1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections

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.

1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1848 & 1849 August 5, 1850 – November 4, 1851 1852 & 1853 →
All 233 seats in the United States House of Representatives 117 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Linn Boyd Edward Stanly Party Democratic Whig Leader's seat Kentucky 1st North Carolina 8th Last election 113 seats 106 seats Seats won 127 85 Seat change 14 21 Popular vote 1,142,783 1,105,286 Percentage 43.31% 41.89% Swing 0.85pp 2.95pp   Third party Fourth party   Party Union Party Southern Rights Party Last election Pre-creation Pre-creation Seats won 10 3 Seat change 10 3 Popular vote 123,727 109,060 Percentage 4.69% 4.13% Swing New Party New Party   Fifth party Sixth party   Party Free Soil Independent Last election 8 seats 3 seats Seats won 4 4 Seat change 4 1 Popular vote 82,221 70,262 Percentage 3.12% 2.79% Swing 5.54pp 1.03pp
Results:      Democratic gain      Whig gain      Democratic hold      Whig hold      Free Soil hold      Free Soil gain      Union Party gain      Southern Rights Party gain      Independent gain
Speaker before election Howell Cobb Democratic Elected Speaker Linn Boyd Democratic

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, won 15 seats in the South, while the anti-Compromise Southern Rights Party won 8. 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.

Election summaries

↓

130	7	10	86
Democratic			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	2	3	0		0		0		3	3
Vermont	District	September 3, 1850	4	1		0		0		0		3
Maine	District	September 9, 1850	7	5		0		0		0		2
Florida	At-large	October 7, 1850	1	0		0		0		0		1
Ohio	District	October 8, 1850	21	11		1	1	0		0		9	1
Pennsylvania	District	October 8, 1850	24	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)	7	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	1	1		0		0		0	1
Massachusetts	District	November 11, 1850	10	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	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		0		0		0		4
California	At-large	September 3, 1851	2	2	1	0		0		0		0
Maryland	District	October 1, 1851	6	2	1	0		0		0		4	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 55.8%	17	4 1.7%	5	3 1.3%	3	10 4.3%	10	86 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.

Special elections

31st Congress

• Iowa's 1st congressional district: 1850
• New Hampshire's 3rd congressional district: 1850
• Ohio's 6th congressional district: 1851
• Louisiana's 3rd congressional district: 1850
• Massachusetts's 1st congressional district: 1850

32nd Congress

Alabama

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
Alabama 1	William J. Alston	Whig	1849	Incumbent retired. Democratic gain.	▌Y John Bragg (Democratic) 58.81% ▌Charles Langdon (Whig) 41.19% Alabama 2
Alabama 3
Alabama 4
Alabama 5
Alabama 6
Alabama 7

Arkansas

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.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Arkansas at-large	Robert W. Johnson	Democratic	1846	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Robert W. Johnson (Democratic) 57.4% ▌John Preston (Whig) 42.6%

California

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.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
California at-large 2 seats	George W. Wright	Independent	1849	Incumbent retired. Democratic gain.	(Elected on a general ticket) ▌Y Edward C. Marshall (Democratic) 27.16% ▌Y Joseph W. McCorkle (Democratic) 26.77% ▌ (Whig) 23.70% ▌ (Whig) 22.37%
	Edward Gilbert	Democratic	1849	Incumbent retired. Democratic hold.

Connecticut

Elections were held April 7, 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
Connecticut 1	Loren P. Waldo	Democratic	1849	Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain.	▌Y Charles Chapman (Whig) 48.8% ▌Loren P. Waldo (Democratic) 48.5% ▌Timothy Cowles (Free Soil) 2.6%
Connecticut 2	Walter Booth	Free Soil	1849	Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain.	▌Y Colin M. Ingersoll (Democratic) 49.6% ▌James F. Babcock (Whig) 45.9% ▌Walter Booth (Free Soil) 2.6%
Connecticut 3	Chauncey F. Cleveland	Democratic	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Chauncey F. Cleveland (Democratic) 50.9% ▌ (Whig) 49.3% ▌ (Free Soil) 1.7%
Connecticut 4	Thomas B. Butler	Whig	1849	Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain.	▌Y Origen S. Seymour (Democratic) 49.3% ▌Thomas B. Butler (Whig) 48.4% ▌Lewis Beers Jr. (Free Soil) 2.3%

