1872–73 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1872–73 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between June 4, 1872, and April 7, 1873. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 43rd United States Congress convened on December 1, 1873. They coincided with the re-election of United States President Ulysses S. Grant. The congressional reapportionment based on the 1870 United States census increased the number of House seats to 292.

1872–73 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1870 & 1871 November 5, 1872[a] 1874 & 1875 →

All 292 seats in the United States House of Representatives
147 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader James G. Blaine Fernando Wood
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat Maine 3rd New York 10th
Last election 138 seats 94 seats
Seats won 199 84
Seat change Increase 61 Decrease 9
Popular vote 3,561,090 2,813,934
Percentage 51.40% 40.62%
Swing Increase 3.26% Decrease 2.77%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Liberal Republican Conservative
Last election 2 seats 10 seats
Seats won 4 4
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 6
Popular vote 274,693 126,329
Percentage 3.97% 1.82%
Swing Increase 3.07% Decrease 1.05%

  Fifth party
 
Party Independent
Last election 1 seat[b]
Seats won 1[c]
Seat change Steady
Popular vote 151,757
Percentage 2.19%
Swing Increase 0.45%

Map of U.S. House elections results from 1872 elections for 43rd Congress

Speaker before election

James G. Blaine
Republican

Elected Speaker

James G. Blaine
Republican

Grant's Republican Party increased its majority greatly, partly at the expense of the opposition Democratic Party and partly by adding 49 new seats to the House. The pro-industry outlook of the Republicans appealed to many Northern voters, especially as the post-war economy exploded, and this allowed the party to flourish as the Industrial Revolution grew more widespread. The Republicans also benefited from a continuing association with Civil War victory as well as disarray amongst Democratic leadership.

Election summaries edit

Following the 1870 census, the House was reapportioned, initially adding 40 seats,[1] followed by a subsequent amendment to the apportionment act adding another seat to 9 states,[2] resulting in a total increase of 49 seats. No states lost seats, 10 states had no change, 13 states gained 1 seat each, 9 states gained 2 seats, 3 states gained 3 seats, 1 State gained 4 seats, and 1 State gained 5 seats. Prior to the supplemental act, two states (New Hampshire and Vermont) had each lost 1 seat. This was the first reapportionment after the repeal of the three-fifths compromise by the 14th Amendment.

This would prove the last time until 1966 that a Republican won a House seat in Arkansas.[3]

89 203
Democratic Republican
State Type Total seats Democratic Republican
Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change
Alabama District
+ 2 at-large
8   2 2   1 6[d]   3
Arkansas District
+ at-large
4   1 0   1 4[d]   2
California District 4   1 1   1 3  
Connecticut[e] District 4   1   3  
Delaware At-large 1   0   1 1   1
Florida At-large 2   1 0   2   1
Georgia District 9   2 7   3 2   1
Illinois District 19   5 5   1 14   6
Indiana[f] District
+ 3 at-large
13   2 3   2 10   4
Iowa District 9   3 0   9   3
Kansas At-large 3   2 0   3   2
Kentucky District 10   1 10   1 0  
Louisiana District
+ 1 at-large
6   1 0   6[d]   1
Maine[f] District 5   0   5  
Maryland District 6   1 4   1 2   2
Massachusetts District 11   1 0   11   1
Michigan District 9   3 0   1 9   4
Minnesota District 3   1 0   3   1
Mississippi District 6   1 1   1 5  
Missouri District 13   4 9   5 4   1
Nebraska[f] At-large 1   0   1  
Nevada At-large 1   1   0  
New Hampshire[e] District 3   1   2 2   2
New Jersey District 7   2 1   1 6   3
New York District
+ 1 at-large
33   2 9   7 24   9
North Carolina[f] District 8   1 5   3   1
Ohio[f] District 20   1 6   1 14[d]  
Oregon[f] At-large 1   0   1 1   1
Pennsylvania[f] District
+ 3 at-large
27   3 5   6 22   9
Rhode Island District 2   0   2  
South Carolina District
+ 1 at-large
5   1 0   5   1
Tennessee District
+ 1 at-large
10   2 3   3 7   5
Texas District
+ 2 at-large
6   2 6   3 0   1
Vermont[f] District 3   0   3  
Virginia District 9   1 5   4   1
West Virginia[f] District 3   2[c]   1  
Wisconsin District 8   2 2   6   2
Total 292   49 89[c]
30.5%
  13 203[g]
69.5%
  62
30.5%
Popular vote
Republican
52.85%
Democratic
41.76%
Lib. Republican
4.08%
Conservative
1.87%
Independent
2.25%
Others
0.00%
House seats
Republican
67.92%
Democratic
29.01%
Lib. Republican
1.37%
Conservative
1.37%
Independent
0.34%

