The 1908 United States House of Representatives elections were held for the most part on November 3, 1908, with Oregon, Maine, and Vermont holding theirs early in either June or September. They coincided with the

1908 United States presidential election United States presidential election, Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 3, 1908. Republican Party (United States), Republican Party nominee William Howard Taft defeated threetime Democratic Party (United States), D ...

, which

William Howard Taft William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857March 8, 1930) served as the 27th president of the United States from 1909 to 1913 and the tenth chief justice of the United States from 1921 to 1930. He is the only person to have held both offices. ...

won. Elections were held for all 391 seats of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

, representing 46 states, to serve in the 61st United States Congress. Taft was not as popular as his predecessor,

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known as Teddy or T.R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt previously was involved in New York (state), New York politics, incl ...

, but won with Roosevelt's backing, and his Republican Party lost only a handful of seats to the opposition Democrats. Without any striking national issues, the Republicans were able to remain in control. Regional issues led to some changes in House membership, but new Democrats who were elected by dissatisfied industrial workers were balanced out by new Republicans who gained seats in districts with a strong

middle class The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. C ...

presence.

Election summaries

Special elections

There were nine special elections in 1908. , - ! , George W. Smith , , Republican , 1902 , , Incumbent died November 30, 1907.
New member elected February 15, 1908.
Republican hold. , nowrap , , - ! , Ariosto A. Wiley , , Democratic ,

1900 As of March 1 ( O.S. February 17), when the Julian calendar acknowledged a leap day and the Gregorian calendar did not, the Julian calendar fell one day further behind, bringing the difference to 13 days until February 28 ( O.S. February 15 ...

, , Incumbent died June 17, 1908.
New member elected November 3, 1908 to finish his brother's term.
Democratic hold. , nowrap , , - ! , Abraham L. Brick , , Republican , 1898 , , Incumbent died April 7, 1908.
New member elected November 3, 1908.
Democratic gain.
Winner was also elected the same day to the next term; see below. , nowrap , , - ! , Adolph Meyer , , Democratic ,

1890 Events January * January 1 – The Kingdom of Italy establishes Eritrea as its colony in the Horn of Africa. * January 2 – Alice Sanger becomes the first female staffer in the White House. * January 11 – 1890 British Ultimatum: The Uni ...

, , Incumbent died March 8, 1908.
New member elected November 3, 1908.
Democratic hold.
Winner was also elected the same day to the next term; see below. , nowrap , , - ! , Charles E. Littlefield , , Republican , 1899 , , Incumbent died September 30, 1908.
New member elected November 3, 1908.
Republican hold.
Winner had already been elected to the next term; see below. , nowrap , , - ! , Llewellyn Powers , , Republican ,

1876 Events January * January 1 ** The Reichsbank opens in Berlin. ** The Bass Brewery Red Triangle becomes the world's first registered trademark symbol. *January 27 – The Northampton Bank robbery occurs in Massachusetts. February * Febr ...

1878
1901 , , Incumbent died July 28, 1908.
New member elected November 3, 1908.
Republican hold.
Winner had already been elected to the next term; see below. , nowrap , , - ! , Charles T. Dunwell , , Republican , 1902 , , Incumbent died June 12, 1908.
New member elected November 3, 1908.
Republican hold.
Winner was also elected the same day to the next term; see below. , nowrap , , - ! , William H. Parker , , Republican , 1906 , , Incumbent died June 26, 1908.
New member elected November 3, 1908.
Republican hold.
Winner was also elected the same day to the next term; see below. , nowrap ,

Regular election dates

All the states held their regular elections November 3, 1908 except for three, which, held elections: * June 1:

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

* September 1:

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...

