1868 and 1869 United States House of Representatives elections

Elections to the United States House of Representatives were held in 1868 to elect Representatives to the 41st United States Congress. The election coincided with the presidential election of 1868, which was won by Ulysses S. Grant.

1868 and 1869 United States House of Representatives elections
June 1, 1868 – August 2, 1869[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]
All 243[lower-alpha 3] seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
122 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader James Blaine Michael Kerr
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat Maine 3rd Indiana 3rd
Last election 175 seats 47 seats
Seats won 171 67
Seat change 4 20
Popular vote 3,050,307 2,598,042
Percentage 51.81% 44.13%
Swing 3.55% 3.44%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Conservative Independent
Last election 2 seats 2 seats
Seats won 6 0
Seat change 4 2
Popular vote 187,553 58,332
Percentage 3.19% 0.99%
Swing 1.19% 0.77%
Map of U.S. House elections results from 1868 elections for 41st Congress
Speaker before election

Theodore M. Pomeroy
Republican

 Elected Speaker

James Blaine
Republican

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 [lower-alpha 4] Republican
State Type Total
seats		 Democratic Conservative Republican
Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change
Alabama[lower-alpha 5] District 6 2 2 0 4 2
Arkansas District 3 1 1 0 2 1
California District 3 2 0 1
Connecticut[lower-alpha 5] District 4 1 2 0 3 2
Delaware At-large 1 1 0 0
Florida[lower-alpha 6] At-large 1 0 0 1
Georgia[lower-alpha 7] District 7[lower-alpha 8] 4 2 0 3 1
Illinois District
+ 1 at-large		 14 4 1 0 10 1
Indiana[lower-alpha 6] District 11 4 1 0 7 1
Iowa[lower-alpha 6] District 6 0 0 6
Kansas At-large 1 0 0 1
Kentucky District 9[lower-alpha 8] 9 2 0 0 1
Louisiana District 5 0 1 0 5 1
Maine[lower-alpha 6] District 5 0 0 5
Maryland District 5 5 2 0 1 0 1
Massachusetts District 10 0 0 10
Michigan District 6 0 0 6
Minnesota District 2 1 1 0 1 1
Mississippi[lower-alpha 7] District 5 0 0 5 5
Missouri District 9 2 1 0 7 1
Nebraska[lower-alpha 6] At-large 1 0 0 1
Nevada At-large 1 0 0 1
New Hampshire[lower-alpha 5] District 3 0 0 3
New Jersey District 5 3 1 0 2 1
New York District 31 12 2 0 19 2
North Carolina District 7 1 1 0 1 6
Ohio[lower-alpha 6] District 19 6 3 0 13 3
Oregon[lower-alpha 6] At-large 1 1 1 0 0 1
Pennsylvania[lower-alpha 6] District 24 6 0 18
Rhode Island District 2 0 0 2
South Carolina District 4 0 0 4
Tennessee District 8 0 0 8
Texas[lower-alpha 7] District 4 1 1 0 3 3
Vermont[lower-alpha 6] District 3 0 0 3
Virginia[lower-alpha 7] District 8 0 5 5 3 3
West Virginia[lower-alpha 6] District 3 0 0 3
Wisconsin District 6 1 0 5
Total[lower-alpha 3] 243 67
27.6%		 22 5
2.1%		 3 171
70.4%		 6
Popular vote
Republican
 
 51.81%
Democratic
 
 44.13%
Conservative
 
 3.19%
Independent
 
 0.99%
Others
 
 0.00%
House seats
Republican
 
 70.08%
Democratic
 
 27.46%
Conservative
 
 2.46%

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.

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
Ohio 8 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.
  • Y John Beatty (Republican) 52.02%
  • Barnabus Burns (Democratic) 48.17%[1]
Pennsylvania 9 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.
Pennsylvania 20 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.
Missouri 5 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.
Arkansas 2 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.

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
Massachusetts 7 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.
Illinois 3 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.

Alabama
See also: List of United States Representatives from Alabama and 1868 United States Senate elections in Alabama

Arkansas
See also: List of United States Representatives from Arkansas and 1868 United States Senate elections in Arkansas

California
California elections
November 3, 1868
All 3 seats
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 2 1
Seats won 2 1
Seat change
Popular vote 54,548 53,873
Percentage 50.3% 49.7%
  Democratic hold
  Republican hold
Main article: 1868 United States House of Representatives elections in California
See also: List of United States Representatives from California and 1868 United States Senate election in California

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

District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
California 1 Samuel Beach Axtell Democratic 1867 Incumbent re-elected.
California 2 William Higby Republican 1863 Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
California 3 James A. Johnson Democratic 1867 Incumbent re-elected.