Delaware

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. Democratic gain.	▌Y George R. Riddle (Democratic) 49.21% ▌George B. Rodney (Whig) 48.24% ▌ (Temperance) 2.54%

Florida

The election was held October 7, 1850.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Florida at-large	Edward C. Cabell	Whig	1845	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Edward C. Cabell (Whig) 52.80% ▌John Beard (Democratic) 47.20%

Georgia

Elections were held October 6, 1851.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Georgia 1	Joseph W. Jackson	Democratic	1850	Incumbent re-elected. Southern Rights gain.	▌Y Joseph W. Jackson (Southern Rights) 51.67% ▌Charles H. Hopkins (Constitutional Union) 48.34%
Georgia 2	Marshall Johnson Wellborn	Democratic	1848	Inumbent retired. Constitutional Union gain.	▌Y James Johnson (Constitutional Union) 53.72% ▌Henry L. Benning (Southern Rights) 46.28%
Georgia 3	Allen F. Owen	Whig	1848	Incumbent retired. Southern Rights gain.	▌Y Jack Bailey (Southern Rights) 50.67% ▌Absalom H. Chappell (Constitutional Union) 49.33%
Georgia 4	Hugh A. Haralson	Democratic	1842	Incumbent retired. Constitutional Union gain.	▌Y Charles Murphey (Constitutional Union) 58.05% ▌John P. Stell (Southern Rights) 41.95%
Georgia 5	Thomas C. Hackett	Democratic	1848	Incumbent retired. Constitutional Union gain.	▌Y Elijah W. Chastain (Constitutional Union) 64.98% ▌William H. Stiles (Southern Rights) 35.02%
Georgia 6	Howell Cobb	Democratic	1842	Incumbent retired. Constitutional Union gain.	▌Y Junius Hillyer (Constitutional Union) 71.11% ▌Thomas F. Jones (Southern Rights) 28.90%
Georgia 7	Alexander H. Stephens	Democratic	1843	Incumbent re-elected as a Unionist. Constitutional Union gain.	▌Y Alexander H. Stephens (Constitutional Union) 70.82% ▌David W. Lewis (Southern Rights) 29.18%
Georgia 8	Robert Toombs	Whig	1844	Incumbent re-elected as a Unionist. Constitutional Union gain.	▌Y Robert Toombs (Constitutional Union)

Illinois

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

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

Indiana

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
Indiana 1
Indiana 2
Indiana 3
Indiana 4
Indiana 5
Indiana 6
Indiana 7
Indiana 8
Indiana 9
Indiana 10

Iowa

Elections were held August 5, 1850.

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

Kentucky

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
Kentucky 1
Kentucky 2
Kentucky 3
Kentucky 4
Kentucky 5
Kentucky 6
Kentucky 7
Kentucky 8
Kentucky 9
Kentucky 10

Louisiana

Elections were held November 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
Louisiana 1
Louisiana 2
Louisiana 3
Louisiana 4

Maine

Elections were held September 9, 1850.

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

Maryland

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.

