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1898 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1896 June 6, September 6, September 12, and November 8, 1898 1900 →
All 357 seats in the United States House of Representatives 179 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader David Henderson James Richardson Party Republican Democratic Leader since March 4, 1899 March 4, 1899 Leader's seat Iowa 3rd Tennessee 5th Last election 206 seats 124 seats Seats won 187 161 Seat change 19 37 Popular vote 5,305,230 4,828,592 Percentage 48.55% 44.18% Swing 0.22% 3.19%   Third party Fourth party   Party Populist Silver Republican Last election 22 2 Seats won 5 2 Seat change 17 Popular vote 463,059 60,805 Percentage 4.24% 0.56% Swing 2.62% 0.46%   Fifth party Sixth party   Party Silver Independent Last election 1 1 Seats won 1 1 Seat change Popular vote 5,766 96,537 Percentage 0.05% 0.88% Swing 0.31%
Speaker before election Thomas Reed Republican Elected Speaker David Henderson Republican

The 1898 United States House of Representatives elections were held for the most part on November 8, 1898, with Oregon, Maine, and Vermont holding theirs early in either June or September. They were held during the middle of President William McKinley's first term. Elections were held for 357 seats of the United States House of Representatives, representing 45 states, to serve in the 56th United States Congress. Special elections were also held throughout the year.

As in many midterm elections, the President's Republican Party lost seats, but was able to hold a majority over the Democratic Party. The Populist Party also lost many seats, as their movement began to decline. This was likely because many Populists rallied behind William Jennings Bryan's increasingly powerful branch of the Democratic Party, which built the rural economic issues advocated by Populists into their platform. As a result, the Democrats won a number of Western seats as well many in the Mid-Atlantic.

Election summaries

State	Type	Total seats	Democratic		Populist		Republican		Silver/ Silver Rep.
			Seats	Change	Seats	Change	Seats	Change	Seats	Change
Alabama	District	9	8	1	0	1	1		0
Arkansas	District	6	6		0		0		0
California	District	7	1	1	0	2	6	3	0
Colorado	District	2	0		1		0		1
Connecticut	District	4	0		0		4		0
Delaware	At-large	1	0	1	0		1	1	0
Florida	District	2	2		0		0		0
Georgia	District	11	11		0		0		0
Idaho	At-large	1	0		0	1	0		1	1
Illinois	District	22	8	3	0		14	3	0
Indiana	District	13	4		0		9		0
Iowa	District	11	0		0		11		0
Kansas	District +at-large	8	0		1	5	7	5	0
Kentucky	District	11	9	2	0		2	2	0
Louisiana	District	6	6		0		0		0
Maine	District	4	0		0		4		0
Maryland	District	6	2	2	0		4	2	0
Massachusetts	District	13	3	2	0		10	2	0
Michigan	District	12	0	2	0		12	2	0
Minnesota	District	7	0		0		7		0
Mississippi	District	7	7		0		0		0
Missouri	District	15	12		0		3		0
Montana	At-large	1	1	1	0		0		0	1
Nebraska	District	6	1	1	3	1	2		0
Nevada	At-large	1	0		0		0		1
New Hampshire	District	2	0		0		2		0
New Jersey	District	8	2	2	0		6	2	0
New York	District	34	18	12	0		16	12	0
North Carolina	District	9	5	4	1	4	3	1	0
North Dakota	At-large	1	0		0		1		0
Ohio	District	21	6		0		15		0
Oregon	District	2	0		0		2		0
Pennsylvania	District +2 at-large	30	10	7	0		20	7	0
Rhode Island	District	2	0		0		2		0
South Carolina	District	7	7		0		0		0
South Dakota	At-large	2	0		0	2	2	2	0
Tennessee	District	10	8		0		2		0
Texas	District	13	12		0		1		0
Utah	At-large	1	1		0		0		0
Vermont	District	2	0		0		2		0
Virginia	District	10	10	4	0		0	4	0
Washington	At-large	2	0	1	0		2	2	0	1
West Virginia	District	4	1	1	0		3	1	0
Wisconsin	District	10	0		0		10		0
Wyoming	At-large	1	0	1	0		1	1	0
Total		357	161 45.1%	37	6 1.7%	16	187 52.4%	20	3 0.8%	1

The previous elections of 1896 saw the election of 24 Populists, 2 Silver Republicans, and a Silver Party member.