Election dates edit

In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform nationwide date for choosing Presidential electors.[4] This law did not affect election dates for Congress, which remained within the jurisdiction of State governments, but over time, the States moved their Congressional elections to this date as well. In 1872–73, there were still 9 states with earlier election dates, and 2 states with later election dates:

Special elections edit

Alabama edit

Arkansas edit

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Arkansas 1 James M. Hanks Democratic 1870 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Arkansas 2 Oliver P. Snyder Republican 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas 3 Thomas Boles[h] Republican 1868 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Arkansas at-large None Vacant since 32nd Congress (Civil War and Reconstruction)
New member elected.
Liberal Republican gain.

California edit

A new seat was added, following the 1870 U.S. census, bringing the delegation up from three to four Representatives.

District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
California 1 None (new district) New district.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
California 2 Aaron Augustus Sargent Republican 1868 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  •  Y Horace F. Page (Republican) 51.8%
  • Paschal Coggins (Democratic) 48.2%
California 3 John M. Coghlan Republican 1871 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  •  Y John K. Luttrell (Democratic) 51.7%
  • John M. Coghlan (Republican) 48.3%
California 4 Sherman O. Houghton
Redistricted from the 1st district.
Republican 1871 Incumbent re-elected.

Connecticut edit

Delaware edit

Florida edit

Florida gained a second seat after the 1870 census, but delayed districting until 1874, electing both Representatives at-large for this election.

District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
Florida at-large
2 seats on a general ticket
Josiah T. Walls Republican 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
None (New seat) New seat.
Republican gain.

Georgia edit

Illinois edit

Indiana edit

Iowa edit

Kansas edit

Kentucky edit

Louisiana edit

In the newly formed at-large district, George A. Sheridan (Liberal Republican) beat P. B. S. Pinchback (Republican), the first black Governor of Louisiana.[6] Pinchback challenged the election and it was settled in February 1875, in Sheridan's favor, only one month before the end of the Congress.

Maine edit

Maryland edit

Massachusetts edit

Michigan edit

Minnesota edit

Mississippi edit

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Mississippi 1 George E. Harris Republican 1869 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Mississippi 2 Joseph L. Morphis Republican 1869 Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  •  Y Albert R. Howe (Republican) 63.94%
  • William A. Alcorn (Democratic) 35.42%
  • Scattering 0.64%[8]
Mississippi 3 Henry W. Barry Republican 1869 Incumbent re-elected.
  •  Y Henry W. Barry (Republican) 69.14%
  • W. S. Bolling (Democratic) 29.59%
  • Scattering 1.27%[9]
Mississippi 4 None (new district) New district.
Republican gain.
  •  Y Jason Niles (Republican) 83.38%
  • S. T. Oldham (Unknown) 11.87%
  • [FNU] Harmon (Unknown) 4.18%
  • W. B. Shelby (Unknown) 0.57%[10]
Mississippi 5 Legrand W. Perce Republican 1869 Incumbent retired.
Republican loss.
George C. McKee
Redistricted from the 4th district.
Republican 1869 Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 6 None (new district) New district.
Republican gain.

Missouri edit

Nebraska edit

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Nebraska at-large John Taffe Republican 1866 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.

Nevada edit

New Hampshire edit

New Jersey edit

New York edit

North Carolina edit

Ohio edit

After redistricting and eleven retirements, only four of the nineteen incumbents were re-elected.