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

Massachusetts

Elections were held November 11, 1850, but at least one district's elections went to multiple ballots into 1851.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Massachusetts 1
Massachusetts 2
Massachusetts 3
Massachusetts 4	Vacant due to failure to elect.			Whig gain.	First ballot (November 11, 1850) ▌Benjamin Thompson (Whig) 39.60% ▌John G. Palfrey (Free Soil) 34.25% ▌ (Democratic) 26.16% Second ballot (January 20, 1851) ▌Benjamin Thompson (Whig) 42.76% ▌John G. Palfrey (Free Soil) 33.86% ▌ (Democratic) 23.39% Third ballot (April 7, 1851) ▌Benjamin Thompson (Whig) 42.12% ▌John G. Palfrey (Free Soil) 40.18% ▌ (Democratic) 17.70% Fourth ballot (May 26, 1851) ▌Y Benjamin Thompson (Whig) 47.65% ▌John G. Palfrey (Free Soil) 47.00% ▌ (Democratic) 5.36%
Massachusetts 5
Massachusetts 6
Massachusetts 7	Julius Rockwell	Whig	1844 (late)	Incumbent lost re-election. Whig hold.	First ballot (November 11, 1850) ▌Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 45.75% ▌John Z. Goodrich (Whig) 45.30% ▌Joel Hayden (Free Soil) 6.72% ▌Julius Rockwell (Whig) 2.23% Second ballot (January 20, 1851) ▌John Z. Goodrich (Whig) 48.32% ▌Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 42.61% ▌Joel Hayden (Free Soil) 7.73% ▌Julius Rockwell (Whig) 1.34% Third ballot (April 7, 1851) ▌John Z. Goodrich (Whig) 48.24% ▌Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 43.02% ▌Joel Hayden (Free Soil) 7.96% Fourth ballot (May 26, 1851) ▌Y John Z. Goodrich (Whig) 52.80% ▌Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 46.32%
Massachusetts 8
Massachusetts 9
Massachusetts 10

Michigan

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Michigan 1	Alexander W. Buel	Democratic	1848	Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain.	▌Y Ebenezer J. Penniman (Whig) 54.7% ▌Alexander W. Buel (Democratic) 45.3%
Michigan 2	William Sprague	Whig	1848	Incumbent retired. Democratic gain.	▌Y Charles E. Stuart (Democratic) 50.8% ▌Joseph R. Williams (Whig) 49.0%
Michigan 3	Kinsley S. Bingham	Democratic	1846	Incumbent retired. Whig gain.	▌Y James L. Conger (Whig) 50.6% ▌Charles C. Hascall (Democratic) 49.4%

Minnesota Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Mississippi

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.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Mississippi 1	Jacob Thompson	Democratic	1839	Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate. Union gain.	▌Y Benjamin D. Nabers (Union) 57.80% ▌Jacob Thompson (Southern Rights) 42.20%
Mississippi 2	Winfield S. Featherston	Democratic	1847	Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate. Union gain.	▌Y John A. Wilcox (Union) 52.77% ▌Winfield S. Featherston (Southern Rights) 47.24%
Mississippi 3	William McWillie	Democratic	1849	Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate. Union gain.	▌Y John D. Freeman (Union) 50.81% ▌William McWillie (Southern Rights) 49.19%
Mississippi 4	Albert G. Brown	Democratic	1847	Incumbent re-elected as a Southern Rights candidate. Southern Rights gain.	▌Y Albert G. Brown (Southern Rights) 57.35% ▌A. B. Dawson (Union) 42.66%

Missouri

Elections were held August 5, 1850.

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

New Hampshire

Elections were held March 11, 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
New Hampshire 1	Amos Tuck	Free Soil	1847	Incumbent won re-election as a Whig. Whig gain.	▌Y Amos Tuck (Whig) 51.23% ▌George W. Kittredge (Democratic) 48.77%
New Hampshire 2	Charles H. Peaslee	Democratic	1847	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Charles H. Peaslee (Democratic) 55.01% ▌ Anthony Colby (Whig) 29.18% ▌ Asa Fowler (Free Soil) 15.81%
New Hampshire 3	George W. Morrison	Democratic	1850 (special)	Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain.	▌Y Jared Perkins (Whig) 52.84% ▌ George W. Morrison (Democratic) 47.16%
New Hampshire 4	Harry Hibbard	Democratic	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Harry Hibbard (Democratic) 59.66% ▌Jonathan Kitteridge (Whig) 27.32% ▌ John H. White (Free Soil) 13.02%

New Jersey

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

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 Mexico Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

New York

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

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
New York 34

North Carolina

Elections were held August 7, 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
North Carolina 1
North Carolina 2
North Carolina 3
North Carolina 4
North Carolina 5
North Carolina 6
North Carolina 7
North Carolina 8
North Carolina 9

Ohio

Elections were held October 8, 1850.

