1856–57 United States House of Representatives elections

August 4, 1856 – November 4, 1857[lower-alpha 1]

All 237 seats in the United States House of Representatives
118 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader James Orr Galusha A. Grow
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat South Carolina 5th Pennsylvania 14th
Last election 81 seats 46 seats[lower-alpha 2]
Seats won 132 90
Seat change Increase 51 Increase 45
Popular vote 1,805,827 1,425,265
Percentage 46.85% 36.98%
Swing Increase 2.90% Increase 21.36%[lower-alpha 3]

  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Know Nothing Independent
Last election 51 seats 1 seats[lower-alpha 4]
Seats won 14 1[lower-alpha 5]
Seat change Decrease 37 Steady
Popular vote 586,254 34,120[lower-alpha 6]
Percentage 15.21% 0.89%
Swing Decrease 4.35% Decrease 1.72%

Results
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold
     Know Nothing gain      Know Nothing hold

Speaker before election

Nathaniel Banks
Know Nothing

Elected Speaker

James Orr
Democratic

The 1856–57 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 4, 1856, and November 4, 1857. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives. 236 representatives were elected in 31 states and the pending new state of Minnesota before the first session of the 35th United States Congress convened on December 7, 1857.

The elections briefly returned a semblance of normalcy to the Democratic Party, restoring its House majority alongside the election of Democratic President James Buchanan. However, superficial victory masked severe, ultimately irretrievable divisions over slavery. Voters next would return a Democratic House majority only in 1874.

Party realignments continued. In 1856, the Whig Party disbanded, the Know Nothing movement declined, and its vehicle, the American Party, began to collapse. Many Northern Whig, American, and other Opposition Party Representatives joined the new, rapidly consolidating Republican Party, which contested the Presidency in 1856. Though the Republican Party did not yet demand abolition, its attitude toward slavery was stridently negative. It was an openly sectional Northern party opposing fugitive slave laws and slavery in the territories, and for the first time offered a mainstream platform to outspoken abolitionists.

In March 1857, after almost all Northern states had voted, the Supreme Court issued its infamous Dred Scott decision, amplifying tensions and hardening voter divisions. Remaining elections were concentrated in the South. Southern voters widely drove the American Party from office, rallying to the Democrats in firm opposition to the Republicans.

In October 1857, the pending new state of Minnesota elected its first Representatives, to be seated by the 35th Congress. Between the admissions of Vermont in 1791 and Wisconsin in 1848, Congress had admitted new states roughly in pairs: one slave, one free. California was admitted alone as a free state in 1850 only as part of a comprehensive compromise including significant concessions to slave state interests. Admission of Minnesota in May 1858, also alone but with no such deal, helped expose the declining influence of the South, destroying the formerly binding concept that slave and free state power was best kept in balance even in the Senate while solidifying a sense that the West would exclude slavery.

Election summaries

Two seats were added for the new state of Minnesota,[1] which was unrepresented for part of the 1st session.

