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
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 ...
William McKinley
William McKinley (January 29, 1843September 14, 1901) was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until Assassination of William McKinley, his assassination in 1901. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Repub ...
's first term. Elections were held for 357 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 45 states, to serve in the
56th United States Congress
The 56th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from March 4, 189 ...
. 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
William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) was an American lawyer, orator, and politician. He was a dominant force in the History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, running three times as the party' ...
'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
The previous elections of 1896 saw the election of 24 Populists, 2 Silver Republicans, and a Silver Party member.
Special elections
}
, -
!
,
William V. Sullivan
, , Democratic
,
1896
, , Incumbent resigned when
appointed U.S. Senator.
New member elected July 5, 1898.
Democratic hold.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
, -
!
, -
!
, -
!
, -
!
,
William F. Love
, , Democratic
,
1896
, , Incumbent died October 16, 1898.
New member elected November 29, 1898.
Democratic hold.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
John Simpkins
, , Republican
,
1894
, , Incumbent died March 27, 1898.
Republican hold.
, nowrap ,
Election dates
All the states held their elections November 8, 1898, except for 3 states, with 8 seats among them:
*June 6:
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 6:
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 12:
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
Arkansas
California
, -
!
,
John All Barham
, , Republican
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Marion De Vries
, , Democratic
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Samuel G. Hilborn
, , Republican
,
1894
, , Incumbent lost renomination.
Republican hold.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
James G. Maguire
, , Democratic
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, , Incumbent retired to
run for California Governor.
Republican gain.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Eugene F. Loud
, , Republican
,
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 re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Charles A. Barlow
, , Populist
,
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 lost re-election.
Republican gain.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Curtis H. Castle
, , Populist
,
1896
, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain.
, nowrap ,
Colorado
Connecticut
, -
!
,
E. Stevens Henry
,
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Nehemiah D. Sperry
,
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Charles A. Russell
,
,
1886
Events January
* January 1 – Upper Burma is formally annexed to British rule in Burma, British Burma, following its conquest in the Third Anglo-Burmese War of November 1885.
* January 5–January 9, 9 – Robert Louis Stevenson ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Ebenezer J. Hill
,
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
Delaware
Florida
, -
!
,
Stephen M. Sparkman
, , Democratic
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Robert Wyche Davis
, , Democratic
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
Georgia
Idaho
, -
!
,
James Gunn
James Francis Gunn Jr. (born August 5, 1966) is an American filmmaker. He began his career as a screenwriter in the mid-1990s, starting at Troma Entertainment with ''Tromeo and Juliet'' (1996). He then began working as a director, starting wi ...
, , Populist
,
1896
, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Silver Republican gain.
, nowrap ,
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
, -
!
,
George P. Lawrence
, , Republican
, 1897
(special)
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Frederick H. Gillett
, , Republican
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Joseph H. Walker
, , Republican
,
1888
, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
George W. Weymouth
, , Republican
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
William S. Knox
, , Republican
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
William H. Moody
, , Republican
, 1895
(special)
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
William Emerson Barrett
, , Republican
,
1894
, , Incumbent retired.
Republican hold.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Samuel W. McCall
, , Republican
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
John F. Fitzgerald
John Francis "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald (February 11, 1863 – October 2, 1950) was an American Democratic Party (United States), Democratic politician from Boston, Massachusetts. Fitzgerald served as mayor of Boston and a member of the United State ...
, , Democratic
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Samuel J. Barrows
, , Republican
,
1896
, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Charles F. Sprague
, , Republican
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
William C. Lovering
, , Republican
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
William S. Greene
, , Republican
,
1898 (special)
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
Michigan
Minnesota
, -
!
,
,
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
,
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
,
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
,
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
,
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
,
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
,
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
Mississippi
, -
!
,
John M. Allen
, , Democratic
,
1884
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Thomas Spight
, , Democratic
,
1898 (special)
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Thomas C. Catchings
, , Democratic
,
1884
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Andrew F. Fox
, , Democratic
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
John S. Williams
, , Democratic
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
, colspan=3 , Vacant (incumbent died October 16, 1898)
, , Democratic hold.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
, , Democratic
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
Missouri
Montana
, -
!
,
Charles S. Hartman
, , Silver Republican
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, , Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
, nowrap ,
Nebraska
, -
!
,
Jesse B. Strode
, , Republican
,
1894
, , Incumbent retired.
Republican hold.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
David H. Mercer
, , Republican
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Samuel Maxwell
, , Populist
,
1896
, , Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
William L. Stark
, , Populist
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Roderick D. Sutherland
, , Populist
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
William L. Greene
, , Populist
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
, -
!