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

Elections were held October 8, 1850.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Pennsylvania 1
Pennsylvania 2
Pennsylvania 3
Pennsylvania 4
Pennsylvania 5
Pennsylvania 6
Pennsylvania 7
Pennsylvania 8
Pennsylvania 9
Pennsylvania 10
Pennsylvania 11
Pennsylvania 12
Pennsylvania 13
Pennsylvania 14
Pennsylvania 15
Pennsylvania 16
Pennsylvania 17
Pennsylvania 18
Pennsylvania 19
Pennsylvania 20
Pennsylvania 21
Pennsylvania 22
Pennsylvania 23
Pennsylvania 24

Rhode Island

Elections were held April 2, 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
Rhode Island 1
Rhode Island 2

South Carolina

Elections were held October 14–15, 1850.

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
South Carolina 7

Tennessee

Elections were held August 7, 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
Tennessee 1	Andrew Johnson	Democratic	1842	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Andrew Johnson (Democratic) 57.52% ▌Landon Carter Haynes (Democratic) 42.48%
Tennessee 2	Albert G. Watkins	Whig	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Albert G. Watkins (Whig) 78.65% ▌[FNU] Hurley (Democratic) 17.57% ▌J. D. Dickinson (Whig) 3.78%
Tennessee 3	Josiah M. Anderson	Whig	1849	Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain.	▌Y William M. Churchwell (Democratic) 50.06% ▌Josiah M. Anderson (Whig) 49.94%
Tennessee 4	John H. Savage	Democratic	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y John H. Savage (Democratic) 57.20% ▌Jefferson D. Goodpasture (Whig) 42.80%
Tennessee 5	George W. Jones	Democratic	1842	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y George W. Jones (Democratic) 100%
Tennessee 6	James H. Thomas	Democratic	1847	Incumbent lost re-election. Independent Democratic gain.	▌Y William H. Polk (Independent Democratic) 56.13% ▌James H. Thomas (Democratic) 43.87%
Tennessee 7	Meredith P. Gentry	Whig	1845	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Meredith P. Gentry (Whig) 100%
Tennessee 8	Andrew Ewing	Democratic	1849	Incumbent retired. Whig gain.	▌Y William Cullom (Whig) 55.63% ▌J. J. Southall (Democratic) 44.37%
Tennessee 9	Isham G. Harris	Democratic	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Isham G. Harris (Democratic) 59.47% ▌I. G. Hornberger (Whig) 40.53%
Tennessee 10	Frederick P. Stanton	Democratic	1845	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Frederick P. Stanton (Democratic) 51.81% ▌Walter S. Coleman (Whig) 48.19%
Tennessee 11	Christopher H. Williams	Whig	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Christopher H. Williams (Whig) 100%

Texas

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

Utah Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont

Elections were held September 3, 1850.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Vermont 1	William Henry	Whig	1846	Incumbent retired. Whig hold.	First ballot ▌ (Whig) 31.4% ▌Ahiman Louis Miner (Whig) 30.5% ▌ (Free Soil) 27.2% ▌Merritt Clark (Democratic) 10.3% Second ballot ▌Y Ahiman Louis Miner (Whig) 39.2% ▌ (Whig) 37.2% ▌ (Free Soil) 23.6%
Vermont 2	William Hebard	Whig	1848	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y William Hebard (Whig) 55.2% ▌Jefferson P. Kidder (Free Soil) 42.8% ▌J. F. Redfield (Unknown) 0.8% ▌Daniel Cobb (Unknown) 0.2%
Vermont 3	James Meacham	Whig	1849 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y James Meacham (Whig) 55.4% ▌Herman R. Beardsley (Free Soil) 30.1% ▌ (Democratic) 14.4%
Vermont 4	Lucius B. Peck	Democratic	1846	Incumbent retired. Free Soil gain.	▌Y Thomas Bartlett Jr. (Free Soil) 52.8% ▌Bliss N. Davis (Whig) 35.9%