133 14 90
Democratic KN Republican
State Type Date Total
seats
Democratic Know Nothing Republican
Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change[lower-alpha 7]
Arkansas District August 4, 1856 2 2 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
Iowa District 2 0 Decrease1 0 Steady 2 Increase1
Missouri District 7 5[lower-alpha 5] Increase4 2 Increase2 0 Decrease6
Vermont District September 2, 1856 3 0 Steady 0 Steady 3 Steady
Maine District September 8, 1856 6 0 Decrease1 0 Steady 6 Increase1
Florida At-large October 6, 1856 1 1 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
South Carolina District October 13–14, 1856 6 6 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
Indiana District October 14, 1856 11 6 Increase4 0 Steady 5 Decrease4
Ohio District 21 9 Increase9 0 Steady 12 Decrease9
Pennsylvania District 25 15 Increase8 0 Decrease1 10 Decrease7
California At-large November 4, 1856
(Election Day)[lower-alpha 8]
2 2 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady
Delaware At-large 1 1 Increase1 0 Decrease1 0 Steady
Illinois District 9 5 Steady 0 Steady 4 Steady
Massachusetts District 11 0 Steady 0 Decrease11 11 Increase11
Michigan District 4 0 Decrease1 0 Steady 4 Increase1
New Jersey District 5 3 Increase2 0 Steady 2 Decrease2
New York District 33 12 Increase7 0 Decrease3 21 Decrease4
Wisconsin District 3 0 Decrease1 0 Steady 3 Increase1
New Hampshire District March 10, 1857 3 0 Steady 0 Decrease3 3 Increase3
Rhode Island District April 1, 1857 2 0 Steady 0 Decrease2 2 Increase2
Connecticut District April 6, 1857 4 2 Increase2 0 Decrease4 2 Increase2
Virginia District May 28, 1857 13 13 Increase1 0 Decrease1 0 Steady
Alabama District August 3, 1857 7 7 Increase2 0 Decrease2 0 Steady
Kentucky District 10 8 Increase4 2 Decrease4 0 Steady
Texas District 2 2 Increase1 0 Decrease1 0 Steady
North Carolina District August 6, 1857 8 7 Increase2 1 Decrease2 0 Steady
Tennessee District 10 7 Increase2 3 Decrease2 0 Steady
Georgia District October 5, 1857 8 6 Steady 2 Steady 0 Steady
Mississippi District October 5–6, 1857 5 5 Increase1 0 Decrease1 0 Steady
Minnesota At-large October 13, 1857[lower-alpha 9] 2 2 Increase2 0 Steady 0 Steady
Louisiana District November 3, 1857 4 3 Steady 1 Steady 0 Steady
Maryland District November 4, 1857 6 3 Increase1 3 Decrease1 0 Steady
Total 236 133[lower-alpha 5]
56.1%
Increase50[lower-alpha 5] 14
5.9%
Decrease37 90
38.0%
Decrease10[lower-alpha 7]
Popular vote
Democratic
46.85%
Republican
36.98%
Know Nothing
15.21%
Independent
0.89%
Others
0.07%
House seats
Democratic
55.70%
Republican
37.97%
Know Nothing
5.91%
Independent
0.42%

Special elections

There were a total of thirteen special elections in 1856 and 1857 during the 34th and 35th Congresses.

34th Congress

District Incumbent This race
Member / Delegate Party First elected Results Candidates
South Carolina 3 Laurence M. Keitt Democratic 1853 Incumbent resigned July 15, 1856, following the caning of Charles Sumner.
Incumbent re-elected July 29, 1856.
South Carolina 4 Preston Brooks Democratic 1853 Incumbent resigned July 15, 1856, following the caning of Charles Sumner.
Incumbent re-elected July 29, 1856.
Missouri 5 John Gaines Miller Whig 1850 Incumbent died May 11, 1856.
New member elected August 4, 1856.
Know Nothing gain.
Winner was not candidate for full term, see below.
Illinois 5 William Alexander Richardson Democratic 1847 (special) Incumbent resigned August 25, 1856, to run for governor of Illinois.
New member elected November 4, 1856.
Winner was not candidate for full term, see below.
Illinois 7 James C. Allen Democratic 1852 Incumbent resigned July 18, 1856, amid election challenge.
Incumbent re-elected November 4, 1856.
Winner was not candidate for full term, see below.
Illinois 8 Vacant Rep.-elect Lyman Trumbull (D) was later elected U.S. senator and took office March 4, 1855.
New member elected November 4, 1856.
Democratic hold.
Winner was not candidate for full term, see below.
  • Green tickY James L. D. Morrison (Democratic) 56.0%
  • John Thomas (Republican) 42.9%
  • William H. Short (Unknown) 1.2%
Virginia 1 Thomas H. Bayly Democratic 1853 Incumbent died June 23, 1856.
New member elected November 4, 1856.
Democratic hold.
Kansas Territory at-large John Wilkins Whitfield Democratic 1854 Seat declared vacant August 1, 1856.
Incumbent re-elected November 5, 1856.
Vermont 1 James Meacham Whig 1849 (special) Incumbent died August 23, 1856.
New member elected December 1, 1856.
Republican gain.

