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1872–73 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1870 & 1871 November 5, 1872 1874 & 1875 →
All 292 seats in the United States House of Representatives 147 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader James G. Blaine Fernando Wood Party Republican Democratic Leader's seat Maine 3rd New York 10th Last election 138 seats 94 seats Seats won 199 84 Seat change 61 9 Popular vote 3,561,090 2,813,934 Percentage 51.40% 40.62% Swing 3.26% 2.77%   Third party Fourth party   Party Liberal Republican Conservative Last election 2 seats 10 seats Seats won 4 4 Seat change 2 6 Popular vote 274,693 126,329 Percentage 3.97% 1.82% Swing 3.07% 1.05%   Fifth party   Party Independent Last election 1 seat Seats won 1 Seat change Popular vote 151,757 Percentage 2.19% Swing 0.45%
Results:      Democratic hold      Democratic gain      Republican hold      Republican gain      Conservative hold      Conservative gain      Liberal Republican gain      Independent Gain
Speaker before election James G. Blaine Republican Elected Speaker James G. Blaine Republican

The 1872–73 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between June 4, 1872, and April 7, 1873. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 43rd United States Congress convened on December 1, 1873. They coincided with the re-election of United States President Ulysses S. Grant. The congressional reapportionment based on the 1870 United States census increased the number of House seats to 292.

Grant's Republican Party increased its majority greatly, partly at the expense of the opposition Democratic Party and partly by adding 49 new seats to the House. The proindustry outlook of the Republicans appealed to many Northern voters, especially as the post-war economy exploded, and this allowed the party to flourish as the Industrial Revolution grew more widespread. The Republicans also benefited from a continuing association with victory in the American Civil War, as well as disarray amongst Democratic leadership.

Election summaries

Following the 1870 census, the House was reapportioned, initially adding 40 seats, followed by a subsequent amendment to the apportionment act adding another seat to 9 states, resulting in a total increase of 49 seats. No states lost seats, 10 states had no change, 13 states gained 1 seat each, 9 states gained 2 seats, 3 states gained 3 seats, 1 state gained 4 seats, and 1 state gained 5 seats. Prior to the supplemental act, two states (New Hampshire and Vermont) had each lost 1 seat. This was the first reapportionment after the repeal of the three-fifths compromise by the 14th Amendment.

This would prove the last time until 1966 that a Republican won a House seat in Arkansas.

State	Type	Total seats		Democratic		Republican
		Seats	Change	Seats	Change	Seats	Change
Alabama	District + 2 at-large	8	2	2	1	6	3
Arkansas	District + at-large	4	1	0	1	4	2
California	District	4	1	1	1	3
Connecticut	District	4		1		3
Delaware	At-large	1		0	1	1	1
Florida	At-large	2	1	0		2	1
Georgia	District	9	2	7	3	2	1
Illinois	District	19	5	5	1	14	6
Indiana	District + 3 at-large	13	2	3	2	10	4
Iowa	District	9	3	0		9	3
Kansas	At-large	3	2	0		3	2
Kentucky	District	10	1	10	1	0
Louisiana	District + 1 at-large	6	1	0		6	1
Maine	District	5		0		5
Maryland	District	6	1	4	1	2	2
Massachusetts	District	11	1	0		11	1
Michigan	District	9	3	0	1	9	4
Minnesota	District	3	1	0		3	1
Mississippi	District	6	1	1	1	5
Missouri	District	13	4	9	5	4	1
Nebraska	At-large	1		0		1
Nevada	At-large	1		1		0
New Hampshire	District	3		1	2	2	2
New Jersey	District	7	2	1	1	6	3
New York	District + 1 at-large	33	2	9	7	24	9
North Carolina	District	8	1	5		3	1
Ohio	District	20	1	6	1	14
Oregon	At-large	1		0	1	1	1
Pennsylvania	District + 3 at-large	27	3	5	6	22	9
Rhode Island	District	2		0		2
South Carolina	District + 1 at-large	5	1	0		5	1
Tennessee	District + 1 at-large	10	2	3	3	7	5
Texas	District + 2 at-large	6	2	6	3	0	1
Vermont	District	3		0		3
Virginia	District	9	1	5		4	1
West Virginia	District	3		2		1
Wisconsin	District	8	2	2		6	2
Total		292	49	89 30.5%	13	203 69.5%	62 30.5%

Election dates

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 this date as well. In 1872–73, there were still 9 states with earlier election dates, and 2 states with later election dates:

• Early elections (1872):
  • June 4 Oregon
  • August 1 North Carolina
  • August 27 West Virginia
  • September 3 Vermont
  • September 9 Maine
  • October 8 Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania
• Late elections (1873):
  • March 11, 1873 New Hampshire
  • April 7, 1873 Connecticut

Special elections

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• Georgia 8: 1873
• Louisiana 4: 1872
• Louisiana 4: 1873
• Massachusetts 3: 1873
• Oregon at-large: 1873
• Pennsylvania 13: 1872

Alabama

Arkansas

California

A new seat was added, following the 1870 U.S. census, bringing the delegation up from three to four Representatives.

