1864 and 1865 United States House of Representatives elections
Elections to the United States House of Representatives were held in 1864 to elect Representatives to the 39th United States Congress. The election coincided with the presidential election of 1864, in which President Abraham Lincoln was re-elected.
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All 193[lower-alpha 2] seats in the United States House of Representatives 97 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In the midst of the American Civil War, the opposition Democrats were deeply divided between the Copperheads, a group that demanded an immediate negotiated settlement with the Confederate States of America, and the War Democrats, who supported the war. With the Democrats lacking any coherent message, they lost half their seats to Lincoln's Republican Party, who increased their majority to a commanding level.
The National Union Party (formerly known as the Unionists) lost seven seats, retaining control of 18 seats (some classify the Representatives as including 13 Unconditional Unionists and five Unionists), all from the border states of Maryland, Tennessee, and Kentucky, as well as West Virginia.
Election summaries
One new seat was added for the new State of Nevada[1] and 8 vacancies were filled by the readmission of Tennessee, the first secessionist state to be readmitted. Three former Confederate States held elections in 1865 that were rejected by Congress.
38 | 137 | 18 |
Democratic | Republican | Unionist |
State | Type | Date | Total seats |
Democratic | Republican | Unionist[lower-alpha 6] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seats | Change | Seats | Change | Seats | Change | ||||
Oregon | At-large | June 5, 1864 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
1 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
Vermont | District | September 6, 1864 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
Maine | District | September 11, 1864 | 5 | 0 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
Indiana | District | October 10, 1864 | 11 | 2 | ![]() |
9 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
Nevada[lower-alpha 7] | At-large | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
1 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
Ohio | District | 19 | 2 | ![]() |
17 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
Pennsylvania | District | 24 | 8 | ![]() |
16 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
West Virginia | District | October 22, 1864 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
3 | ![]() |
California | District[lower-alpha 8] | November 8, 1864 (Election Day)[lower-alpha 9] |
3 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
Delaware | At-large | 1 | 1 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
Illinois | District + 1 at-large |
14 | 3 | ![]() |
11 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
Iowa | District | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
Kansas | At-large | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
1 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
Maryland | District | 5 | 2 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
3 | ![]() | |
Massachusetts | District | 10 | 0 | ![]() |
10 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
Michigan | District | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
Minnesota | District | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
2 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
Missouri | District | 9 | 1 | ![]() |
8[lower-alpha 5] | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
New Jersey | District | 5 | 3 | ![]() |
2 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
New York | District | 31 | 10 | ![]() |
21 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
Wisconsin | District | 6 | 1 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() | |
Late elections (after the March 4, 1865 beginning of the term) | |||||||||
New Hampshire | District | March 14, 1865 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
Connecticut | District | April 3, 1865 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
4 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
Tennessee[lower-alpha 10] | District | August 3, 1865[lower-alpha 11] | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
Rhode Island | District | April 5, 1865 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
2 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
Kentucky | District | August 7, 1865 | 9 | 5 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
4 | ![]() |
Nevada | At-large | November 7, 1865 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
1 | ![]() |
0 | ![]() |
Secessionist states not yet readmitted | |||||||||
Alabama | District | 6 | |||||||
Arkansas | District | 3 | |||||||
Florida | At-large | November 29, 1865[lower-alpha 12] | 1 | ||||||
Georgia | District | 7 | |||||||
Louisiana | District | 5 | |||||||
Mississippi | District | October 2, 1865[lower-alpha 12] | 5 | ||||||
North Carolina | District | November 9, 1865[lower-alpha 12] | 7 | ||||||
South Carolina | District | 4 | |||||||
Texas | District | 4 | |||||||
Virginia | District | 8 | |||||||
Total[lower-alpha 2] | 193 50 vacancies[lower-alpha 13] |
38 19.7% |
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137[lower-alpha 5] 71.0% |
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18 9.3% |
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Of the rejected elections, Florida's and Mississippi's claimants' parties are unknown, while North Carolina elected 4 Union and 3 Conservative Representatives.
Special elections
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Massachusetts 6 |
Alabama
Arizona Territory
See Non-voting delegates, below.
Arkansas
California
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3 seats | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Results: Republican hold |
Note: This was the first election in which California elected representatives from congressional districts.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
California 1 New seat |
Cornelius Cole Redistricted from the at-large district. |
Republican | 1863 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost renomination. New member elected. |
|
California 2 New seat |
William Higby Redistricted from the at-large district. |
Republican | 1863 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
California 3 New seat |
Thomas B. Shannon Redistricted from the at-large district. |
Republican | 1863 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold. |
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Colorado Territory
See non-voting delegates, below.
Connecticut
Dakota Territory
See non-voting delegates, below.
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho Territory
See non-voting delegates, below.
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana Territory
See non-voting delegates, below.
Nebraska Territory
See non-voting delegates, below.
Nevada
38th Congress
On October 31, 1864, the new state of Nevada elected Republican Henry G. Worthington to finish the term ending March 3, 1865.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Nevada at-large | New state | New member elected. Republican gain. |
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39th Congress
Worthington was not renominated for the next term, however, and on November 7, 1865, Republican Delos R. Ashley was elected November 7, 1865 for the term that had already begun but would not formally meet until December 4, 1865.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Nevada at-large | Henry G. Worthington | Republican | 1864 (New state) | Incumbent lost renomination.[2] New member elected. Republican hold. |
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New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico Territory
See non-voting delegates, below.
