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1840–41 United States House of Representatives elections

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The 1840–41 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between July 6, 1840, and November 2, 1841. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives, before or after the first session of the 27th United States Congress convened on May 31, 1841. Elections were held for all 242 seats, representing 26 states.

1840–41 United States House of Representatives elections
← 1838 & 1839 July 6, 1840 – November 2, 1841 1842 & 1843 →
All 242 seats in the United States House of Representatives
122 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader John White John Jones
Party Whig Democratic
Leader's seat Kentucky 9th Virginia 3rd
Last election 116 seats 126 seats
Seats won 142 98
Seat change Increase 26 Decrease 28
Popular vote 1,089,609 1,021,051
Percentage 51.04% 47.83%
Swing Increase 1.31% Decrease 2.18%
  Third party
 
Party Independent
Last election 0 seats
Seats won 2 [a]
Seat change Increase 2
Popular vote 18,063
Percentage 0.85%
Swing Increase 0.44%
Results:
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Whig hold      Whig gain
     Independent gain      Independent Democrat gain
Speaker before election

Robert M. T. Hunter
Whig

Elected Speaker

John White
Whig

In a Whig wave, voters gave the Whig Party a House majority for the first time. Most Americans experienced the Panic of 1837 as a severe economic downturn. Its perceived mishandling by Democratic President Martin Van Buren fueled new support for alternative economic policies favored by Whigs of which voters had previously been skeptical. Collapse of the Anti-Masonic Party in the late 1830s also drove some third-party incumbents into the Whig Party. Newly elected members included Robert M. T. Hunter, Independent of Virginia,[1][2][3] and Zadok Casey, Independent Democrat of Illinois.[4][5]

Election summaries

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↓
98 2 142
Democratic [b] Whig
State Type Date Total
seats 		Democratic Whig
Seats Change Seats Change
Louisiana Districts July 6–8, 1840 3 1  1 2  1
Missouri At-large August 3, 1840 2 2   0  
Illinois Districts August 7, 1840 3 2[c]   1  
Vermont Districts September 4, 1840 5 0  2 5  2
Maine Districts September 14, 1840 8 4  2 4  2
Arkansas At-large October 5, 1840 1 1   0  
Georgia At-large October 6, 1840 9 0   9  
South Carolina Districts October 12–13, 1840 9 8   1  
Ohio Districts October 13, 1840 19 7  4 12  4
Pennsylvania District (25[d]) October 13, 1840 28 15  2 13  8
New York District (33[e]) November 2–4, 1840 40 21  2 19  2
Connecticut Districts November 3, 1840 6 0   6  
Michigan At-large November 3, 1840 1 0  1 1  1
New Jersey At-large November 3, 1840 6 0  5 6  5
Massachusetts Districts November 9, 1840 12 1  1 11  1
Delaware At-large November 10, 1840 1 0  1 1  1
1841 elections
New Hampshire At-large March 9, 1841 5 5   0  
Rhode Island At-large April 21, 1841 2 0   2  
Virginia[f] Districts April 23, 1841 21[f] 10  2 10  3
Kentucky Districts April 26, 1841 13 2   11  
Indiana Districts May 3, 1841 7 1  4 6  4
Tennessee Districts May 6, 1841 13 5  1 8  1
North Carolina Districts May 13, 1841 13 5  3 8  3
Maryland District (7[g]) May 17, 1841 8 2  3 6  3
Alabama At-large[h] May 20, 1841 5 5  2 0  2
Mississippi At-large November 1–2, 1841 2 2   0  
Total 242 99[c]
40.9% 		 26 142
59.5% 		 33
Popular vote
Whig
 
 51.04%
Democratic
 
 47.83%
Others
 
 1.13%
House seats
Whig
 
 58.68%
Democratic
 
 40.50%
Independent
 
 0.83%

The previous election had two minor parties, the Anti-Masonic Party with 6 seats and the Conservative Party (of Virginia) with 2 seats, both of which disappeared in this election.

The 1st session of the 27th Congress began May 31, 1841, before Mississippi had elected Representatives, leaving that State unrepresented until the 2nd session.

