The 1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 5, 1850, and November 4, 1851. Each state set its own date for its elections to the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

before the first session of the 32nd United States Congress convened on December 1, 1851. Elections were held for all 233 seats, representing 31 states. The Democrats gained 17 seats, increasing their majority relative to the rival Whigs, who lost 22 seats. Incumbent Whig

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Millard Fillmore Millard Fillmore (January 7, 1800 – March 8, 1874) was the 13th president of the United States, serving from 1850 to 1853. He was the last president to be a member of the Whig Party while in the White House, and the last to be neither a De ...

, who succeeded to the Presidency in July 1850 after the death of more charismatic General

Zachary Taylor Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was an American military officer and politician who was the 12th president of the United States, serving from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States ...

, lacked a strong political base. The

Compromise of 1850 The Compromise of 1850 was a package of five separate bills passed by the United States Congress in September 1850 that temporarily defused tensions between slave and free states during the years leading up to the American Civil War. Designe ...

, which admitted

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

alone as a free state in exchange for concessions to slave state interests, began integration of the

Mexican Cession The Mexican Cession () is the region in the modern-day Western United States that Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United S ...

. It appeared in the short term that Congress had politically feasible options to contain

sectionalism Sectionalism is loyalty to one's own region or section of the country, rather than to the country as a whole. Sectionalism occurs in many countries, such as in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom Sectionalism occurs most notably in the co ...

and to reduce tensions over expanding

slavery Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...

in the West. This optimism soon would prove unfounded. The Union Party, formed in support of the

, won 15 seats in the South, while the anti-Compromise

Southern Rights Party The Southern Rights Party, briefly known as the Resistance Party in the state of Georgia, was a political party in the United States organized in several slave states to oppose the Compromise of 1850, viewing it as inadequate protection for the Sou ...

won 8. The

Free Soil Party The Free Soil Party, also called the Free Democratic Party or the Free Democracy, was a political party in the United States from 1848 to 1854, when it merged into the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party. The party was focused o ...

, which opposed the expansion of slavery into the Western territories, lost five seats and was reduced to four Representatives, all in

New England New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...

Election summaries

One district in

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

had been vacant in the 31st Congress. No new seats were added. The previous election had 1

Know-Nothing The American Party, known as the Native American Party before 1855 and colloquially referred to as the Know Nothings, or the Know Nothing Party, was an Old Stock nativist political movement in the United States in the 1850s. Members of the m ...

and 1

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

Special elections

31st Congress

* : 1850 * : 1850 * : 1851 * : 1850 * : 1850

32nd Congress

Alabama

Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! , William J. Alston , , Whig ,

1849 Events January–March * January 1 – France begins issue of the Ceres series (France), Ceres series, the nation's first postage stamps. * January 5 – Hungarian Revolution of 1848: The Austrian army, led by Alfred I, Prince of Windisc ...

, , Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Arkansas

The election was held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! , Robert W. Johnson , , Democratic ,

1846 Events January–March * January 5 – The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Country with the United Kingdom. * January 13 – The Milan–Venice railway's bridge, over the Venetian Lagoon betwee ...

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

California

California's members were elected late, at-large statewide, September 3, 1851. There were nevertheless seated with the rest of the House at the beginning of the first session. , - ! rowspan=2 ,
, George W. Wright , , Independent ,

, , Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain. , rowspan=2 nowrap , , - , Edward Gilbert , , Democratic ,

, , Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.

Connecticut

Elections were held April 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! , Loren P. Waldo , ,

, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Walter Booth , , Free Soil ,

, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Chauncey F. Cleveland , ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Thomas B. Butler , , Whig ,

, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain. , nowrap ,

Delaware

The election was held November 12, 1850. , - ! , John W. Houston , , Whig , 1844 , , Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain. , nowrap ,

Florida

The election was held October 7, 1850. , - ! , Edward C. Cabell , , Whig , 1845 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

Georgia

Elections were held October 6, 1851. , - ! , Joseph W. Jackson , , Democratic , 1850 , , Incumbent re-elected.
Southern Rights gain. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Marshall Johnson Wellborn Marshall Johnson Wellborn (May 29, 1808 – October 16, 1874) was an American politician, lawyer and jurist. Born near Eatonton, Georgia in 1808 and attended the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens. He studied law and was admitted to the stat ...

, , Democratic , 1848 , , Incumbent retired.
Constitutional Union gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Allen F. Owen , , Whig , 1848 , , Incumbent retired.
Southern Rights gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Hugh A. Haralson , , Democratic , 1842 , , Incumbent retired.
Constitutional Union gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Thomas C. Hackett , , Democratic , 1848 , , Incumbent retired.
Constitutional Union gain. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Howell Cobb Howell Cobb (September 7, 1815 – October 9, 1868) was an American and later Confederate political figure. A southern Democrat, Cobb was a five-term member of the United States House of Representatives and the speaker of the House from 1849 to ...

, , Democratic , 1842 , , Incumbent retired.
Constitutional Union gain. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Alexander H. Stephens Alexander Hamilton Stephens (February 11, 1812 – March 4, 1883) was an American politician who served as the first and only Vice President of the Confederate States of America, vice president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865, and l ...