Special elections

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Election dates

All the states held their elections November 8, 1898, except for 3 states, with 8 seats among them:

• June 6: Oregon
• September 6: Vermont
• September 12: Maine

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Virginia 1	William A. Jones	Democratic	1890	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y William A. Jones (Democratic) 66.5% ▌Joseph A. Bristow (Republican) 31.8% ▌H. L. Crockett (Prohibition) 0.8%
Virginia 2	Richard A. Wise	Republican	1896 (contest)	Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain.	▌Y William A. Young (Democratic) 55.8% ▌Richard A. Wise (Republican) 28.4% ▌William S. Holland (Republican) 15.8%
				Election successfully challenged. Republican gain.	▌Y Richard A. Wise (Republican)
Virginia 3	John Lamb	Democratic	1896	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y John Lamb (Democratic) 69.1% ▌Otis H. Russell (Republican) 18.8% ▌Benjamin B. Weisiger (Republican) 11.1% Others ▌John J. Quantz (Unknown) 0.6% ▌Allie Dillard (Unknown) 0.4%
Virginia 4	Robert Taylor Thorp	Republican	1894 (contest) 1896 (contest)	Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain.	▌Y Sydney P. Epes (Democratic) 57.5% ▌Robert Taylor Thorp (Republican) 39.2% Others ▌Booker Ellis (Republican) 1.7% ▌Thomas L. Jones (Republican) 1.3% ▌J. H. Beran (Unknown) 0.3%
Virginia 5	Claude A. Swanson	Democratic	1892	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Claude A. Swanson (Democratic) 57.0% ▌Edmund Parr (Republican) 41.8% Others ▌R. A. Bennett (Prohibition) 0.8% ▌R. O. Martin (Republican) 0.2% ▌C. T. Seay (Unknown) 0.2%
Virginia 6	Peter J. Otey	Democratic	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Peter J. Otey (Democratic) 66.9% ▌Daniel Butler (Republican) 15.8% ▌Charles A. Heermans (Republican) 14.4% ▌Ira W. Kimmell (Unknown) 2.4% ▌D. G. Revere (Unknown) 0.5%
Virginia 7	James Hay	Democratic	1896	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y James Hay (Democratic) 77.1% ▌D. C. O'Flaherty (Democratic) 22.9%
Virginia 8	John Franklin Rixey	Democratic	1896	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y John Franklin Rixey (Democratic) 88.8% ▌Edward Hughes (Independent) 8.5% Others ▌J. P. Johnson (Prohibition) 1.9% ▌John Underwood (Republican) 0.9%
Virginia 9	James A. Walker	Republican	1892	Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain.	▌Y William F. Rhea (Democratic) 51.0% ▌James A. Walker (Republican) 48.8% Others ▌Thaddeus E. Harris (Independent) 0.2% ▌John W. Watkins (Unknown) 0.2%
Virginia 10	Jacob Yost	Republican	1896	Incumbent retired. Democratic gain.	▌Y Julian M. Quarles (Democratic) 56.3% ▌Robert T. Hubard (Republican) 43.4% ▌Frank Smith (Independent) 0.3%

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wisconsin elected ten members of congress on Election Day, November 8, 1898.

Wyoming

Non-voting delegates

See also

• 1898 United States elections
  • 1898–99 United States Senate elections
• 55th United States Congress
• 56th United States Congress

Notes

1. Regulars only, not including specials
2. 1 Independent Populist
3. There were 6 Populists, 1 Silver, and 2 Silver Republicans
4. ^ Member of the Silver Republican Party faction elected.
5. ^ Includes 1 Independent Populist
6. Includes 2 members of the Silver Republican faction.

References

1. ^ Martis, p. 152–153.
2. "MS - District 06 Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
3. "MA District 13 - Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
4. "JoinCalifornia - 11-08-1898 Election". www.joincalifornia.com. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
5. "State of Connecticut Elections Database » Search Past Election Results". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
6. "ID At Large". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
7. University of Minnesota Libraries. "Minnesota Historical Election Archive". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
8. "MS - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
9. "MS - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
10. "MS - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
11. "MS - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
12. "MS - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
13. "MS - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
14. "MS - District 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
15. "MT At-Large". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
16. "Our Campaigns - NE - District 01 Race - Nov 8, 1898". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
17. "Our Campaigns - NE - District 02 Race - Nov 8, 1898". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
18. "Our Campaigns - NE - District 03 Race - Nov 8, 1898". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
19. "Our Campaigns - NE - District 04 Race - Nov 8, 1898". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
20. "Our Campaigns - NE - District 05 Race - Nov 8, 1898". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
21. "Our Campaigns - NE - District 06 Race - Nov 8, 1898". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
22. "ND At Large". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
23. "Our Campaigns - OR - District 01 Race - Jun 06, 1898". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
24. "Our Campaigns - OR - District 02 Race - Jun 06, 1898". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
25. "Elections in States". The Tribune Almanac and Political Register 1900. New York: The Tribune Association. 1900. p. 338 – via Hathi Trust Digital Library.
26. "TN - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
27. "TN - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
28. "TN - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
29. "TN - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
30. "TN - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
31. "TN - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
32. "TN - District 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
33. "TN - District 08". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
34. "TN - District 09". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
35. "TN - District 10". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
36. "VT Elections Database » Vermont Election Results and Statistics". VT Elections Database. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
37. "Virginia Elections Database » Virginia Election Results and Statistics". Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
38. "WV District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
39. "WV District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
40. "WV District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
41. "WV District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
42. "Wisconsin U.S. House Election Results" (PDF). Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
43. Froehlich, William H., ed. (1899). "Biographical Sketches". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin 1899 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
44. "WY At-Large". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
45. "Our Campaigns - OK Territorial Delegate Race - Nov 08, 1898".

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)

• 1898 United States House of Representatives elections
• Presidency of William McKinley