Special elections

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26th Congress

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27th Congress

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District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New York 26 Francis Granger Whig 1838 Incumbent resigned March 5, 1841 to become U.S. Postmaster General.
New member elected May 13, 1841.
Whig hold.
Successor seated May 21, 1841.
New York 26 John Greig Whig 1841 (Special) Incumbent resigned September 25, 1841.
New member elected November 3, 1841.
Whig hold.
Successor seated November 27, 1841.
Georgia at-large
(Three of the at-large seats) 		William C. Dawson Whig 1836 (Special) Incumbent resigned November 13, 1841 to run for Governor of Georgia.
New member elected December 21, 1841.
Democratic gain. 		Elected on a general ticket:
Eugenius A. Nisbet Whig 1838 Incumbent resigned October 12, 1841.
New member elected December 21, 1841.
Democratic gain.
Julius Caesar Alford Whig 1838 Incumbent resigned October 1, 1841.
New member elected December 21, 1841.
Democratic gain.

Alabama

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See also: List of United States representatives from Alabama

Arkansas

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See also: List of United States representatives from Arkansas
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Arkansas at-large Edward Cross Democratic 1838 Incumbent reelected.

Connecticut

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See also: List of United States representatives from Connecticut

Delaware

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See also: List of United States representatives from Delaware

Florida Territory

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See Non-voting delegates, below.

Georgia

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See also: List of United States representatives from Georgia

Illinois

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See also: List of United States representatives from Illinois

Indiana

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See also: List of United States representatives from Indiana

Iowa Territory

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See Non-voting delegates, below.

Kentucky

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See also: List of United States representatives from Kentucky

Louisiana

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See also: List of United States representatives from Louisiana

Maine

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See also: List of United States representatives from Maine and 1840 United States Senate election in Maine

Maine elected its members September 14, 1840.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Maine 1
Maine 2
Maine 3
Maine 4
Maine 5
Maine 6
Maine 7
Maine 8 Thomas Davee Democratic 1836 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig gain.

Maryland

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See also: List of United States representatives from Maryland

Massachusetts

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Massachusetts held its elections November 9, 1840, but one district went to a second ballot on January 4, 1841.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Massachusetts 1
Massachusetts 2
Massachusetts 3
Massachusetts 4 William Parmenter Democratic 1836 Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts 5
Massachusetts 6
Massachusetts 7
Massachusetts 8
Massachusetts 9
Massachusetts 10 Henry Williams Democratic 1838 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected on the second ballot.
Whig gain. 		First ballot (November 9, 1840):

Second ballot (January 4, 1841):
Massachusetts 11
Massachusetts 12 John Quincy Adams Whig 1830 Incumbent re-elected.

Mississippi

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See also: List of United States representatives from Mississippi

Elections held late, from November 1 to 2, 1841.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Mississippi at-large
(2 seats) 		Jacob Thompson Democratic 1839 Incumbent re-elected.
Albert G. Brown Democratic 1839 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.

Michigan

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See also: List of United States representatives from Michigan
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Michigan at-large Isaac E. Crary Democratic 1835 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig gain.

Missouri

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See also: List of United States representatives from Missouri

New Hampshire

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See also: List of United States representatives from New Hampshire

New Jersey

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See also: List of United States representatives from New Jersey

North Carolina

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See also: List of United States representatives from North Carolina

New York

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See also: List of United States representatives from New York

Ohio

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See also: List of United States representatives from Ohio

Pennsylvania

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See also: List of United States representatives from Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

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See also: List of United States representatives from Rhode Island

South Carolina

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See also: List of United States representatives from South Carolina

Tennessee

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Elections held late, on May 6, 1841.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Tennessee 1 William B. Carter Whig 1835 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig hold.
  • ▌ Y Thomas D. Arnold (Whig) 90.21%
  • ▌Robert J. McKinney (Unknown) 5.65%
  • ▌Jeremiah Jack (Unknown) 4.14%[17]
Tennessee 2 Abraham McClellan Democratic 1837 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 3 Joseph L. Williams Whig 1837 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 4 Julius W. Blackwell Democratic 1839 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Whig gain.
Tennessee 5 Hopkins L. Turney Democratic 1837 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 6 William B. Campbell Whig 1837 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 7 John Bell Whig 1827 Incumbent retired to become Secretary of War.
New member elected.
Whig hold.
Tennessee 8 Meredith P. Gentry Whig 1839 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 9 Harvey M. Watterson Democratic 1839 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 10 Aaron V. Brown Democratic 1839 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 11 Cave Johnson Democratic 1839 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 12 John W. Crockett Whig 1837 Incumbent retired to become Attorney General for the 9th district.
New member elected.
Whig hold.
Tennessee 13 Kit Williams Whig 1837 Incumbent re-elected.

