nd Session, p. 721.
  2. Initial result, Democratic candidate successfully challenged Republican victory
  3. Web site: Forty-Second Congress (membership roster) . June 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130309234550/http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/bioguide-front/42.pdf . March 9, 2013 . dead .