35th Congress

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Missouri 3 Vacant Rep.-elect James S. Green (D) was later elected U.S. senator and took office January 12, 1857.
New member elected August 3, 1857.
Democratic hold.
Indiana 1 James Lockhart Democratic 1851
1852 (retired)
1856
Incumbent died September 7, 1857.
New member elected October 7, 1857.
Democratic hold.
Indiana 10 Samuel Brenton Republican 1854 Incumbent died March 29, 1857.
New member elected October 7, 1857.
Republican hold.
Pennsylvania 12 John Gallagher Montgomery Democratic 1856 Incumbent died April 24, 1857.
New member elected October 13, 1857.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Paul Leidy (Democratic) 61.0%
  • Smith Thompson (Republican) 39.0%

Alabama

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Alabama 1 Percy Walker Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Alabama 2 Eli Sims Shorter Democratic 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
Alabama 3 James Ferguson Dowdell Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Alabama 4 William Russell Smith Know Nothing 1851 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Alabama 5 George S. Houston Democratic 1841
1849 (retired)
1851
Incumbent re-elected.
Alabama 6 Williamson Robert Winfield Cobb Democratic 1847 Incumbent re-elected.
Alabama 7 Sampson Willis Harris Democratic 1847 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.

Arkansas

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Arkansas 1 Alfred B. Greenwood Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas 2 Albert Rust Democratic 1854 Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.

California

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
California at-large
2 seats on a general ticket
James W. Denver Democratic 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Charles L. Scott (Democratic) 29.9%
  • Green tickY Joseph C. McKibbin (Democratic) 21.0%
  • A. B. Dibble (Know Nothing) 20.7%
  • Ira P. Rankin (Independent) 13.0%
  • J. N. Turner (Republican) 12.5%
Philemon T. Herbert Democratic 1854 Incumbent retired after manslaughter acquittal.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.

Connecticut

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Connecticut 1 Ezra Clark Jr. Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY Ezra Clark Jr. (Republican) 51.3%
  • Richard P. Hubbard (Democratic) 48.7%
Connecticut 2 John Woodruff Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Connecticut 3 Sidney Dean Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY Sidney Dean (Republican) 54.6%
  • James A. Hovey (Democratic) 45.4%
Connecticut 4 William W. Welch Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Delaware

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Delaware at-large Elisha D. Cullen Know Nothing 1854 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Florida

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Florida at-large Augustus Maxwell Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.

Georgia

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Georgia 1 James Lindsay Seward Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Georgia 2 Martin Jenkins Crawford Democratic 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
Georgia 3 Robert Pleasant Trippe Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
Georgia 4 Hiram B. Warner Democratic 1855 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Georgia 5 John Henry Lumpkin Democratic 1855 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Georgia 6 Howell Cobb Democratic 1842
1851 (retired)
1855
Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Georgia 7 Nathaniel Greene Foster Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Know Nothing hold.
  • Green tickY Joshua Hill (Know Nothing) 51.5%
  • Linton Stephens (Democratic) 48.5%
Georgia 8 Alexander H. Stephens Democratic 1843 (special) Incumbent re-elected.