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Ohio's delegation swung from 14–5 Democratic to 17-2 Republican as 10 Democratic incumbents lost renomination or re-election.
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates[4] | |
Ohio 1 | George H. Pendleton | Democratic | 1856 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
Ohio 2 | Alexander Long | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
Ohio 3 | Robert C. Schenck | Republican | 1862 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Ohio 4 | John F. McKinney | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
Ohio 5 | Francis C. Le Blond | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Ohio 6 | Chilton A. White | Democratic | 1860 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
Ohio 7 | Samuel S. Cox | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
Ohio 8 | William Johnston | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
Ohio 9 | Warren P. Noble | Democratic | 1860 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
Ohio 10 | James M. Ashley | Republican | 1862 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Ohio 11 | Wells A. Hutchins | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
Ohio 12 | William E. Finck | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Ohio 13 | John O'Neill | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain. |
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Ohio 14 | George Bliss | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
Ohio 15 | James R. Morris | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
Ohio 16 | Joseph W. White | Democratic | 1882 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
Ohio 17 | Ephraim R. Eckley | Republican | 1862 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Ohio 18 | Rufus P. Spalding | Republican | 1862 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Ohio 19 | James A. Garfield | Republican | 1862 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah Territory
See non-voting delegates, below.
Vermont
Virginia
Washington Territory
See non-voting delegates, below.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wisconsin elected six members of congress on Election Day, November 8, 1864.[5]
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Wisconsin 1 | James S. Brown | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent withdrew from election. New member elected. National Union gain. |
|
Wisconsin 2 | Ithamar Sloan | Republican | 1862 | Incumbent won re-election on National Union ticket. Republican hold. |
|
Wisconsin 3 | Amasa Cobb | Republican | 1862 | Incumbent won re-election on National Union ticket. Republican hold. |
|
Wisconsin 4 | Charles A. Eldredge | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Wisconsin 5 | Ezra Wheeler | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. National Union gain. |
|
Wisconsin 6 | Walter D. McIndoe | Republican | 1862 Special | Incumbent won re-election on National Union ticket. Republican hold. |
|
Non-voting delegates
38th Congress
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Delegate | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Arizona Territory at-large | New district | New seat. New delegate elected on an unknown date in 1864. Republican gain. |
| ||
Montana Territory at-large | New district | New seat. New delegate elected.[lower-alpha 14] Democratic gain. |
|
39th Congress
District | Incumbent | This race | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Delegate | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
Arizona Territory at-large | Charles Debrille Poston | Republican | 1864 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected September 6, 1865. Republican hold. |
|
Colorado Territory at-large | Hiram Pitt Bennet | Conservative Republican | 1861 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
Dakota Territory at-large | |||||
Idaho Territory at-large | William H. Wallace | Unionist | 1860 (Washington Territory) 1862 (Unknown) 1863 |
Unknown if incumbent retired or lost. New delegate elected October 10, 1864. Democratic gain. |
|
Montana Territory at-large | Samuel McLean | Democratic | 1864 | Incumbent re-elected to the term starting March 4, 1865.[lower-alpha 14] |
|
Nebraska Territory at-large | Samuel Gordon Daily | Republican | 1860 (Won contest) | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost. New delegate elected on an unknown date. Republican hold. |
|
New Mexico Territory at-large | |||||
Utah Territory at-large | |||||
Washington Territory at-large |
See also
Notes
- Excludes states admitted after the start of Congress.
- Including late elections.
- Represents the combined results of the Republican and Unionist candidates in the last election cycle.
- In comparison to the combined results of the Republican and Unionist candidates in the last election cycle.
- Includes 1 Independent Republican, John R. Kelso, elected in MO-04.
- Including Unconditional Unionists.
- New state.
- Changed from at-large.
- Although "An Act to establish a uniform time for holding elections for electors of President and Vice President in all the States of the Union (28th Congress, 2nd Session, Chapter 1, 5 Stat. 721, enacted January 23, 1845) was only for presidential elections, the date was gradually adopted by the states for Congressional elections.
- Readmitted state.
- Not admitted until July 24, 1866.
- Rejected election.
- There were a total of 50 vacancies remaining, after the readmission of Tennessee.
- Date speculative, but presumed to be in 1864[7] and 1865.[8]
References
- 14 Stat. 391
- History of Nevada, p. 87.
- History of Nevada, p. 88–89.
- Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 195, 196.
- "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.
- https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300412
- "Our Campaigns - MT Territorial Delegate - Initial Election Race - Nov 08, 1864". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- "Our Campaigns - MT Territorial Delegate Race - Nov 07, 1865". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- "Our Campaigns - AZ Territorial Delegate Race - Aug 02, 1865". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- "Our Campaigns - ID Territorial Delegate Race - Oct 10, 1864". www.ourcampaigns.com.
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.
- Thompson; West (1881). History of Nevada. Oakland, California: Oakland, Cal., Thompson and West. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- "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)
- "Elections 1860 - 1869". JoinCalifornia / Election History for the State of California. Retrieved February 12, 2018.