1840–41 United States House of Representatives elections
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All 242 seats in theUnited States House of Representatives 122 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Results: Democratic holdDemocratic gain Whig holdWhig gain Independent gainIndependent Democrat gain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The1840–41 United States House of Representatives electionswere 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 theHouse of Representatives,before or after the first session of the27th United States Congressconvened on May 31, 1841. Elections were held for all 242 seats, representing 26 states.
In a Whig wave, voters gave theWhig Partya House majority for the first time. Most Americans experienced thePanic of 1837as a severe economic downturn. Its perceived mishandling byDemocraticPresidentMartin Van Burenfueled new support for alternative economic policies favored by Whigs of which voters had previously been skeptical. Collapse of theAnti-Masonic Partyin the late 1830s also drove some third-party incumbents into the Whig Party. Newly elected members includedRobert M. T. Hunter,IndependentofVirginia,[1][2][3]andZadok Casey,Independent DemocratofIllinois.[4][5]
Election summaries[edit]
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 | ![]() |
2 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
Maine | Districts | September 14, 1840 | 8 | 4 | ![]() |
4 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
12 | ![]() |
Pennsylvania | District (25[d]) | October 13, 1840 | 28 | 15 | ![]() |
13 | ![]() |
New York | District (33[e]) | November 2–4, 1840 | 40 | 21 | ![]() |
19 | ![]() |
Connecticut | Districts | November 3, 1840 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
Michigan | At-large | November 3, 1840 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
1 | ![]() |
New Jersey | At-large | November 3, 1840 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
Massachusetts | Districts | November 9, 1840 | 12 | 1 | ![]() |
11 | ![]() |
Delaware | At-large | November 10, 1840 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Kentucky | Districts | April 26, 1841 | 13 | 2 | ![]() |
11 | ![]() |
Indiana | Districts | May 3, 1841 | 7 | 1 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
Tennessee | Districts | May 6, 1841 | 13 | 5 | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
North Carolina | Districts | May 13, 1841 | 13 | 5 | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
Maryland | District (7[g]) | May 17, 1841 | 8 | 2 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
Alabama | At-large[h] | May 20, 1841 | 5 | 5 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
Mississippi | At-large | November 1–2, 1841 | 2 | 2 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
Total | 242 | 99[c] 40.9% |
![]() |
142 59.5% |
![]() |
The previous election had two minor parties, theAnti-Masonic Partywith 6 seats and the Conservative Party (ofVirginia) with 2 seats, both of which disappeared in this election.
The 1st session of the 27th Congress began May 31, 1841, beforeMississippihad elected Representatives, leaving that State unrepresented until the 2nd session.
Special elections[edit]
26th Congress[edit]
![]() | This sectionneeds expansion.You can help byadding to it.(January 2020) |
- Connecticut's 2nd congressional district:1840
- ▌Georgia's at-large congressional district:January 1841 (one of the at-large seat)
- Indiana's 7th congressional district:1840
- Massachusetts's 6th congressional district:1840
- Ohio's 4th congressional district:1840
- Pennsylvania's 22nd congressional district:1840
- Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district:1840
27th Congress[edit]
![]() | This sectionneeds expansion.You can help byadding to it.(January 2020) |
- Maine's 4th congressional district:1841
- Massachusetts's 5th congressional district:1841
- Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district:1841
- Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district:1841
- Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district:1841
- ▌Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district(again): 1841
- Pennsylvania's 20th congressional district:1841
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
New York 26 | Francis Granger | Whig | 1838 | Incumbent resigned March 5, 1841 to becomeU.S. Postmaster General. New member electedMay 13, 1841. Whig hold. Successor seated May 21, 1841. |
|
New York 26 | John Greig | Whig | 1841(Special) | Incumbent resigned September 25, 1841. New member electedNovember 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 torun for Governor of Georgia. New member electedDecember 21, 1841. Democratic gain. |
Elected on a general ticket:
|
Eugenius A. Nisbet | Whig | 1838 | Incumbent resigned October 12, 1841. New member electedDecember 21, 1841. Democratic gain. | ||
Julius Caesar Alford | Whig | 1838 | Incumbent resigned October 1, 1841. New member electedDecember 21, 1841. Democratic gain. |
Alabama[edit]
Arkansas[edit]
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Arkansas at-large | Edward Cross | Democratic | 1838 | Incumbent reelected. |
|
Connecticut[edit]
Delaware[edit]
Florida Territory[edit]
SeeNon-voting delegates,below.