Illinois

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Illinois 1 Elihu B. Washburne Republican 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
Illinois 2 James Hutchinson Woodworth Republican 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • Green tickY John F. Farnsworth (Republican) 67.2%
  • John Vannortwick (Democratic) 30.6%
  • B. F. James (Know Nothing) 2.2%
Illinois 3 Jesse O. Norton Republican 1852 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • Green tickY Owen Lovejoy (Republican) 59.5%
  • Uri Osgood (Democratic) 40.5%
Illinois 4 James Knox Republican 1852 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • Green tickY William Kellogg (Republican) 51.1%
  • James W. Davidson (Democratic) 45.8%
  • Arthur H. Griffith (Know Nothing) 3.1%
Illinois 5 Vacant Rep. William Alexander Richardson (D) resigned August 25, 1856, to run for governor of Illinois.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Winner was not candidate for unexpired term, see above.
  • Green tickY Isaac N. Morris (Democratic) 53.7%
  • Jackson Grimshaw (Republican) 45.8%
  • James S. Irwin (Know Nothing) 0.5%
Illinois 6 Thomas L. Harris Democratic 1848
1850 (lost)
1854
Incumbent re-elected.
Illinois 7 Vacant Rep. James C. Allen (D) resigned July 18, 1856, amid election contest.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Winner was not candidate for unexpired term, see above.
Illinois 8 Vacant Rep.-elect Lyman Trumbull (D) was later elected U.S. senator and took office March 4, 1855.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Winner was not candidate for unexpired term, see above.
  • Green tickY Robert Smith (Democratic) 60.1%
  • James D. Lansing (Republican) 39.9%
Illinois 9 Samuel S. Marshall Democratic 1854 Incumbent re-elected.

Indiana

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Indiana 1 Smith Miller Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY James Lockhart (Democratic) 61.5%
  • James G. Veach (Republican) 38.5%
Indiana 2 William Hayden English Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected.
Indiana 3 George Grundy Dunn People's 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Green tickY James Hughes (Democratic) 53.8%
  • John A. Hendricks (Republican) 46.2%
Indiana 4 William Cumback People's 1854 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Indiana 5 David P. Holloway People's 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY David Kilgore (Republican) 60.8%
  • Edmund Johnson (Democratic) 39.2%
Indiana 6 Lucien Barbour People's 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Indiana 7 Harvey D. Scott People's 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Indiana 8 Daniel Mace People's 1851 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Indiana 9 Schuyler Colfax People's 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY Schuyler Colfax (Republican) 52.1%
  • William Z. Stewart (Democratic) 47.9%
Indiana 10 Samuel Brenton People's 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
Indiana 11 John U. Pettit People's 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY John U. Pettit (Republican) 51.8%
  • William Garver (Democratic) 48.2%

Iowa

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Iowa 1 Augustus Hall Democratic 1854 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Iowa 2 James Thorington Whig 1854 Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Kansas Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Kentucky

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Kentucky 1 Henry Cornelius Burnett Democratic 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
Kentucky 2 John P. Campbell Jr. Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent withdrew.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Kentucky 3 Warner Underwood Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
Kentucky 4 Albert G. Talbott Democratic 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
Kentucky 5 Joshua Jewett Democratic 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
Kentucky 6 John Milton Elliott Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Kentucky 7 Humphrey Marshall Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
Kentucky 8 Alexander Keith Marshall Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Kentucky 9 Leander Cox Know Nothing 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Kentucky 10 Samuel F. Swope Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Louisiana

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Louisiana 1 George Eustis Jr. Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY George Eustis Jr. (Know Nothing) 60.4%
  • Charles J. Villiers (Democratic) 39.6%
Louisiana 2 Miles Taylor Democratic 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
Louisiana 3 Thomas G. Davidson Democratic 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Thomas G. Davidson (Democratic) 43.0%
  • George W. Watterson (Know Nothing) 35.4%
  • Laurent J. Sigur (Independent) 21.6%
Louisiana 4 John M. Sandidge Democratic 1855 Incumbent re-elected.

Maine

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Maine 1 John M. Wood Republican 1854 Incumbent re-elected.
Maine 2 John J. Perry Republican 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Maine 3 Ebenezer Knowlton Republican 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • Green tickY Nehemiah Abbott (Republican) 56.1%
  • Henry Ingalls (Democratic) 43.9%
Maine 4 Samuel P. Benson Republican 1852 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Maine 5 Israel Washburn Jr. Republican 1850 Incumbent re-elected.
Maine 6 Thomas J. D. Fuller Democratic 1848 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Maryland

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Maryland 1
Maryland 2
Maryland 3
Maryland 4
Maryland 5
Maryland 6

