California's at-large congressional district
Obsolete district
Created1849
1883
Eliminated1865
1885
Years active1849-1865
1883-1885

After statehood was achieved on September 9, 1850 and until 1865, California elected its congressional representatives statewide at-large — two representatives from September 11, 1850 to 1861, and 3 representatives from 1861 to 1865.

Also, from 1883 to 1885, California elected two of its six representatives to the United States House of Representatives statewide at-large.

List of members representing the district

Congress and years Seat A Seat B Seat C
Member Party Electoral history Member Party Electoral history Member Party Electoral history
31st September 11, 1850 –
March 3, 1851
George Wright
(San Francisco)		 Independent Elected in 1849.
Retired.
Edward Gilbert
(San Francisco)		 Democratic Elected in 1849.
Retired.
32nd March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853
Edward C. Marshall
(Sonora)		 Democratic Elected late in 1851.
Retired.		 Joseph W. McCorkle
(Marysville)		 Democratic Elected late in 1851.
Lost renomination.
33rd March 3, 1853 –
March 3, 1855
Milton Latham
(Sacramento)		 Democratic Elected in 1852.
Retired.
James A. McDougall
(San Francisco)		 Democratic Elected in 1852.
Lost re-election.
34th March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857
James W. Denver
(Weaverville)		 Democratic Elected in 1854.
Retired.		 Philemon T. Herbert
(Mariposa City)		 Democratic Elected in 1854.
Retired after manslaughter acquittal
35th March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1859
Joseph C. McKibbin
(Downieville)		 Democratic Elected in 1856.
Lost re-election.
Charles L. Scott
(Sonora)		 Democratic Elected in 1856.
Re-elected in 1859.
Retired.
36th March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
John C. Burch
(Weaverville)		 Democratic Elected in 1859.
Retired.
37th March 4, 1861 –
June 3, 1862
Timothy Phelps
(San Mateo)		 Republican Elected in 1861.
Retired.
Aaron A. Sargent
(Nevada City)		 Republican Elected in 1861.
Retired.		 Vacant
June 3, 1862 –
March 3, 1863
Frederick F. Low
(San Francisco)		 Republican Elected in 1861 but not permitted by the House to take his seat.
Subsequently qualified under special Act of Congress.
Retired.
38th March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1865
Cornelius Cole
(Santa Cruz)		 Republican Elected in 1863.
[data missing]
William Higby
(Mokelumne Hill)		 Republican Elected in 1863.
Redistricted to the 2nd district.
Thomas B. Shannon
(Quincy)		 Republican Elected in 1863.
Retired.
39th
40th
41st
42nd
43rd
44th
45th
46th
47th		 March 4, 1865 –
March 3, 1883		 Seat eliminated Seat eliminated Seat eliminated
48th March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1885
John R. Glascock
(Oakland)		 Democratic Elected in 1882.
Lost re-election in the 3rd district.
Charles A. Sumner
(San Francisco)		 Democratic Elected in 1882.
Lost re-election in the 2nd district.

Election results

In these elections, the top two vote-getters (three from 1861 to 1863) were elected to the House.

1849

The election was held November 13, 1849.

1849 United States House of Representatives election in California
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Independent 20,481 79.44% 1 +1
Democratic 5,300 20.56% 1 +1
Totals 25,781 100.00% 2 —
1849 California's at-large congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent George Washington Wright 5,451 22.0
Democratic Edward Gilbert 5,300 20.6
Independent Rodman M. Price 4,040 16.3
Independent Lewis Dent 2,129 8.3
Independent P. A. Morse 2,066 8.2
Independent E. J. C. Kewen 1,826 7.3
Independent William M. Shepard 1,773 7.2
Independent William E. Shannon 1,327 5.4
Independent Peter O. Halstead 1,271 2.4
Independent L. W. Hastings 215 0.9
Independent Pierson B. Reading 167 0.7
Independent W. H. Russell 96 0.4
Independent J. S. Thompson 72 0.3
Independent Kimball H. Dimmick 48 0.2
Total votes 25,781 100.0
Turnout  

1851

The 1851 election was held October 7, 1851.

1851 United States House of Representatives election in California
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Democratic 48,784 53.92% 2 +1
Whig 41,684 46.08% 0 0
Independent 0 0.00% 0 –1
Totals 90,468 100.00% 2 —
1851 California's at-large congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward C. Marshall 24,469 27.0
Democratic Joseph McCorkle 24,315 26.9
Whig E. J. Kewen 21,460 23.7
Whig B. J. Moore 20,224 22.4
Total votes 90,468 100.0
Turnout  

1852

The election was held November 2, 1852.

