1848 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

The 1848 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin were held on May 8, 1848 to elect the first U.S. representatives from the newly admitted state of Wisconsin. These representatives were elected to terms that would last the remainder of the 30th Congress. Members were elected to full terms on November 7, 1848, which would begin on the upcoming 31st Congress.

1848 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

May 8, 1848 (1848-05-08)
November 7, 1848 (1848-11-07)
1850 →

All 3 Wisconsin seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Party Democratic Whig Free Soil
Seats before 2 0 0
Seats won 1 1 1
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 1 Increase 1
Popular vote 15,872 15,234 9,284
Percentage 39.30% 37.72% 22.99%
Swing Decrease17.27% Decrease3.50% New

Upon statehood, Wisconsin was originally delegated two districts which were both held by Democratic representatives. The state gained a third seat in the general election, leading to the opposing Whig and Free Soil parties gaining seats.

Short term elections

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Original congressional districts in Wisconsin used in the May 1848 elections
  District 1
  District 2

District 1

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May 1848 Wisconsin's 1st congressional district election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William Pitt Lynde 9,834 54.89
Whig Edward V. Whiton 7,387 41.23
Liberty Ichabod Codding 696 3.89
Total votes 17,917 100.00
Democratic win (new seat)

District 2

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May 1848 Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mason C. Darling 9,683 58.38
Whig Alexander L. Collins 6,835 41.21
Write-in 68 0.41
Total votes 16,586 100.00
Democratic win (new seat)

Full term elections

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Congressional districts in Wisconsin used in the November 1848 elections, following the addition of the third district
  District 1
  District 2
  District 3

District 1

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November 1848 Wisconsin's 1st congressional district election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Free Soil Charles Durkee 5,038 38.49
Democratic William Pitt Lynde (incumbent) 4,436 33.89
Whig Asahel Finch Jr. 3,615 27.62
Total votes 13,089 100.00
Free Soil gain from Democratic

District 2

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November 1848 Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Orsamus Cole 6,281 45.23
Democratic A. Hyatt Smith 5,690 40.97
Free Soil George W. Crabb 1,916 13.80
Total votes 13,887 100.00
Whig gain from Democratic

District 3

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November 1848 Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Duane Doty 5,746 50.34
Whig Timothy O. Howe 3,338 29.25
Free Soil Stoddard Judd 2,330 20.41
Total votes 11,414 100.00
Democratic win (new seat)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "WI District 1 Race - Mar 13, 1848". Our Campaigns. August 20, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  2. ^ "WI District 2 Race - Mar 13, 1848". Our Campaigns. August 20, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  3. ^ "WI District 1 Race - Nov 07, 1848". Our Campaigns. August 20, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "WI District 2 Race - Nov 07, 1848". Our Campaigns. August 20, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  5. ^ "WI District 3 Race - Nov 07, 1848". Our Campaigns. January 9, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2021.