1842 United States elections explained

Year:1842
Type:Midterm elections
Incumbent President:John Tyler (Independent)[1]
Next Congress:28th
Senate Control:Whig hold
Senate Seats Contested:17 of 52 seats[2]
Senate Net Change:Democratic +3[3]
House Control:Democratic gain
House Seats Contested:All 223 voting seats
House Net Change:Democratic +49

The 1842 United States elections occurred in the middle of President John Tyler's term, during the Second Party System. Tyler had become president on April 4, 1841, upon the death of his predecessor, William Henry Harrison. Elected as vice president on the Whig ticket with Harrison in 1840, Tyler was expelled from the party in September 1841. Members of the 28th United States Congress were chosen in this election. Florida joined the union during the 28th Congress. Whigs kept control of the Senate, but lost control of the House.

Following the 1840 census, the size of the House was reduced by 19 seats. Democrats won massive gains, turning a commanding Whig majority into a dominant Democratic majority.[4]

In the Senate, Democrats picked up one seat, but Whigs retained the majority.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Tyler was elected vice president on the Whig ticket in the 1840 presidential election, and became president after the death of William Henry Harrison in April 1841. Due to various disagreements with congressional Whigs, he was expelled from the Whig Party in September 1841.
  2. Not counting special elections.
  3. Congressional seat gain figures only reflect the results of the regularly-scheduled elections, and do not take special elections into account.
  4. Web site: Party Divisions of the House of Representatives. United States House of Representatives. 25 June 2014.
  5. Web site: Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present. United States Senate. 25 June 2014.