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.

1864 and 1865 United States House of Representatives elections

June 5, 1864 – November 7, 1865[lower-alpha 1]
All 193[lower-alpha 2] seats in the United States House of Representatives 97 seats needed for a majority
Leader Schuyler Colfax James Brooks Party National Union Democratic Leader's seat Indiana 9th New York 8th Last election 110 seats [lower-alpha 3] 72 seats Seats won 150 33 Seat change 40 39 Popular vote 2,078,677 [lower-alpha 3] 1,631,393 Percentage 53.47% 41.97% Swing 0.78% [lower-alpha 4] 3.14%   Party Conservative Radical Last election New New Seats won 5 4 Seat change 5 4 Popular vote 84,998 54,008 Percentage 2.19% 1.39% Swing New New   Party Independent Last election 2 seats Seats won 1 [lower-alpha 5] Seat change 1 Popular vote 41,360 Percentage 1.06% Swing 0.50%
Speaker before election Schuyler Colfax Republican Elected Speaker Schuyler Colfax Republican

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	1	5	1	0
Indiana	District	October 10, 1864	11	2	5	9	5	0
Nevada[lower-alpha 7]	At-large		1	0		1	1	0
Ohio	District		19	2	12	17	12	0
Pennsylvania	District		24	8	4	16	4	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	6	11	6	0
Iowa	District		6	0		6		0
Kansas	At-large		1	0		1		0
Maryland	District		5	2	1	0		3	1
Massachusetts	District		10	0		10		0
Michigan	District		6	0	1	6	1	0
Minnesota	District		2	0		2		0
Missouri	District		9	1	1	8[lower-alpha 5]	7	0	8
New Jersey	District		5	3	1	2	1	0
New York	District		31	10	7	21	7	0
Wisconsin	District		6	1	2	5	2	0
Late elections (after the March 4, 1865 beginning of the term)
New Hampshire	District	March 14, 1865	3	0	1	3	1	0
Connecticut	District	April 3, 1865	4	0	1	4	1	0
Tennessee[lower-alpha 10]	District	August 3, 1865[lower-alpha 11]	8	0		0		8	8
Rhode Island	District	April 5, 1865	2	0		2		0
Kentucky	District	August 7, 1865	9	5	5	0		4	5
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%	31	137[lower-alpha 5] 71.0%	46	18 9.3%	6

Popular vote Nat. Union   53.47% Democratic   41.97% Conservative   2.19% Radical   1.39% Independent   1.06% Others   0.00%

House seats Nat. Union   77.72% Democratic   17.10% Conservative   2.59% Radical   2.07% Independent   0.52%

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

California elections

November 8, 1864
3 seats
Party Republican Democratic Last election 3 0 Seats won 3 0 Seat change Popular vote 62,039 43,045 Percentage 59.0% 41.0%
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.	Donald C. McRuer (Republican) 58.2% Joseph B. Crockett (Democratic) 41.8%
California 2 New seat	William Higby Redistricted from the at-large district.	Republican	1863	Incumbent re-elected.	William Higby (Republican) 61.3% James W. Coffroth (Democratic) 38.7%
California 3 New seat	Thomas B. Shannon Redistricted from the at-large district.	Republican	1863	Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.	John Bidwell (Republican) 55.8% Jackson Temple (Democratic) 44.2%

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.	Henry G. Worthington (Republican) 9,776 votes Other 6,552 votes[2]

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.	Delos R. Ashley (Republican) 3,691 votes Henry K. Mitchell 2,215 votes[3]

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.	Benjamin Eggleston (Republican) 57.0% George E. Pugh (Democratic) 43.0%
Ohio 2	Alexander Long	Democratic	1862	Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Republican gain.	Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican) 58.7% Joseph C. Butler (Democratic) 41,3%
Ohio 3	Robert C. Schenck	Republican	1862	Incumbent re-elected.	Robert C. Schenck (Republican) 55.3% David A. Houk (Democratic) 44.7%
Ohio 4	John F. McKinney	Democratic	1862	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.	William Lawrence (Republican) 56.1% John F. McKinney (Democratic) 43.9%
Ohio 5	Francis C. Le Blond	Democratic	1862	Incumbent re-elected.	Francis C. Le Blond (Democratic) 55.2% Moses B. Walker (Republican) 44.8%
Ohio 6	Chilton A. White	Democratic	1860	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.	Reader W. Clarke (Republican) 55.4% Chilton A. White (Democratic) 44.6%
Ohio 7	Samuel S. Cox	Democratic	1862	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.	Samuel Shellabarger (Republican) 57.1% Samuel S. Cox (Democratic) 42.9%
Ohio 8	William Johnston	Democratic	1862	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.	James R. Hubbell (Republican) 54.8% William Johnston (Democratic) 45.2%
Ohio 9	Warren P. Noble	Democratic	1860	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.	Ralph P. Buckland (Republican) 73.6% Warren P. Noble (Democratic) 26.4%
Ohio 10	James M. Ashley	Republican	1862	Incumbent re-elected.	James M. Ashley (Republican) 51.8% Americus V. Rice (Democratic) 48.2%
Ohio 11	Wells A. Hutchins	Democratic	1862	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.	Hezekiah S. Bundy (Republican) 59.8% Wells A. Hutchins (Democratic) 40.2%
Ohio 12	William E. Finck	Democratic	1862	Incumbent re-elected.	William E. Finck (Democratic) 53.3% Job E. Stevenson (Republican) 46.7%
Ohio 13	John O'Neill	Democratic	1862	Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain.	Columbus Delano (Republican) 50.5% Charles Follett (Republican) 49.5%
Ohio 14	George Bliss	Democratic	1862	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.	Martin Welker (Republican) 55.5% George Bliss (Democratic) 44.5%
Ohio 15	James R. Morris	Democratic	1862	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.	Tobias A. Plants (Republican) 57.3% James R. Morris (Democratic) 42.7%
Ohio 16	Joseph W. White	Democratic	1882	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.	John Bingham (Republican) 52.7% Joseph W. White (Democratic) 47.3%
Ohio 17	Ephraim R. Eckley	Republican	1862	Incumbent re-elected.	Ephraim R. Eckley (Republican) 59.3% Jonathan H. Wallace (Democratic) 40.7%
Ohio 18	Rufus P. Spalding	Republican	1862	Incumbent re-elected.	Rufus P. Spalding (Republican) 68.5% Jeptha Wade (Democratic) 31.5%
Ohio 19	James A. Garfield	Republican	1862	Incumbent re-elected.	James A. Garfield (Republican) 74.1% Halsey H. Moses (Democratic) 25.9%