, , Democratic , 1843 , , Incumbent re-elected as a Unionist.
Constitutional Union gain. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Robert Toombs Robert Augustus Toombs (July 2, 1810 – December 15, 1885) was an American politician from Georgia, who was an important figure in the formation of the Confederacy. From a privileged background as a wealthy planter and slaveholder, Toomb ...

, , Whig , 1844 , , Incumbent re-elected as a Unionist.
Constitutional Union gain. , nowrap ,

Illinois

Elections were held November 5, 1850. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Indiana

Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Iowa

Elections were held August 5, 1850. , - ! , - !

Kentucky

Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Louisiana

Elections were held November 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Maine

Elections were held September 9, 1850. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Maryland

Elections were held October 1, 1851 elections were after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the new term, but still before the Congress convened in December 1851. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Massachusetts

Elections were held November 11, 1850, but at least one district's elections went to multiple ballots into 1851. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , colspan=3 , Vacant due to failure to elect. , , Whig gain. , nowrap , Fourth ballot , - ! , - ! , - ! ,

Julius Rockwell Julius Rockwell (April 26, 1805May 19, 1888) was a United States politician from Massachusetts, and the father of Francis Williams Rockwell. Rockwell was born in Colebrook, Connecticut, and educated at private schools and then Yale, where he ...

, , Whig , 1844 , , Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig hold. , nowrap , Fourth ballot
, - ! , - ! , - !

Michigan

Elections were held November 5, 1850. , - ! , Alexander W. Buel , ,

1848 1848 is historically famous for the wave of revolutions, a series of widespread struggles for more liberal governments, which broke out from Brazil to Hungary; although most failed in their immediate aims, they significantly altered the polit ...

, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain. , nowrap , , - ! , William Sprague , , Whig ,

, , Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Kinsley S. Bingham , ,

, , Incumbent retired.
Whig gain. , nowrap ,

Minnesota Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Mississippi

Elections were held November 3–4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! ,

Jacob Thompson Jacob Thompson (May 15, 1810 – March 24, 1885) was the United States Secretary of the Interior, who resigned on the outbreak of the American Civil War and became the Inspector General of the Confederate States Army. In 1864, Jefferson Davis ...

, , Democratic ,

1839 Events January–March * January 2 – The first photograph of the Moon is taken, by French photographer Louis Daguerre. * January 6 – Night of the Big Wind: Ireland is struck by the most damaging cyclone in 300 years. * January 9 – ...

, , Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate.
Union gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Winfield S. Featherston , , Democratic ,

1847 Events January–March * January 4 – Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the U.S. government. * January 13 – The Treaty of Cahuenga ends fighting in the Mexican–American War in California. * January 16 – John C. Fr� ...

, , Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate.
Union gain. , nowrap , , - ! , William McWillie , , Democratic ,

, , Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate.
Union gain. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Albert G. Brown Albert Gallatin Brown (May 31, 1813June 12, 1880) was Governor of Mississippi from 1844 to 1848 and a United States Democratic Party, Democratic United States Senator from Mississippi from 1854 to 1861, when he withdrew during secession. Early ...

, , Democratic ,

, , Incumbent re-elected as a Southern Rights candidate.
Southern Rights gain. , nowrap ,

Missouri

Elections were held August 5, 1850. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

New Hampshire

Elections were held March 11, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! ,

Amos Tuck Amos Tuck (August 2, 1810 – December 11, 1879) was an American attorney and politician in New Hampshire and a founder of the Republican Party in New Hampshire. Early life and education Born in Parsonsfield, Maine, August 2, 1810, the son ...

, , Free Soil ,

, , Incumbent won re-election as a Whig.
Whig gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Charles H. Peaslee , , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , George W. Morrison , , Democratic , 1850 (special) , , Incumbent lost re-election.
Whig gain. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Harry Hibbard Harry Hibbard (June 1, 1816 – July 28, 1872) was an American politician and a United States Representative from New Hampshire. Early life Born in Concord, Vermont, Hibbard pursued classical studies. He graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, ...

, , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap ,

New Jersey

Elections were held November 5, 1850. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

New Mexico Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

New York

Elections were held November 5, 1850. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

North Carolina

Elections were held August 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Ohio

Elections were held October 8, 1850. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Oregon Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Pennsylvania

Elections were held October 8, 1850. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Rhode Island

Elections were held April 2, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! , - !

South Carolina

Elections were held October 14–15, 1850. , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - !

Tennessee

Elections were held August 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! ,

Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808July 31, 1875) was the 17th president of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. The 16th vice president, he assumed the presidency following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Johnson was a South ...

, , Democratic ,

1842 Events January–March * January 6– 13 – First Anglo-Afghan War – Massacre of Elphinstone's army (Battle of Gandamak): British East India Company troops are destroyed by Afghan forces on the road from Kabul to Jalalabad, Afghan ...