* September 14:

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

Alabama

Alaska Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Arizona Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Arkansas

California

, - ! , William F. Englebright , , Republican , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Duncan E. McKinlay , , Republican , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Joseph R. Knowland , , Republican , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Julius Kahn , , Republican , 1898 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Everis A. Hayes , , Republican , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , James C. Needham , , Republican , 1898 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , James McLachlan , , Republican ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Sylvester C. Smith , , Republican , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Colorado

, - ! , Robert W. Bonynge , , 1902 (contest) , , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Warren A. Haggott , , 1906 , , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , George W. Cook , , 1906 , , Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain. , nowrap ,

Connecticut

, - ! , E. Stevens Henry , , 1894 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Nehemiah D. Sperry , , 1894 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Edwin W. Higgins , , 1905 (special) , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Ebenezer J. Hill , , 1894 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , George L. Lilley , , 1904 , , Incumbent retired to run for governor.
Republican hold. , nowrap ,

Delaware

Florida

, - ! , Stephen M. Sparkman , , Democratic , 1894 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Frank Clark , , Democratic , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , William B. Lamar , , Democratic , 1902 , , Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator.
Democratic hold , nowrap ,

Georgia

Idaho

, - ! , Burton L. French , , Republican , 1902 , , Incumbent lost renomination.
Republican hold. , nowrap ,

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

, - ! , Daniel R. Anthony Jr. , , Republican , 1907 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Charles F. Scott , , Republican ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Philip P. Campbell , , Republican , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , James Monroe Miller , , Republican , 1898 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , William A. Calderhead , , Republican , 1894
1896
1898 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , William A. Reeder , , Republican , 1898 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Edmond H. Madison , , Republican ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Victor Murdock , , Republican , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

, - ! , William H. Jackson , , Republican , 1906 , , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , J. Frederick C. Talbott , , Democratic , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Harry B. Wolf , , Democratic , 1906 , , Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain. , nowrap , , - ! , John Gill Jr. , , Democratic , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Sydney E. Mudd I , , Republican , 1896 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , George A. Pearre , , Republican , 1898 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Massachusetts

, - ! , George P. Lawrence , , Republican , 1897 (special) , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Frederick H. Gillett , , Republican , 1892 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Charles G. Washburn , , Republican , 1906 (special) , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Charles Q. Tirrell , , Republican ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Butler Ames , , Republican , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Augustus P. Gardner , , Republican , 1902 (special) , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Ernest W. Roberts , , Republican , 1898 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Samuel W. McCall , , Republican , 1892 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , John A. Keliher , , Democratic , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Joseph F. O'Connell , , Democratic , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Andrew James Peters , , Democratic , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , John W. Weeks , , Republican , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , William S. Greene , , Republican , 1898 (special) , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , William C. Lovering , , Republican , 1896 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Michigan

Minnesota

, - ! , , , 1892 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , , , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , , , 1894 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , , , 1896 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , , , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , , , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , , , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , , , 1902 , , Incumbent lost renomination.
Republican hold. , nowrap , , - ! , , , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Mississippi

, - ! , Ezekiel S. Candler Jr. , , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Thomas Spight , , Democratic , 1898 (special) , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Benjamin G. Humphreys II , , Democratic , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Wilson S. Hill , , Democratic , 1902 , , Incumbent lost renomination.
Democratic hold. , nowrap , , - ! , Adam M. Byrd , , Democratic , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Eaton J. Bowers , , Democratic , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Frank A. McLain , , Democratic , 1898 (special) , , Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold. , nowrap , , - ! , John S. Williams , , Democratic , 1892 , , Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator.
Democratic hold. , nowrap ,

Missouri

Montana

, - ! , Charles N. Pray , , Republican , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Nebraska

, - ! , Ernest M. Pollard , , Republican , 1905 (special) , , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Gilbert Hitchcock , , Democratic , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , John F. Boyd , , Republican , 1906 , , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Edmund H. Hinshaw , , Republican , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , George W. Norris , , Republican , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Moses Kinkaid , , Republican , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

, - ! rowspan=2 ,
, Thomas F. Marshall , , Republican , nowrap ,

, , Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator.
Republican hold. , nowrap rowspan=2 , , - , Asle Gronna , , Republican , nowrap , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected.

Ohio

Oklahoma

, - ! , Bird S. McGuire , ,

1907 Events January * January 14 – 1907 Kingston earthquake: A 6.5 Moment magnitude scale, Mw earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica, kills between 800 and 1,000. February * February 9 – The "Mud March (suffragists), Mud March", the ...