Connecticut

Delaware

Delaware election

← 1870 November 5, 1872 1874 →

Nominee James R. Lofland Eustis Wright Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 11,378 11,023 Percentage 50.79% 49.21%

County results Lofland:      50–60% Wright:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election Benjamin T. Biggs Democratic Elected U.S. Representative James R. Lofland Republican

The election was held November 5, 1872.

Florida

Florida gained a second seat after the 1870 census, but delayed districting until 1874, electing both Representatives at-large for this election.

Georgia

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Illinois

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Indiana

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Iowa

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Kansas

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Kentucky

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Louisiana

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In the newly formed at-large district, George A. Sheridan (Liberal Republican) beat P. B. S. Pinchback (Republican), the first black Governor of Louisiana. Pinchback challenged the election and it was settled in February 1875, in Sheridan's favor, only one month before the end of the Congress.

Maine

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Maryland

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Massachusetts

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Michigan

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Minnesota

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Mississippi

Missouri

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Nebraska

Nevada

The election was held November 5, 1872.

New Hampshire

Elections were held March 11, 1873, After the March 4th beginning of the term.

New Jersey

New York

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North Carolina

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Ohio

After redistricting and eleven retirements, only four of the nineteen incumbents were re-elected.

Oregon

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Pennsylvania

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Rhode Island

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South Carolina

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Tennessee

Texas

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Vermont

Virginia

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wisconsin elected eight members of congress on Election Day, November 5, 1872. Two seats were newly added in reapportionment after the 1870 census.

Non-voting delegates

See also

• 1872 United States elections
  • 1872 United States presidential election
  • 1872–73 United States Senate elections
• 42nd United States Congress
• 43rd United States Congress

Notes

1. In the majority of states; 11 states held elections on different dates between June 4, 1872 and April 7, 1873.
2. Includes 1 Independent Republican.
3. ^ Includes 1 Independent Democrat, John J. Davis, elected to WV-01.
4. ^ Includes 1 Liberal Republican.
5. ^ Elections held late.
6. ^ Elections held early.
7. Includes 4 Liberal Republicans.
8. Thomas Boles lost election in 1870 to John Edwards, contested the election and was seated February 1872.
9. Wilshire (Republican) was initially seated (and thus is counted towards the party totals at this article), but the election was contested and the seat was subsequently awarded to Gunter (Democratic) during the 40th Congress's first session.
10. Represented the Brindle Tail Republican faction in Arkansas
11. Represented the Minstrel Republican faction in Arkansas

References

1. 17 Stat. 28
2. 17 Stat. 192
3. Heersink, Boris; Jenkins, Jeffrey A. (March 19, 2020). Republican Party Politics and the American South, 1865-1968. Cambridge University Press. p. 256. ISBN 978-1107158436.
4. 5 Stat. 721: 28th Congress, 2nd Sess., Ch. 1, enacted January 23, 1845
5. "State of Connecticut Elections Database » Search Past Election Results". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
6. ^ Guide to U.S. Elections. Vol. II (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. 2010. p. 1046. ISBN 9781604265361. LCCN 2009033938. OCLC 430736650.
7. "AL - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
8. "AL - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
9. "AL - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
10. "AL - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
11. "AL - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
12. "AL - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
13. "AL - At Large Race". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
14. "State of Connecticut Elections Database » Search Past Election Results". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
15. "DE District At Large - Nov 05, 1872". Our Campaigns. January 13, 2006. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
16. "Our Campaigns - LA - At Large Race - Nov 05, 1872". www.ourcampaigns.com.
17. "MS - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
18. "MS - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
19. "MS - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
20. "MS - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
21. "MS - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
22. "MS - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
23. "Our Campaigns - NE - District 01 Race - Oct 8, 1872". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
24. "Our Campaigns - NV - At-Large District Race - Nov 5, 1872". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
25. Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. Vol. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. p. 306.
26. "TN - At Large". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
27. "TN - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
28. "TN - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
29. "TN - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
30. "TN - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
31. "TN - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
32. "TN - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
33. "TN - District 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
34. "TN - District 08". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
35. "TN - District 09". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
36. "VT Elections Database » Vermont Election Results and Statistics". VT Elections Database. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
37. "Virginia Elections Database » Virginia Election Results and Statistics". Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
38. "WV District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
39. "WV District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
40. "WV District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
41. "Wisconsin U.S. House Election Results" (PDF). Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
42. Turner, A. J., ed. (1874). "Official directory". The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 444–445. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
43. "Our Campaigns - CO Territorial Delegate Race - Nov 05, 1872". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
44. "DK Territorial Delegate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
45. "ID Territorial Delegate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
46. "MT Territorial Delegate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
47. "WY Territorial Delegate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 11, 2021.

Bibliography

• Dubin, Michael J. (March 1, 1998). United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results of the Elections of the 1st Through 105th Congresses. McFarland and Company. ISBN 978-0786402830.
• Martis, Kenneth C. (January 1, 1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789-1989. Macmillan Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0029201701.
• Moore, John L., ed. (1994). Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections (Third ed.). Congressional Quarterly Inc. ISBN 978-0871879967.
• "Party Divisions of the House of Representatives 1789–Present". Office of the Historian, House of United States House of Representatives. Retrieved January 21, 2015.

External links

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

• 1872 United States House of Representatives elections
• 1873 United States House of Representatives elections
• Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant
• William A. Wheeler