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.	Halbert E. Paine (National Union) 50.9% John W. Cary (Democratic) 49.1%
Wisconsin 2	Ithamar Sloan	Republican	1862	Incumbent won re-election on National Union ticket. Republican hold.	Ithamar Sloan (National Union) 60.3% George Baldwin Smith (Democratic) 39.7%
Wisconsin 3	Amasa Cobb	Republican	1862	Incumbent won re-election on National Union ticket. Republican hold.	Amasa Cobb (National Union) 63.2% Charles Rodolf (Democratic) 36.8%
Wisconsin 4	Charles A. Eldredge	Democratic	1862	Incumbent re-elected.	Charles A. Eldredge (Democratic) 58.9% A. Scott Sloan (National Union) 41.1%
Wisconsin 5	Ezra Wheeler	Democratic	1862	Incumbent retired. New member elected. National Union gain.	Philetus Sawyer (National Union) 56.8% Gabriel Bouck (Democratic) 43.2%
Wisconsin 6	Walter D. McIndoe	Republican	1862 Special	Incumbent won re-election on National Union ticket. Republican hold.	Walter D. McIndoe (National Union) 66.3% Henry Reed (Democratic) 33.7%

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.	Charles Debrille Poston (Republican) 40.62% [data unknown/missing][6]
Montana Territory at-large	New district			New seat. New delegate elected.[lower-alpha 14] Democratic gain.	Samuel McLean (Democratic) 59.39% Wilbur F. Sanders (Republican) 40.62%[7]

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.	John Noble Goodwin (Republican) Charles Debrille Poston (Republican)[9]
Colorado Territory at-large	Hiram Pitt Bennet	Conservative Republican	1861	Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain.	Allen Alexander Bradford (Republican) [data unknown/missing]
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.	Edward D. Holbrook (Democratic) 53.33% Samuel C. Parks (Unionist) 46.67%[10]
Montana Territory at-large	Samuel McLean	Democratic	1864	Incumbent re-elected to the term starting March 4, 1865.[lower-alpha 14]	Samuel McLean (Democratic) 61.12% Gad E. Upson (Republican) 38.88%[8]
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.	Phineas Warren Hitchcock (Republican) 53.33% [data unknown/missing]
New Mexico Territory at-large
Utah Territory at-large
Washington Territory at-large

See also

• 1864 United States elections
  • 1864 United States presidential election
  • 1864 and 1865 United States Senate elections
• 38th United States Congress
• 39th United States Congress

Notes

1. Excludes states admitted after the start of Congress.
2. Including late elections.
3. Represents the combined results of the Republican and Unionist candidates in the last election cycle.
4. In comparison to the combined results of the Republican and Unionist candidates in the last election cycle.
5. Includes 1 Independent Republican, John R. Kelso, elected in MO-04.
6. Including Unconditional Unionists.
7. New state.
8. Changed from at-large.
9. 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.
10. Readmitted state.
11. Not admitted until July 24, 1866.
12. Rejected election.
13. There were a total of 50 vacancies remaining, after the readmission of Tennessee.
14. Date speculative, but presumed to be in 1864[7] and 1865.[8]

References

1. 14 Stat. 391
2. History of Nevada, p. 87.
3. History of Nevada, p. 88–89.
4. Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 195, 196.
5. "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.
6. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300412
7. "Our Campaigns - MT Territorial Delegate - Initial Election Race - Nov 08, 1864". www.ourcampaigns.com.
8. "Our Campaigns - MT Territorial Delegate Race - Nov 07, 1865". www.ourcampaigns.com.
9. "Our Campaigns - AZ Territorial Delegate Race - Aug 02, 1865". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
10. "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.