1852 United States House of Representatives election in California
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Democratic 79,268 53.38% 2 0
Whig 69,232 46.62% 0 0
Totals 148,500 100.00% 2 —
1852 California's at-large congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Milton S. Latham 39,881 26.9
Democratic James A. McDougall 39,387 26.5
Whig P. L. Edwards 34,933 23.5
Whig G. B. Tingley 34,299 23.1
Total votes 148,500 100.0
Turnout  

1854

The election was held September 6, 1854.

1854 United States House of Representatives election in California
Party Votes Percentage Seats
Democratic 95,178 58.0% 2
Whig 69,152 42.0% 0
Totals 164,330 100.0% 2
1854 California's at-large congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James W. Denver 36,819 22.4
Democratic Philemon T. Herbert 36,542 22.4
Whig G. W. Bowie 34,741 21.1
Whig Cal Bonham 34,411 20.9
Democratic J. Churchman 10,006 6.1
Democratic James A. McDougall (Incumbent) 9,968 6.1
Democratic Milton S. Latham (Incumbent) 1,843 1.1
Total votes 164,330 100.0
Turnout  

1856

The election was held November 4, 1856.

1856 United States House of Representatives election in California
Party Votes Percentage Seats
Democratic 101,708 47.0% 2
Know Nothing 71,403 33.0% 0
Republican 43,139 20.0% 0
Totals 216,250 100.0% 2
1856 California's at-large congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph C. McKibbin 50,895 23.5
Democratic Charles L. Scott 50,813 23.5
Know Nothing B. C. Whitman 36,078 16.7
Know Nothing A. B. Dibble 35,325 16.3
Republican L. P. Rankin 21,975 10.2
Republican J. D. Turner 21,164 9.8
Total votes 216,250 100.0
Turnout  

1859

The election was held September 7, 1859.

United States House of Representatives election in California,
Party Votes Percentage Seats
Democratic 161,106 79.4% 2
Republican 41,739 20.6% 0
Totals 202,845 100.0% 2
1859 California's at-large congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John C. Burch 57,665 28.4
Democratic Charles L. Scott 56,998 28.1
Democratic Joseph C. McKibbin (Incumbent) 43,474 21.4
Republican Edward D. Baker 41,438 20.4
Democratic S. A. Booker 2,969 1.5
Republican P. H. Sibley 301 0.1
Total votes 202,845 100.0
Turnout  

1861

The election was held September 4, 1861.

1861 United States House of Representatives election in California
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Democratic 180,719 56.1% 0 -2
Republican 141,402 43.9% 3 +3
Totals 322,121 100.0% 3 —
1861 California's at-large congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Timothy Guy Phelps 51,651 21.8
Republican W. L. Dudley 50,692 21.4
Democratic H. Edgerton 35,449 15.0
Democratic Joseph C. McKibbin 35,401 15.0
Democratic D. O. Shattuck 31,712 13.4
Democratic H. P. Barbers 31,591 13.4
Total votes 236,496 100.0
Turnout  
California's at-large congressional election for seat added by reapportionment, 1861
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frederick F. Low 39,059 45.6
Democratic F. Gunhal 24,036 28.1
Democratic J. R. Gitchell 22,530 26.3
Total votes 85,625 100.0
Turnout  

1863

The election was held September 2, 1863.

1863 United States House of Representatives election in California
Party Votes Percentage Seats
Republican 194,882 69.1% 0
Democratic 87,087 30.9% 0
Totals 281,969 100.0% 3
1863 California's at-large congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Cornelius Cole 65,085 23.1
Republican Thomas B. Shannon 64,914 23.0
Republican William Higby 64,883 23.0
Democratic John B. Weller 43,567 15.5
Democratic John Bigler 43,520 15.4
Total votes 281,969 100.0
Turnout

1882

California elected two at-large representatives in addition to its four representatives in districts in 1882. For these results see 1882 United States House of Representatives elections in California.

See also

References

    • Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
    • Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
    • Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
    • California Elections Page 1849
    • California Elections Page 1850
    • California Elections Page 1852
    • California Elections Page 1854
    • California Elections Page 1856
    • California Elections Page 1858
    • California Elections Page 1861
    • California Elections Page 1862

    Sources

    • Dubin, Michael J. (1998). United States Congressional elections, 1788-1997 : the official results of the elections of the 1st through 105th Congresses. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 1998.
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