Massachusetts

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Massachusetts 1 Robert B. Hall Know Nothing 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY Robert B. Hall (Republican) 69.73%
  • Moses Bates (Democratic) 16.14%
  • Daniel Fisher (American) 14.12%
Massachusetts 2 James Buffinton Know Nothing 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY James Buffinton (Republican) 68.25%
  • Charles R. Vickery (Democratic) 20.58%
  • Darius Dunbar (American) 7.03%
Massachusetts 3 William S. Damrell Know Nothing 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY William S. Damrell (Republican) 61.57%
  • Arthur W. Austin (Democratic) 29.96%
  • Alfred B. Ely (American) 8.47%
Massachusetts 4 Linus B. Comins Know Nothing 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY Linus B. Comins (Republican) 45.92%
  • Charles Greene (Democratic) 39.22%
  • Benjamin F. Cooke (American) 14.85%
Massachusetts 5 Anson Burlingame Know Nothing 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
Massachusetts 6 Timothy Davis Know Nothing 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY Timothy Davis (Republican) 69.39%
  • Nathaniel J. Lord (Democratic) 22.21%
  • Benjamin Perley (American) 7.74%
  • Scattering 0.66%
Massachusetts 7 Nathaniel P. Banks Know Nothing 1852 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY Nathaniel P. Banks (Republican) 61.95%
  • Isaac H. Wright (Democratic) 26.31%
  • Isaac Story (American) 11.74%
Massachusetts 8 Chauncey L. Knapp Know Nothing 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
Massachusetts 9 Alexander DeWitt Know Nothing 1852 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY Eli Thayer (Republican) 53.69%
  • Alexander DeWitt (American) 26.57%
  • Nathaniel Wood (Democratic) 17.98%
  • Alfred Mowrey (American) 1.76%
Massachusetts 10 Calvin C. Chaffee Know Nothing 1855 (special) Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
Massachusetts 11 Mark Trafton Know Nothing 1854 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Michigan

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Michigan 1 William A. Howard Republican 1854 Incumbent re-elected.
Michigan 2 Henry Waldron Republican 1854 Incumbent re-elected.
Michigan 3 David S. Walbridge Republican 1854 Incumbent re-elected.
Michigan 4 George W. Peck Democratic 1854 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Minnesota

Minnesota Territory elected three members in advance of Minnesota's 1848 statehood. "Although three men won this election, which was held before Minnesota was actually a state, only two representatives from Minnesota were allowed in the congressional bill creating the state in 1858. George L. Becker lost in the drawing of lots to decide who would present their credentials, therefore he did not serve in Congress."[7]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Minnesota at-large
2 seats on a general ticket
None (New seat) New state would be admitted May 11, 1858.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Elected on a general ticket:
None (New seat) New state would be admitted May 11, 1858.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Mississippi

Elections held late, from October 5 to 6, 1857.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Mississippi 1 Daniel B. Wright Democratic 1853 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Mississippi 2 Hendley S. Bennett Democratic 1855 Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Mississippi 3 William Barksdale Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi 4 William A. Lake Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Mississippi 5 John A. Quitman Democratic 1855 Incumbent re-elected.

Missouri

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Missouri 1
Missouri 2
Missouri 3
Missouri 4
Missouri 5
Missouri 6
Missouri 7

Nebraska Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

New Hampshire

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New Hampshire 1
New Hampshire 2
New Hampshire 3

New Jersey

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New Jersey 1
New Jersey 2
New Jersey 3
New Jersey 4
New Jersey 5

New York

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New York 1
New York 2
New York 3
New York 4
New York 5
New York 6
New York 7
New York 8
New York 9
New York 10
New York 11
New York 12
New York 13
New York 14
New York 15
New York 16
New York 17
New York 18
New York 19
New York 20
New York 21
New York 22
New York 23
New York 24
New York 25
New York 26
New York 27
New York 28
New York 29
New York 30
New York 31
New York 32
New York 33

North Carolina

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
North Carolina 1
North Carolina 2
North Carolina 3
North Carolina 4
North Carolina 5
North Carolina 6
North Carolina 7
North Carolina 8

Ohio

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Ohio 1
Ohio 2
Ohio 3
Ohio 4
Ohio 5
Ohio 6
Ohio 7
Ohio 8
Ohio 9
Ohio 10
Ohio 11
Ohio 12
Ohio 13
Ohio 14
Ohio 15
Ohio 16
Ohio 17
Ohio 18
Ohio 19
Ohio 20
Ohio 21

Oregon Territory

See non-voting delegates, below.