Virginia

Elections were held October 23, 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
Virginia 1	John Millson	Democratic	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y John Millson (Democratic) 59.6% ▌Leopold P. C. Cowper (Whig) 40.4%
Virginia 2	Richard Kidder Meade	Democratic		Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Richard Kidder Meade (Democratic) 100%
Virginia 3	Thomas H. Averett	Democratic	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Thomas H. Averett (Democratic) 57.4% ▌Thomas Flournoy (Whig) 42.6%
Virginia 4	Thomas S. Bocock	Democratic	1847	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Thomas S. Bocock (Democratic) 63.5% ▌Philip A. Bolling (Whig) 36.5%
Virginia 5	Paulus Powell	Democratic	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Paulus Powell (Democratic) 51.5% ▌William L. Goggin (Whig) 48.5%
Virginia 6	James Seddon	Democratic	1845 1847 (retired) 1849	Incumbent retired. Democratic hold.	▌Y John Caskie (Democratic) 54.5% ▌John Botts (Whig) 45.5%
Virginia 7	Thomas H. Bayly	Democratic		Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Thomas H. Bayly (Democratic) 100%
Virginia 8	Alexander Holladay	Democratic	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Alexander Holladay (Democratic) 61.3% ▌Robert W. Carter (Whig) 38.7%
Virginia 9	Jeremiah Morton	Ind. Whig	1849	Incumbent lost re-election as a Democrat. Whig gain.	▌Y James F. Strother (Whig) 55.9% ▌Jeremiah Morton (Democratic) 44.1%
Virginia 10	Richard Parker	Democratic	1849	Incumbent retired. Whig gain.	▌Y Charles J. Faulkner (Whig) 53.7% ▌Henry Bedinger (Democratic) 46.3%
Virginia 11	James McDowell	Democratic		Incumbent retired. Democratic hold.	▌Y John Letcher (Democratic) 100%
Virginia 12	Henry A. Edmundson	Democratic	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Henry A. Edmundson (Democratic) 100%
Virginia 13	Fayette McMullen	Democratic	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Fayette McMullen (Democratic) 100%
Virginia 14	James M. H. Beale	Democratic	1849	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y James M. H. Beale (Democratic) 58.8% ▌[FNU] Smith (Whig) 41.2%
Virginia 15	Thomas Haymond	Whig		Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain.	▌Y George W. Thompson (Democratic) 52.5% ▌Thomas Haymond (Whig) 47.5%

Wisconsin

Elections were held November 5, 1850.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Wisconsin 1	Charles Durkee	Free Soil	1848	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Charles Durkee (Free Soil) 57.4% ▌Andrew E. Elmore (Democratic) 42.6%
Wisconsin 2	Orsamus Cole	Whig	1848	Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain.	▌Y Ben C. Eastman (Democratic) 55.8% ▌Orsamus Cole (Whig) 44.2%
Wisconsin 3	James Duane Doty	Democratic	1848	Incumbent won re-election as an Independent. Independent Democratic gain.	▌Y James Duane Doty (Ind. Democratic) 67.5% ▌Harrison Carroll Hobart (Democratic) 32.5%

Non-voting delegates

District	Incumbent			This race
	Delegate	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Minnesota Territory	Henry Hastings Sibley	Democratic	1848 (Wis. Territory: special) 1849 (Wis. Territory: eliminated) 1849 (Minn. Territory)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Henry Hastings Sibley (Democratic) [data missing]
New Mexico Territory	New seat			New seat. Democratic gain.	▌Y Richard H. Weightman (Democratic) 4,200 votes ▌ (Whig) 3,458 votes
Oregon Territory	Samuel Thurston	Democratic	1849 (new seat)	Incumbent died April 9, 1851. New delegate elected June 2, 1851. Democratic hold.	▌Y Joseph Lane (Democratic) [data missing]
Utah Territory	New seat			New seat. Independent gain.	▌Y John M. Bernhisel (Independent) [data missing]

See also

• 1850 United States elections
  • List of United States House of Representatives elections (1824–1854)
  • 1850–51 United States Senate elections
• 31st United States Congress
• 32nd United States Congress