Vermont

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See also: List of United States representatives from Vermont

Virginia

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See also: List of United States representatives from Virginia

Wisconsin Territory

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See Non-voting delegates, below.

Non-voting delegates

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See also: Non-voting members of the United States House of Representatives

26th Congress

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District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Iowa Territory at-large William W. Chapman Democratic 1838 Incumbent's term expired by law.
New delegate elected in 1840.
Democratic hold.

27th Congress

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District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Florida Territory at-large Charles Downing Democratic 1836 Incumbent re-elected on an unknown date.
Iowa Territory at-large Augustus C. Dodge Democratic 1840 Incumbent re-elected August 6, 1841.
Wisconsin Territory at-large James D. Doty Democratic 1838 Incumbent re-elected on an unknown date.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Includes one Independent from Virginia, and one Independent Democrat from Illinois.
  2. ^ There was 1 Independent and 1 Independent Democrat.
  3. ^ a b Including one Independent Democrat elected to Illinois's 2nd congressional district.
  4. ^ Includes 3 plural districts
  5. ^ Includes 5 plural districts
  6. ^ a b Robert M. T. Hunter was elected as an Independent in Virginia's 9th congressional district, and so is not included in the figures here. Hunter had previously run in earlier elections as a Whig.
  7. ^ Includes 1 plural district
  8. ^ Changed from district

References

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  1. ^ Dubin 1998, p. 129.
  2. ^ Martis 1989, p. 98.
  3. ^ CQGuide, p. 974.
  4. ^ Dubin 1998, p. 128.
  5. ^ Martis 1989, p. 96.
  6. ^ "Our Campaigns - NY District 26 - Special Election Race - May 11, 1841". OurCampaigns.com.
  7. ^ "Our Campaigns - NY District 26 - Special Election Race - Nov 01, 1841". OurCampaigns.com.
  8. ^ "Our Campaigns - GA At-Large - Special Election Race - Dec 21, 1841". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  9. ^ Guide to U.S. Elections. Vol. II (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. 2010. p. 996. ISBN 9781604265361. LCCN 2009033938. OCLC 430736650.
  10. ^ "Our Campaigns - ME District 8 Race - Sep 14, 1840".
  11. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 Race - Nov 09, 1840". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  12. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 10 - 1st Trial Race - Nov 09, 1840". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  13. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 10 - 2nd Trial Race - Jan 04, 1841". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  14. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 12 Race - Nov 09, 1840". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  15. ^ "MS - At Large". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  16. ^ "MI - District 01 Race - Nov 03, 1840". Our Campaigns. January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  17. ^ "TN - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  18. ^ "TN - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  19. ^ "TN - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  20. ^ "TN - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  21. ^ "TN - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  22. ^ "TN - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  23. ^ "TN - District 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  24. ^ "TN - District 08". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  25. ^ "TN - District 09". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  26. ^ "TN - District 10". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  27. ^ "TN - District 11". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  28. ^ "TN - District 12". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  29. ^ "TN - District 13". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  30. ^ Pelzer, Louis (1908). Shambaugh, Benjamin F. (ed.). "The Early Democratic Party of Iowa". Iowa Journal of History and Politics. 6 (1). Iowa City, Iowa: State Historical Society of Iowa: 15. hdl:2027/uc1.31210017304112. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  31. ^ Pelzer, Louis (1908). Shambaugh, Benjamin F. (ed.). "The Early Democratic Party of Iowa". Iowa Journal of History and Politics. 6 (1). Iowa City, Iowa: State Historical Society of Iowa: 16. hdl:2027/uc1.31210017304112. Retrieved December 18, 2020.

Bibliography

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