Pennsylvania

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Pennsylvania 1 Thomas B. Florence Democratic 1850 Incumbent re-elected.
Pennsylvania 2 Job R. Tyson Whig 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Pennsylvania 3 William Millward Opposition 1854 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Pennsylvania 4 Jacob Broom Know Nothing 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Pennsylvania 5 John Cadwalader Democratic 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Owen Jones (Democratic) 54.86%
  • Daniel H. Mulvany (Whig) 45.14%
Pennsylvania 6 John Hickman Democratic 1854 Incumbent re-elected.
Pennsylvania 7 Samuel C. Bradshaw Opposition 1854 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Pennsylvania 8 J. Glancy Jones Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY J. Glancy Jones (Democratic) 71.60%
  • David Yoder (Republican) 28.40%
Pennsylvania 9 Anthony E. Roberts Opposition 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
Pennsylvania 10 John C. Kunkel Opposition 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY John C. Kunkel (Republican) 55.63%
  • Henry C. Eyer (Democratic) 44.37%
Pennsylvania 11 James H. Campbell Opposition 1854 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Pennsylvania 12 Henry M. Fuller Opposition
Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Pennsylvania 13 Asa Packer Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Pennsylvania 14 Galusha A. Grow Democratic 1850 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY Galusha A. Grow (Republican) 71.31%
  • Daniel L. Sherwood (Democratic) 28.69%
Pennsylvania 15 John J. Pearce Opposition 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Green tickY Allison White (Democratic) 51.36%
  • William H. Irvin (Republican) 48.64%
Pennsylvania 16 Lemuel Todd Opposition 1854 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Pennsylvania 17 David F. Robison Opposition 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Green tickY Wilson Reilly (Democratic) 51.28%
  • Joseph Pumroy (Republican) 48.72%
Pennsylvania 18 John R. Edie Opposition 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY John R. Edie (Republican) 50.91%
  • Cyrus L. Pershing (Democratic) 49.09%
Pennsylvania 19 John Covode Opposition 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY John Covode (Union) 54.40%
  • Alexander McKinney (Democratic) 45.60%
Pennsylvania 20 Jonathan Knight Opposition 1854 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Pennsylvania 21 David Ritchie Opposition 1852 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
Pennsylvania 22 Samuel A. Purviance Opposition 1854 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY Samuel A. Purviance (Republican) 57.09%
  • James Gibson (Democratic) 40.51%
  • Alexander Wadlow (Know Nothing) 2.40%
Pennsylvania 23 John Allison Opposition
Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY William Stewart (Republican) 61.00%
  • Thomas Cunningham (Democratic) 39.00%
Pennsylvania 24 David Barclay Democratic 1854 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY James L. Gillis (Democratic) 51.75%
  • James S. Myers (Republican) 48.25%
Pennsylvania 25 John Dick Opposition 1852 Incumbent re-elected to a new party.
Republican gain.
  • Green tickY John Dick (Republican) 67.97%
  • James A. McFadden (Democratic) 32.03%

Rhode Island

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Rhode Island 1
Rhode Island 2

South Carolina

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
South Carolina 1
South Carolina 2
South Carolina 3
South Carolina 4
South Carolina 5
South Carolina 6