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, 1869 United States Senate election in Delaware, and 1869 United States Senate special election in Delaware

Florida
United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 1868[7]
May 5, 1868 and
December 29, 1868
Florida's single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Seats won 1 0 0
Popular vote 14,108 7,915 2,276
Percentage 58.1% 32.6% 9.4%
Main article: 1868 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida
See also: List of United States Representatives from Florida and 1868 United States Senate elections in 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.[8]

District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
Florida at-large None State readmitted.
New member elected May 5, 1868 to finish the term and seated July 1, 1868.
Republican gain.[9]
Winner was later re-elected to the next term.
  • Y Charles M. Hamilton (Republican) 58.1%
  • John Friend (Democratic) 32.6%
  • Liberty Billings (Independent) 9.4%

Hamilton was seated on July 1, 1868,[9] 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.[10]

District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
Florida at-large Charles M. Hamilton Republican 1868[lower-alpha 9] Re-elected
  • Y Charles M. Hamilton (Republican) 56.4%
  • W. D. Barnes (Democratic) 38.5%
  • William U. Saunders (Independent) 5.1%

Georgia
See also: List of United States Representatives from Georgia

Idaho Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Illinois
See also: 1869 Illinois's 3rd congressional district special election and List of United States Representatives from Illinois

Indiana
See also: List of United States Representatives from Indiana and 1868 United States Senate election in 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 and 1868 United States Senate elections in Louisiana

Maine
See also: List of United States Representatives from Maine and 1869 United States Senate election in Maine

Maryland
See also: List of United States Representatives from Maryland and 1868 United States Senate special election in Maryland

Massachusetts
See also: 1869 Massachusetts's 7th congressional district special election, List of United States Representatives from Massachusetts, and 1869 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
Massachusetts 1
Massachusetts 2
Massachusetts 3
Massachusetts 4
Massachusetts 5
Massachusetts 6
Massachusetts 7
Massachusetts 8
Massachusetts 9
Massachusetts 10 Henry L. Dawes Republican 1856 Incumbent re-elected.[11]

Michigan
See also: List of United States Representatives from Michigan and 1869 United States Senate election in Michigan

Minnesota
See also: List of United States Representatives from Minnesota and 1869 United States Senate election in 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
Mississippi 1 None, seat not admitted New member elected, but election rejected by the House.
  • Y Charles Townsend (Democratic) 65.45%
  • Jefferson L. Wofford (Republican) 34.55%[12]
Mississippi 2 None, seat not admitted New member elected, but election rejected by the House.
  • Y T.N. Martin (Democratic) 65.47%
  • Jehiel Railsback (Republican) 34.53%[13]
Mississippi 3 None, seat not admitted New member elected, but election rejected by the House.
  • Y G.P. Turner (Democratic) 53.43%
  • Charles A. Sullivan (Republican) 46.57%[14]
Mississippi 4 None, seat not admitted New member elected, but election rejected by the House.
Mississippi 5 None, seat not admitted New member elected, but election rejected by the House.

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
Mississippi 1 None, seat not admitted New member elected to finish the term and to the next term.
Republican gain.
Mississippi 2 None, seat not admitted New member elected to finish the term and to the next term.
Republican gain.
Mississippi 3 None, seat not admitted New member elected to finish the term and to the next term.
Republican gain.
  • Y Henry W. Barry (Republican) 62.22%
  • Schuyler B. Steers (Democratic) 29.07%
  • J.D. Leflore (Independent) 8.71%[21][22]
Mississippi 4 None, seat not admitted New member elected to finish the term and to the next term.
Republican gain.
Mississippi 5 None, seat not admitted New member elected to finish the term and to the next term.
Republican gain.

Missouri
See also: 1868 Missouri's 5th congressional district special election, List of United States Representatives from Missouri, and 1868 United States Senate election in Missouri

Montana Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Nebraska
See also: List of United States Representatives from Nebraska and 1869 United States Senate election in Nebraska

Nevada
See also: List of United States Representatives from Nevada and 1869 United States Senate election in 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 and 1869 United States Senate election in 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 and 1868 United States Senate elections in North Carolina