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Albert G. Watkins , , Whig ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Josiah M. Anderson , , Whig ,

, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , John H. Savage , , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , George W. Jones , , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , George W. Jones (Democratic) 100% , - ! , James H. Thomas , , Democratic ,

, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Independent Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Meredith P. Gentry , , Whig ,

1845 Events January–March * January 1 – The Philippines began reckoning Asian dates by hopping the International Date Line through skipping Tuesday, December 31, 1844. That time zone shift was a reform made by Governor–General Narciso ...

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , Meredith P. Gentry (Whig) 100% , - ! , Andrew Ewing , , Democratic ,

, , Incumbent retired.
Whig gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Isham G. Harris , , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Frederick P. Stanton , , Democratic ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Christopher H. Williams , , Whig ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , Christopher H. Williams (Whig) 100%

Texas

Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! , - !

Utah Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont

Elections were held September 3, 1850. , - ! , William Henry , , Whig ,

, , Incumbent retired.
Whig hold. , nowrap , Second ballot , - ! , William Hebard , , Whig ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , James Meacham , , Whig , 1849 (special) , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Lucius B. Peck , ,

, , Incumbent retired.
Free Soil gain. , nowrap ,

Virginia

Elections were held October 23, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. , - ! , John Millson , ,

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

Richard Kidder Meade Richard Kidder Meade, Jr. (July 29, 1803 – April 20, 1862) was Virginia lawyer, plantation owner and politician who served in the Virginia Senate and in the United States House of Representatives, as well as U.S. minister to Brazil under ...

, , 1847 (special) , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Thomas H. Averett Thomas Hamlet Averett (July 10, 1800 – June 30, 1855) was an American physician, slave owner and U.S. Representative from Virginia from 1849 to 1853. Biography Born near Halifax, Virginia, Averett attended the common schools. He served as a ...

, ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Thomas S. Bocock , ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Paulus Powell , ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , James Seddon , ,

1847 (retired)

, , Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold. , nowrap , , - ! , Thomas H. Bayly , , 1844 (special) , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Alexander Holladay , ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Jeremiah Morton , , Ind. Whig ,

, , Incumbent lost re-election as a Democrat.
Whig gain. , nowrap , , - ! , Richard Parker , ,

, , Incumbent retired.
Whig gain. , nowrap , , - ! ,

James McDowell James McDowell (October 13, 1795 – August 24, 1851) was the 29th Governor of Virginia from 1843 to 1846 and was a U.S. Congressman from 1846 to 1851. Biography McDowell was born at "Cherry Grove," near Rockbridge County, Virginia, on ...

, , 1846 (special) , , Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold. , nowrap , , - ! , Henry A. Edmundson , ,

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

Fayette McMullen LaFayette "Fayette" McMullen (May 18, 1805 – November 8, 1880) was a 19th-century politician, driver, teamster and banker from the U.S. state of Virginia and the second appointed Governor of Washington Territory. Early life and family Born ...

, ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , James M. H. Beale , ,

, Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , Thomas Haymond , , Whig , 1849 (special) , , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain. , nowrap ,

Wisconsin

Elections were held November 5, 1850. , - ! , Charles Durkee , ,

Free Soil The Free Soil Party, also called the Free Democratic Party or the Free Democracy, was a political party in the United States from 1848 to 1854, when it merged into the Republican Party. The party was focused on opposing the expansion of slav ...

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

Orsamus Cole Orsamus R. Cole (August 23, 1819May 5, 1903) was an American lawyer and judge. He served as the 6th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and, until 2013, was the longest-serving justice in the Court's history, with nearly 37 years on t ...

, , Whig ,

, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! ,

James Duane Doty James Duane Doty (November 5, 1799 – June 13, 1865) was an American land speculator, politician, and pioneer. He served as the 2nd Governor of Wisconsin, governor (1841–1844) of the Wisconsin Territory and 5th Governor of Utah, governor ...

, , Democratic ,

, , Incumbent won re-election as an Independent.
Independent Democratic gain. , nowrap ,

Non-voting delegates

, - ! ,

Henry Hastings Sibley Henry Hastings Sibley (February 20, 1811 – February 18, 1891) was a fur trader with the American Fur Company, the first U.S. Congressional representative for Minnesota Territory, the first governor of the state of Minnesota, and a U.S. mi ...

, , Democratic , 1848
1849
1849 , Incumbent re-elected. , nowrap , , - ! , colspan=3 , New seat , , New seat.
Democratic gain. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Samuel Thurston Samuel Royal Thurston (April 15, 1816 – April 9, 1851) was an American pioneer, lawyer and politician. He was the first delegate from the Oregon Territory to the United States Congress and was instrumental in the passage of the Donation Land Cla ...

, , Democratic , 1849 , , Incumbent died April 9, 1851.
New delegate elected June 2, 1851.
Democratic hold. , nowrap , , - ! , colspan=3 , New seat , , New seat.
Independent gain. , nowrap ,

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * *

External links

Office of the Historian
(Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives) {{DEFAULTSORT:1850-51 United States House of Representatives elections John C. Breckinridge

Election summaries

Special elections

31st Congress

32nd Congress

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota Territory

Mississippi

Missouri

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico Territory

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon Territory

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah Territory

Vermont

Virginia

Wisconsin

Non-voting delegates

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links