Georgia[edit]
Illinois[edit]
Indiana[edit]
Iowa Territory[edit]
SeeNon-voting delegates,below.
Kentucky[edit]
Louisiana[edit]
Maine[edit]
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[edit]
Massachusetts[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
New Hampshire[edit]
New Jersey[edit]
North Carolina[edit]
New York[edit]
Ohio[edit]
Pennsylvania[edit]
Rhode Island[edit]
South Carolina[edit]
Tennessee[edit]
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. |
|
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 becomeSecretary 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[edit]
Virginia[edit]
Wisconsin Territory[edit]
SeeNon-voting delegates,below.
Non-voting delegates[edit]
26th Congress[edit]
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 delegateelectedin 1840. Democratic hold. |
|
27th Congress[edit]
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[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^Includes one Independent from Virginia, and one Independent Democrat from Illinois.
- ^There was 1 Independent and 1 Independent Democrat.
- ^abIncluding oneIndependent Democratelected toIllinois's 2nd congressional district.
- ^Includes 3 plural districts
- ^Includes 5 plural districts
- ^abRobert M. T. Hunterwas elected as anIndependentinVirginia's 9th congressional district,and so is not included in the figures here. Hunter had previously run in earlier elections as a Whig.
- ^Includes 1 plural district
- ^Changed from district
References[edit]
- ^Dubin 1998,p. 129.
- ^Martis 1989,p. 98.
- ^CQGuide,p. 974.
- ^Dubin 1998,p. 128.
- ^Martis 1989,p. 96.
- ^"Our Campaigns - NY District 26 - Special Election Race - May 11, 1841".OurCampaigns.
- ^"Our Campaigns - NY District 26 - Special Election Race - Nov 01, 1841".OurCampaigns.
- ^"Our Campaigns - GA At-Large - Special Election Race - Dec 21, 1841".OurCampaigns.RetrievedDecember 18,2020.
- ^Guide to U.S. Elections.Vol. II (6th ed.).Washington, D.C.:CQ Press.2010. p. 996.ISBN9781604265361.LCCN2009033938.OCLC430736650.
- ^"Our Campaigns - ME District 8 Race - Sep 14, 1840".
- ^"Our Campaigns - MA District 4 Race - Nov 09, 1840".ourcampaigns.
- ^"Our Campaigns - MA District 10 - 1st Trial Race - Nov 09, 1840".ourcampaigns.RetrievedOctober 9,2020.
- ^"Our Campaigns - MA District 10 - 2nd Trial Race - Jan 04, 1841".ourcampaigns.RetrievedOctober 9,2020.
- ^"Our Campaigns - MA District 12 Race - Nov 09, 1840".ourcampaigns.
- ^"MS - At Large".Our Campaigns.RetrievedMarch 7,2021.
- ^"MI - District 01 Race - Nov 03, 1840".Our Campaigns.January 11, 2010.RetrievedJune 27,2022.
- ^"TN - District 01".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^"TN - District 02".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^"TN - District 03".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^"TN - District 04".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^"TN - District 05".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^"TN - District 06".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^"TN - District 07".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^"TN - District 08".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^"TN - District 09".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^"TN - District 10".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^"TN - District 11".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^"TN - District 12".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^"TN - District 13".Our Campaigns.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
- ^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.RetrievedDecember 18,2020.
- ^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.RetrievedDecember 18,2020.
Bibliography[edit]
- 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.ISBN978-0786402830.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (January 1, 1989).The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789-1989.Macmillan Publishing Company.ISBN978-0029201701.
- Moore, John L., ed. (1994).Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections(Third ed.). Congressional Quarterly Inc.ISBN978-0871879967.
- "Party Divisions of the House of Representatives* 1789–Present".Office of the Historian, House of United States House of Representatives.RetrievedJanuary 21,2015.
External links[edit]
- Office of the Historian(Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)