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1868–69 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1866 & 1867 June 1, 1868 – August 2, 1869 1870 & 1871 →
All 243 seats in the United States 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 5 0 Seat change 3 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 1868–69 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between June 1, 1868, and August 2, 1869. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before or after the first session of the 41st United States Congress convened on March 4, 1869. They coincided with the 1868 United States presidential election, which was won by Ulysses S. Grant. Elections were held for all 243 seats, representing 37 states. All of the former Confederate states were represented in Congress for the first time since they seceded from the Union.

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 powerbrokers 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.

State	Type	Total seats	Democratic		Conservative		Republican
			Seats	Change	Seats	Change	Seats	Change
Alabama	District	6	2	2	0		4	2
Arkansas	District	3	1	1	0		2	1
California	District	3	2		0		1
Connecticut	District	4	1	2	0		3	2
Delaware	At-large	1	1		0		0
Florida	At-large	1	0		0		1
Georgia	District	7	4	2	0		3	1
Illinois	District + 1 at-large	14	4	1	0		10	1
Indiana	District	11	4	1	0		7	1
Iowa	District	6	0		0		6
Kansas	At-large	1	0		0		1
Kentucky	District	9	9	2	0		0	1
Louisiana	District	5	0	1	0		5	1
Maine	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	District	5	0		0		5	5
Missouri	District	9	2	1	0		7	1
Nebraska	At-large	1	0		0		1
Nevada	At-large	1	0		0		1
New Hampshire	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	District	19	6	3	0		13	3
Oregon	At-large	1	1	1	0		0	1
Pennsylvania	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	District	4	1	1	0		3	3
Vermont	District	3	0		0		3
Virginia	District	8	0		5	5	3	3
West Virginia	District	3	0		0		3
Wisconsin	District	6	1		0		5
Total		243	67 27.6%	22	5 2.1%	3	171 70.4%	6

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.

• Early dates (1868):
  • June 1: Oregon
  • September 1: Vermont
  • September 14: Maine
  • October 13: Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania
  • October 22: West Virginia
• ▌Late dates (regular elections):
  • December 29, 1868: Florida
  • March 9, 1869: New Hampshire
  • April 5, 1869: Connecticut
  • August 2, 1869: Alabama
• Readmitted states:
  • July 6, 1869: Virginia
  • December 1, 1869: Mississippi (also held elections to the 42nd Congress on the same day)
  • December 3, 1868: Texas
  • December 20–22, 1870: Georgia

Special elections

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.

41st Congress

Readmission of state are treated here as regular (late) elections, not special elections.

Alabama

1868 elections to finish the term

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

1869 elections to the next term

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Arkansas

California

California elections

← 1867 November 3, 1868 1871 →
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

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

Colorado Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Dakota Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Connecticut

Delaware

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Florida

United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 1868

← 1865 May 5, 1868 and December 29, 1868 1870 →
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%

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.

Hamilton was seated on July 1, 1868, 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.

Georgia

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Idaho Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Illinois

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Indiana

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Iowa

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Kansas

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Kentucky

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Louisiana

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Maine

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Maryland

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Massachusetts

Michigan

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Minnesota

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Mississippi

1868 rejected elections

Mississippi elected its members July 1, 1868, but that election was later 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.

Missouri

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Montana Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Nebraska

Nevada

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

New Hampshire

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

New Jersey

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

New Mexico Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

New York

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

North Carolina

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Ohio

Oregon

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Pennsylvania

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Rhode Island

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

South Carolina

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Tennessee

Texas

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

Utah Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont

Virginia

Washington Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

West Virginia

Wisconsin

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

Non-voting delegates

Colorado Territory

Montana Territory

The election date is speculative.

Idaho Territory

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.

See also

• 1868 United States elections
  • 1868 United States presidential election
  • 1868–69 United States Senate elections
• 40th United States Congress
• 41st United States Congress

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. Guide to U.S. Elections. Vol. II (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. 2010. p. 1042. ISBN 9781604265361. LCCN 2009033938. OCLC 430736650.
8. "State of Connecticut Elections Database » Search Past Election Results". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
9. May results shown here, see article for December election results
10. "Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - May 05, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
11. ^ "40th Congress membership roster" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 9, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
12. "Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - Dec 29, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
13. ^ 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.
14. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 01 Race - Jun 30, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
15. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 02 Race - Jun 30, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
16. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 03 Race - Jun 30, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
17. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 04 Race - Jun 30, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
18. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 05 Race - Jun 30, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com.
19. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 01 - Special Election Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
20. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 01 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
21. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 02 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
22. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 02 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
23. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 03 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
24. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 03 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
25. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 04 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
26. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 04 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
27. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 05 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
28. "Our Campaigns - MS - District 05 Race - Nov 30, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
29. "Our Campaigns - NE - District 01 Race - Oct 13, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
30. Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. Vol. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 258, 259.
31. "TN - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
32. "TN - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
33. "TN - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
34. "TN - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
35. "TN - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
36. "TN - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
37. "TN - District 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
38. "TN - District 08". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
39. "VT Elections Database » Vermont Election Results and Statistics". VT Elections Database. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
40. "Virginia Elections Database » Virginia Election Results and Statistics". Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
41. "WV District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
42. "WV District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
43. "WV District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
44. "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.
45. "Our Campaigns - CO Territorial Delegate Race - Nov 03, 1868".
46. ^ "Our Campaigns - MT Territorial Delegate Race - Nov 02, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.
47. "ID Territorial Delegate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
48. "House History". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
49. "Our Campaigns - WY Territorial Delegate - Initial Election Race - Sep 02, 1869". www.ourcampaigns.com.

Bibliography

• 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.
• 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)

• 1868 United States House of Representatives elections
• 1869 United States House of Representatives elections
• Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant
• William A. Wheeler