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Elmer L. Fulton , ,

, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain. , nowrap , , - ! , James S. Davenport , ,

, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Charles D. Carter , ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Scott Ferris , ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Oregon

, - ! , Willis C. Hawley , , Republican , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , William R. Ellis , , Republican , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

, - ! , George Swinton Legaré , , Democratic , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , James O. Patterson , , Democratic , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Wyatt Aiken , , Democratic , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Joseph T. Johnson , , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , David E. Finley , , Democratic , 1898 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , J. Edwin Ellerbe , , Democratic , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , A. Frank Lever , , Democratic , 1901 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

South Dakota

, - ! rowspan=2 ,
, Philo Hall , , Republican , 1906 , , Incumbent lost renomination.
Republican hold. , rowspan=2 nowrap , , - , colspan=3 , Vacant (incumbent died June 26, 1908) , , Republican hold.

Tennessee

, - ! , Walter P. Brownlow , , Republican , 1896 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Nathan W. Hale , , Republican , 1904 , , Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican hold. , nowrap , , - ! , John A. Moon , , Democratic , 1896 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Cordell Hull , , Democratic , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , William C. Houston , , Democratic , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , John W. Gaines , , Democratic , 1896 , , Incumbent lost renomination.
Democratic hold. , nowrap , , - ! , Lemuel P. Padgett , , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Thetus W. Sims , , Democratic , 1896 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Finis J. Garrett , , Democratic , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , George Gordon , , Democratic , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. ,

Texas

Utah

Vermont

, - ! , David J. Foster , ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Kittredge Haskins , ,

, , Incumbent retired.
Republican hold. , nowrap ,

Virginia

, - ! , William A. Jones , ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Harry L. Maynard , ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , John Lamb , , 1896 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Francis R. Lassiter , , 1900 (special)
1902 (retired)
1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Edward W. Saunders , , 1906 (special) , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Carter Glass , , Democratic , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , James Hay , , Democratic , 1896 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Charles C. Carlin , , 1907 (special) , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , C. Bascom Slemp , , Republican , 1907 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Henry D. Flood , , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Washington

, - ! ,
Redistricted from the , , Republican , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! ,
Redistricted from the , , Republican , 1898 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! ,
Redistricted from the , , Republican , 1898 , , Incumbent retired.
Republican hold. , nowrap ,

West Virginia

, - ! , William P. Hubbard , , Republican , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , George C. Sturgiss , , Republican , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Joseph H. Gaines , , Republican ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Harry C. Woodyard , , Republican , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , James A. Hughes , , Republican ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Wisconsin

Wisconsin elected eleven members of congress on Election Day, November 3, 1908. , - ! , Henry Allen Cooper , , Republican , 1892 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , John M. Nelson , , Republican , 1906
, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , James W. Murphy , , Democratic , 1906 , , Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain. , nowrap , , - ! , William J. Cary , , Republican , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , William H. Stafford , , Republican , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Charles H. Weisse , , Democratic , 1902 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , John J. Esch , , Republican , 1898 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , James H. Davidson , , Republican , 1896 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Gustav Küstermann , , Republican , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Elmer A. Morse , , Republican , 1906 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , John J. Jenkins , , Republican , 1894 , , Incumbent lost re-nomination.
Republican hold. , nowrap ,

Wyoming

, - ! , Frank W. Mondell , , Republican , 1898 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Non-voting delegates

, - ! , Thomas Cale , , Independent , 1906 , , Incumbent retired.
New delegate elected August 11, 1908.
Republican gain. , nowrap , , - ! , - ! , William Henry Andrews , , Republican , 1904 , Incumbent re-elected November 3, 1908. , nowrap ,

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * * *

External links

Office of the Historian
(Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives) {{United States House of Representatives elections Presidency of William Howard Taft

Election summaries

Special elections

Regular election dates

Alabama

Alaska Territory

Arizona Territory

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 Mexico Territory

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Non-voting delegates

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links