Ohio
See also: List of United States Representatives from Ohio, 1868 Ohio's 8th congressional district special election, and 1868 United States Senate election in Ohio
District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates[27]
Ohio 1 Benjamin Eggleston Republican 1864 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 2 Samuel F. Cary Ind-Republican 1867 (Special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 3 Robert C. Schenck Republican 1862 Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 4 William Lawrence Republican 1864 Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 5 William Mungen Democratic 1866 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y William Mungen (Democratic) 59.3%
  • Thomas E. Grissell (Republican) 40.7%
Ohio 6 Reader W. Clarke Republican 1864 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 7 Samuel Shellabarger Republican 1864 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 8 John Beatty Republican 1868 (Special) Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y John Beatty (Republican) 52.0%
  • John H. Benson (Democratic) 48.0%
Ohio 9 Ralph P. Buckland Republican 1864 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 10 James M. Ashley Republican 1862 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 11 John Thomas Wilson Republican 1866 Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 12 Philadelph Van Trump Democratic 1866 Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 13 Columbus Delano Republican 1866[lower-alpha 10] Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 14 Martin Welker Republican 1864 Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 15 Tobias A. Plants Republican 1864 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 16 John Bingham Republican 1864 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y John Bingham (Republican) 50.8%
  • Josiah M. Estep (Democratic) 49.2%
Ohio 17 Ephraim R. Eckley Republican 1862 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 18 Rufus P. Spalding Republican 1862 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 19 James A. Garfield Republican 1862 Incumbent re-elected.

Oregon
See also: List of United States Representatives from Oregon

Pennsylvania
See also: 1868 Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district special election, 1868 Pennsylvania's 20th congressional district special election, 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 and 1868 United States Senate election in Rhode Island

South Carolina
See also: List of United States Representatives from South Carolina and 1868 United States Senate elections in South Carolina

Tennessee
See also: List of United States Representatives from Tennessee

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 and 1868 United States Senate election in 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

Wisconsin
See also: List of United States Representatives from Wisconsin

Wisconsin elected six members of congress on Election Day, November 3, 1868.[28]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Wisconsin 1 Halbert E. Paine Republican 1864 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 2 Benjamin F. Hopkins Republican 1866 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 3 Amasa Cobb Republican 1862 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Amasa Cobb (Republican) 61.6%
  • John H. Passmore (Democratic) 38.4%
Wisconsin 4 Charles A. Eldredge Democratic 1862 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 5 Philetus Sawyer Republican 1864 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 6 Cadwallader C. Washburn Republican 1866 Incumbent re-elected.

Non-voting delegates

Colorado Territory
See also: List of United States Representatives from Colorado
District Incumbent This race
Delegate Party First elected Results Candidates
Colorado Territory at-large George M. Chilcott Independent Republican 1866 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost renomination.
New delegate elected.
Republican gain.

Montana Territory

The election date is speculative.[30]

District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
Montana Territory at-large James M. Cavanaugh Democratic 1868 Incumbent re-elected.

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.[31]

District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
Wyoming Territory At-large None, new district. Territory organized in previous congress.
New delegate elected December 6, 1869.
Democratic gain.

See also

Notes
  1. Excludes states readmitted after the start of Congress.
  2. The majority of States held elections on November 3, 1868 (i.e. "Election Day") for the first time.
  3. Including late elections.
  4. Conservatives won 5 seats.
  5. Elections held late.
  6. Elections held early.
  7. Readmitted state.
  8. Previous election had one vacancy.
  9. Late election to 40th Congress.
  10. Columbus Delano lost election in 1866 to George W. Morgan, contested the election and was seated June 1868.

References
  1. "Our Campaigns - OH District 08 - Special Election Race - Jan 27, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  2. "Our Campaigns - PA District 9 - Special Election Race - Oct 13, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  3. "Our Campaigns - PA District 20 - Special Election Race - Oct 13, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  4. "Our Campaigns - MO District 5 - Special Election Race - Nov 03, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  5. "Our Campaigns - MA District 7 - Special Election Race - Nov 02, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  6. "Our Campaigns - IL District 3-Special Race - Dec 06, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  7. May results shown here, see article for December election results
  8. "Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - May 05, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  9. "40th Congress membership roster" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 9, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  10. "Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - Dec 29, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  11. Ben. Perley Poore (1869). "Massachusetts". Congressional Directory for the First Session of the Forty-First Congress (2nd ed.). Washington DC: Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/nyp.33433081796686.
  12. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 01 Race - Jun 30, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  13. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 02 Race - Jun 30, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  14. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 03 Race - Jun 30, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  15. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 04 Race - Jun 30, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  16. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 05 Race - Jun 30, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  17. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 01 - Special Election Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  18. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 01 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  19. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 02 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  20. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 02 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  21. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 03 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  22. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 03 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  23. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 04 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  24. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 04 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  25. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 05 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  26. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 05 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  27. Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 258, 259.
  28. "Wisconsin U.S. House Election Results" (PDF). Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  29. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=264165
  30. "Our Campaigns - MT Territorial Delegate Race - Nov 02, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  31. "House History". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
  32. "Our Campaigns - WY Territorial Delegate - Initial Election Race - Sep 02, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.

Bibliography
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