District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates[14]
Ohio 1 Ozro J. Dodds Democratic 1872 (special) Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Ohio 2 Job E. Stevenson Republican 1868 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Liberal Republican gain.
Ohio 3 Lewis D. Campbell Democratic 1870 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Ohio 4 John F. McKinney Democratic 1870 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Ohio 5 Charles N. Lamison Democratic 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 6 John Armstrong Smith Republican 1868 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 7 Samuel Shellabarger Republican 1870 Incumbent retired.
Republican loss.
John Thomas Wilson
Redistricted from the 11th district.
Republican 1866 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 8 John Beatty Republican 1868 (special) Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 9 George W. Morgan
Redistricted from the 13th district.
Democratic 1868 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Ohio 10 Charles Foster
Redistricted from the 9th district.
Republican 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
  •  Y Charles Foster (Republican) 51.2%
  • Rush R. Sloane (Democratic) 48.8%
Erasmus D. Peck Republican 1870 (special) Incumbent retired.
Republican loss.
Ohio 11 None (new district) New district.
Republican gain.
Ohio 12 Philadelph Van Trump Democratic 1866 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  •  Y Hugh J. Jewett (Democratic) 58.8%
  • James Taylor (Republican) 41.2%
Ohio 13 None (new district) New district.
Democratic gain.
Ohio 14 James Monroe Republican 1870 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  •  Y John Berry (Democratic) 57.9%
  • Thomas E. Douglas (Republican) 42.1%
Ohio 15 William P. Sprague Republican 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 16 John Bingham Republican 1864 Incumbent lost re-nomination.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 17 Jacob A. Ambler Republican 1868 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 18 William H. Upson Republican 1868 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Ohio 19 James A. Garfield Republican 1862 Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio 20 None (new district) New district.
Republican gain.

Oregon edit

Pennsylvania edit

Rhode Island edit

South Carolina edit

Tennessee edit

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Tennessee at-large Horace Maynard
Redistricted from the 2nd district.
Republican 1865 New district.
Republican gain.
Tennessee 1 Roderick R. Butler Republican 1867 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 2 Abraham E. Garrett
Redistricted from the 3rd district.
Democratic 1870 Incumbent lost re-election as an Independent.
Republican gain.
Tennessee 3 None (new district) New district.
Republican gain.
Tennessee 4 John M. Bright Democratic 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 5 Edward I. Golladay Democratic 1870 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Tennessee 6 Washington C. Whitthorne Democratic 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 7 Robert P. Caldwell Democratic 1870 Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  •  Y John D. C. Atkins (Democratic) 55.63%
  • W. W. Murray (Republican) 37.70%
  • W. E. Travis (Democratic) 6.67%[22]
Tennessee 8 William W. Vaughan Democratic 1870 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
  •  Y David A. Nunn (Republican) 37.90%
  • A. W. Campbell (Democratic) 29.83%
  • William P. Caldwell (Democratic) 22.38%
  • T. H. Bell (Democratic) 9.89%[23]
Tennessee 9 None (new district) New district.
Republican gain.

Texas edit

Vermont edit

Virginia edit

West Virginia edit

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
West Virginia 1 John J. Davis Democratic 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
Independent Democratic gain.
West Virginia 2 James McGrew Republican 1868 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  •  Y John Hagans (Republican) 82.40%
  • Arthur R. Boeteler (Republican) 9.27%
  • W. H. Lanon (Independent) 6.11%
  • J. B. Walker (Independent) 1.89%
  • O. P. Downey (Independent) 0.34%[26]
West Virginia 3 Frank Hereford Democratic 1870 Incumbent re-elected.

Wisconsin edit

Wisconsin elected eight members of congress on Election Day, November 5, 1872. Two seats were newly added in reapportionment after the 1870 census.[28][29]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Wisconsin 1 None (new district) New district.
Republican gain.
Wisconsin 2 Gerry Whiting Hazelton Republican 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 3 J. Allen Barber Republican 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
  •  Y J. Allen Barber (Republican) 58.2%
  • Allen Warden (Liberal Republican) 41.8%
Wisconsin 4 Alexander Mitchell
Redistricted from the 1st district.
Democratic 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 5 Charles A. Eldredge
Redistricted from the 4th district.
Democratic 1862 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 6 Philetus Sawyer
Redistricted from the 5th district.
Republican 1864 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 7 Jeremiah McLain Rusk
Redistricted from the 6th district.
Republican 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 8 None (new district) New district.
Republican gain.