Tennessee

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Tennessee 1 Albert G. Watkins Democratic 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 2 William H. Sneed Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Know Nothing hold.
Tennessee 3 Samuel A. Smith Democratic 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 4 John H. Savage Democratic 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 5 Charles Ready Know Nothing 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 6 George W. Jones Democratic 1842 Incumbent re-elected. Green tickY George W. Jones (Democratic) 100%[18]
Tennessee 7 John V. Wright Democratic 1855 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 8 Felix Zollicoffer Know Nothing 1853 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 9 Emerson Etheridge Know Nothing 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Tennessee 10 Thomas Rivers Know Nothing 1855 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Texas

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Texas 1
Texas 2

Vermont

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Vermont 1
Vermont 2
Vermont 3

Virginia

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Virginia 1
Virginia 2
Virginia 3
Virginia 4
Virginia 5
Virginia 6
Virginia 7
Virginia 8
Virginia 9
Virginia 10
Virginia 11
Virginia 12
Virginia 13

Wisconsin

Election results in Wisconsin for 1856:[23]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Wisconsin 1 Daniel Wells Jr. Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Wisconsin 2 Cadwallader C. Washburn Republican 1854 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 3 Charles Billinghurst Republican 1854 Incumbent re-elected.

Non-voting delegates

District Incumbent This race
Delegate Party First elected Results Candidates
Kansas John Wilkins Whitfield Democratic 1854
1856 (Seat vacated)
1856 (Special)
Re-elected in 1855 before seat was vacated.
Won special 1856 election.
Democratic hold.
Minnesota Henry Mower Rice Democratic 1852 Incumbent retired.
New delegate elected.
Democratic hold.
District eliminated in 1858 upon Minnesota's statehood.
Nebraska Bird Chapman Democratic 1854 Incumbent lost re-election.
New delegate elected August 3, 1857.[25]
Independent Democratic gain.
Oregon Joseph Lane Democratic 1851 Incumbent re-elected.

See also

Notes

  1. Excludes states admitted during this Congress
  2. Number of the seats that made up the Parties involved in the Opposition Coalition, excluding the Whig Party.
  3. In comparison to the performance of the Parties involved in the Opposition Coalition, excluding the Whig Party.
  4. Included one Independent Whig: Anthony Ellmaker Roberts of Pennsylvania.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Includes one Independent Democrat (a.k.a. a "Benton Democrat"): Francis Preston Blair Jr. of MO-01. Note that while Martis (p. 110) and Dubin (p. 176) list him as an "Independent Democrat" or "Benton Democrat," others sources (e.g. the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress) list Blair as a "Republican".
  6. Includes votes for those who ran labeled as an "Independent," "Benton Democrat," "Independent Democrat," or "Independent American."
  7. 1 2 Compared to the 100 Opposition Party members in previous election of 1854.
  8. In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform date for choosing presidential electors (see: Statutes at Large, 28th Congress, 2nd Session, p. 721). Congressional elections were unaffected by this law, but the date was gradually adopted by the states for congressional elections as well.
  9. New state. Representatives seated May 11, 1858, during the 1st session.
  10. 1 2 First name unknown.

    References

    1. 11 Stat. 166
    2. "Our Campaigns - KS Territorial Delegate - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1856".
    3. "MI - District 01 Race - Nov 04, 1856". Our Campaigns. January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
    4. "MI - District 02 Race - Nov 04, 1856". Our Campaigns. January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
    5. "MI - District 03 Race - Nov 04, 1856". Our Campaigns. January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
    6. "MI - District 04 Race - Nov 04, 1856". Our Campaigns. January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
    7. 1 2 "Our Campaigns - MN At-Large Race - Oct 13, 1857". www.ourcampaigns.com.
    8. "MS - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
    9. "MS - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
    10. "MS - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
    11. "MS - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
    12. "MS - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
    13. "TN - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
    14. "TN - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
    15. "TN - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
    16. "TN - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
    17. "TN - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
    18. "TN - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
    19. "TN - District 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
    20. "TN - District 08". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
    21. "TN - District 09". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
    22. "TN - District 10". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
    23. "Wisconsin U.S. House Election Results" (PDF). Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
    24. "KS Territorial Delegate – Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
    25. "Collections of the NSHS - Volume 18". www.usgennet.org.

    Bibliography

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