Notes

1. Includes one Anti-Benton Democrat, one Benton Democrat, two Southern Rights Democrats, two Union Democrats, and one Seccionist Democrat
2. Includes two Union Whigs and one Seccionist Whig
3. Includes three Independent Democrats and one Independent Whig.
4. Free Soil had 4 seats and Southern Rights had 3.
5. Union had 10 seats.
6. Includes one Anti-Benton Democrat and one Benton Democrat
7. One Democrat was backed by Free Soil
8. Includes one Independent Democrat.
9. There was 1 Know-Nothing in the 31st Congress.
10. One Democrat was backed by Free Soil
11. One Whig was backed by Free Soil
12. In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform date for choosing presidential electors. Congressional elections were unaffected by this law, but the date was gradually adopted by the states for congressional elections as well.
13. Two Whigs were backed by Free Soil
14. One Free Soil was backed by the Whigs
15. One seat, Massachusetts's 4th congressional district, had been vacant during the entire 31st Congress.
16. Includes two Southern Rights Democrats and two Union Democrats
17. Includes two Union Whigs
18. Includes one Seccionist Democrat
19. Includes one Seccionist Whig
20. There was 1 Independent in the 31st Congress.
21. Includes 1 Independent Whig.
22. Includes three Independent Democrats from Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

References

1. Statutes at Large, 28th Congress, 2nd Session, p. 721
2. "Our Campaigns - AL District 1 Race - Nov 12, 1850". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
3. Guide to U.S. Elections. Vol. II (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. 2010. p. 1016. ISBN 9781604265361. LCCN 2009033938. OCLC 430736650.
4. "Our Campaigns - CA - At Large Race - Sep 03, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
5. "State of Connecticut Elections Database » Search Past Election Results". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
6. "Our Campaigns - DE District At Large Race - Nov 12, 1850". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
7. "Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - Oct 07, 1850". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
8. "Our Campaigns - GA District 01 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
9. "Our Campaigns - GA District 02 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
10. "Our Campaigns - GA District 03 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
11. "Our Campaigns - GA District 04 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
12. "Our Campaigns - GA District 05 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
13. "Our Campaigns - GA District 06 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
14. "Our Campaigns - GA District 07 Race - Oct 06, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
15. "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 - 1st Trial Race - Nov 11, 1850". www.ourcampaigns.com.
16. "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 - 2nd Trial Race - Jan 20, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com.
17. "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 - 3rd Trial Race - Apr 07, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com.
18. "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 - 4th Trial Race - May 26, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com.
19. "Our Campaigns - MA District 7 - 1st Trial Race - Nov 11, 1850". www.ourcampaigns.com.
20. "Our Campaigns - MA District 7 - 2nd Trial Race - Jan 20, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com.
21. "Our Campaigns - MA District 7 - 3rd Trial Race - Apr 07, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com.
22. "Our Campaigns - MA District 7 - 4th Trial Race - May 26, 1851". www.ourcampaigns.com.
23. "MI - District 01 Race - Nov 05, 1850". Our Campaigns. January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
24. "MI - District 02 Race - Nov 05, 1850". Our Campaigns. January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
25. "MI - District 03 Race - Nov 05, 1850". Our Campaigns. January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
26. "MS - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
27. "MS - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
28. "MS - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
29. "MS - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
30. "TN - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
31. "TN - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
32. "TN - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
33. "TN - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
34. "TN - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
35. "TN - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
36. "TN - District 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
37. "TN - District 08". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
38. "TN - District 09". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
39. "TN - District 10". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
40. "TN - District 11". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
41. "VT Elections Database » Vermont Election Results and Statistics". VT Elections Database. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
42. "Virginia Elections Database » Virginia Election Results and Statistics". Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
43. "Wisconsin U.S. House Election Results" (PDF). Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
44. "Later from New-Mexico--Murder, and Great Excitement". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
45. "Earliest Authorities in Oregon" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. p. 23.

Bibliography

• 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.

External links

• Office of the Historian (Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)