,
Martin N. Johnson
, , Republican
,
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 retired to
run for U.S. senator.
Republican hold.
, nowrap ,
Ohio
Oregon
, -
!
,
Thomas H. Tongue
, , Republican
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
William R. Ellis
, , Republican
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, , Incumbent lost renomination.
Republican hold.
, nowrap ,
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
, -
!
,
William Elliott
, , Democratic
,
1886
Events January
* January 1 – Upper Burma is formally annexed to British rule in Burma, British Burma, following its conquest in the Third Anglo-Burmese War of November 1885.
* January 5–January 9, 9 – Robert Louis Stevenson ...
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
W. Jasper Talbert
, , Democratic
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Asbury Latimer
, , Democratic
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Stanyarne Wilson
, , Democratic
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Thomas J. Strait
, , Democratic
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, , Incumbent lost renomination.
Democratic hold.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
James Norton
, , Democratic
, 1897
(special)
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
J. William Stokes
, , Democratic
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
South Dakota
, -
! rowspan=2 ,
,
John Edward Kelley
, , Populist
,
1896
, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain.
, rowspan=2 nowrap ,
, -
,
Freeman Knowles
, , Populist
,
1896
, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain.
Tennessee
, -
!
,
Walter P. Brownlow
, , Republican
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Henry R. Gibson
, , Republican
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
John A. Moon
, , Democratic
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Benton McMillin
, , Democratic
,
1878
Events January
* January 5 – Russo-Turkish War: Battle of Shipka Pass IV – Russian and Bulgarian forces defeat the Ottoman Empire.
* January 9 – Umberto I becomes King of Italy.
* January 17 – Russo-Turkish War: ...
, , Incumbent retired to run for
Governor
A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
.
Democratic hold.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
James D. Richardson
, , Democratic
,
1884
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
John W. Gaines
, , Democratic
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Nicholas N. Cox
, , 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 re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Thetus W. Sims
, , Democratic
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Rice A. Pierce
, , Democratic
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Edward W. Carmack
, , Democratic
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
,
Texas
Utah
Vermont
, -
!
,
H. Henry Powers
, , Republican
,
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 re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
William W. Grout
, , Republican
,
1880
Events
January
*January 27 – Thomas Edison is granted a patent for the incandescent light bulb. Edison filed for a US patent for an electric lamp using "a carbon filament or strip coiled and connected ... to platina contact wires." gr ...
1882
(lost) 1884
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
Virginia
, -
!
,
William A. Jones
,
,
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 re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
! rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 ,
Richard A. Wise
, rowspan=2
, rowspan=2 ,
1896 (contest)
, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
, nowrap ,
, -
, , Election successfully challenged.
Republican gain.
,
Richard A. Wise (Republican)
, -
!
,
John Lamb
,
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Robert Taylor Thorp
,
,
1894 (contest) 1896 (contest)
, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Claude A. Swanson
,
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Peter J. Otey
,
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
James Hay
,
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
John Franklin Rixey
,
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
James A. Walker
,
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, , Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Jacob Yost
,
,
1896
, , Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
, nowrap ,
Washington
West Virginia
, -
!
,
Blackburn B. Dovener
, , Republican
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Alston G. Dayton
, , Republican
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Charles Dorr
, , Republican
,
1896
, , Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Warren Miller
, , Republican
,
1894
, , Incumbent retired.
Republican hold.
, nowrap ,
Wisconsin
Wisconsin elected ten members of congress on Election Day, November 8, 1898.
, -
!
,
Henry Allen Cooper
, , Republican
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Edward Sauerhering
, , Republican
,
1894
, , Incumbent retired.
Republican hold.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Joseph W. Babcock
, , Republican
,
1892
In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west.
Events
January
* January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Theobald Otjen
, , Republican
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Samuel S. Barney
, , Republican
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
James H. Davidson
, , Republican
,
1896
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Michael Griffin
, , Republican
,
1894
, , Incumbent retired.
Republican hold.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Edward S. Minor
, , Republican
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
Alexander Stewart
, , Republican
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
,
John J. Jenkins
, , Republican
,
1894
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
Wyoming
, -
!
,
John E. Osborne
, , Democratic
,
1896
, , Incumbent retired.
Republican gain.
, nowrap ,
Non-voting delegates
, -
!
, -
!
, -
!
,
James Y. Callahan
, , Free Silver
,
1896
, , Incumbent retired.
Republican gain.
, nowrap ,
See also
*
1898 United States elections
**
1898–99 United States Senate elections
*
55th United States Congress
*
56th United States Congress
The 56th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from March 4, 189 ...
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 McKinley