Non-voting delegates edit

Colorado Territory edit

District Incumbent This race
Delegate Party First elected Results Candidates
Colorado Territory at-large Jerome B. Chaffee Republican 1870 Incumbent re-elected.

Dakota Territory edit

District Incumbent This race
Delegate Party First elected Results Candidates
Dakota Territory at-large Moses K. Armstrong Independent Democratic 1870 Incumbent re-elected.
Democratic gain.

Idaho Territory edit

District Incumbent This race
Delegate Party First elected Results Candidates
Idaho Territory at-large Samuel A. Merritt Democratic 1870 Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.

Montana Territory edit

 
Results by county:
  Maginnis
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Clagett
  •   50–60%
  No Data
District Incumbent This race
Delegate Party First elected Results Candidates
Montana Territory at-large William H. Clagett Republican 1871 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Wyoming Territory edit

District Incumbent This race
Delegate Party First elected Results Candidates
Wyoming Territory at-large William T. Jones Republican 1870 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ In the majority of states; 11 states held elections on different dates between June 4, 1872 and April 7, 1873.
  2. ^ Includes 1 Independent Republican.
  3. ^ a b c Includes 1 Independent Democrat, John J. Davis, elected to WV-01.
  4. ^ a b c d Includes 1 Liberal Republican.
  5. ^ a b Elections held late.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Elections held early.
  7. ^ Includes 4 Liberal Republicans.
  8. ^ Thomas Boles lost election in 1870 to John Edwards, contested the election and was seated February 1872.
  9. ^ Wilshire (Republican) was initially seated (and thus is counted towards the party totals at this article), but the election was contested and the seat was subsequently awarded to Gunter (Democratic) during the 40th Congress's first session.
  10. ^ Represented the Brindle Tail Republican faction in Arkansas
  11. ^ Represented the Minstrel Republican faction in Arkansas

References edit

  1. ^ 17 Stat. 28
  2. ^ 17 Stat. 192
  3. ^ Heersink, Boris; Jenkins, Jeffrey A. Republican Party Politics and the American South, 1865-1968. p. 256. ISBN 1107158435.
  4. ^ Stat. 721: 28th Congress, 2nd Sess., Ch. 1, enacted January 23, 1845
  5. ^ a b c d Guide to U.S. Elections. Vol. II (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. 2010. p. 1046. ISBN 9781604265361. LCCN 2009033938. OCLC 430736650.
  6. ^ "Our Campaigns - LA - At Large Race - Nov 05, 1872". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  7. ^ "MS - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  8. ^ "MS - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  9. ^ "MS - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  10. ^ "MS - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  11. ^ "MS - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  12. ^ "MS - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  13. ^ "Our Campaigns - NE - District 01 Race - Oct 8, 1872". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  14. ^ Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. Vol. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. p. 306.
  15. ^ "TN - At Large". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  16. ^ "TN - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  17. ^ "TN - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  18. ^ "TN - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  19. ^ "TN - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  20. ^ "TN - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  21. ^ "TN - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  22. ^ "TN - District 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  23. ^ "TN - District 08". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  24. ^ "TN - District 09". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  25. ^ "WV District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  26. ^ "WV District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  27. ^ "WV District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  28. ^ "Wisconsin U.S. House Election Results" (PDF). Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  29. ^ Turner, A. J., ed. (1874). "Official directory". The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 444–445. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  30. ^ "Our Campaigns - CO Territorial Delegate Race - Nov 05, 1872". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  31. ^ "DK Territorial Delegate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  32. ^ "ID Territorial Delegate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  33. ^ "MT Territorial Delegate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  34. ^ "WY Territorial Delegate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 11, 2021.

Bibliography edit

External links edit