1876 and 1877 United States House of Representatives elections

Elections to the United States House of Representatives were held in 1876 (with one state in 1877) for Representatives to the 45th Congress. These elections coincided with the (heavily contested) election of President Rutherford B. Hayes and the United States Centennial.

1876 and 1877 United States House of Representatives elections
June 5, 1876 – March 1877[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]
All 293 seats to the United States House of Representatives
147 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Samuel J. Randall James A. Garfield
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat Pennsylvania 3rd Ohio 19th
Last election 180 seats 103 seats
Seats won 155[1][lower-alpha 3] 136[lower-alpha 3]
Seat change 25 33
Popular vote 4,220,480 3,825,311
Percentage 51.27% 46.47%
Swing 2.15% 2.09%
  Third party
 
Party Independent
Last election 4 seats[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5]
Seats won 2[lower-alpha 6]
Seat change 2
Popular vote 96,318
Percentage 1.17%
Swing 3.27%
Map of U.S. House elections results from 1876 elections for 45th Congress
Speaker before election

Vacancy
Democratic

 Elected Speaker

Samuel Randall
Democratic

Hayes' Republican Party was able to recover from the Democratic Party many of the seats it had lost two years before as the economy improved slightly. However, the Democrats retained a majority and were able to use the disinterest of the people in Republican Reconstruction-led projects to help keep crucial seats. Republican Congressional leadership had a difficult time distancing itself from the corruption of the Grant administration or the legislature's impact on the economy downturn.

Election summaries
↓
157 136
Democratic Republican
State Type Total
seats		 Democratic Republican
Seats Change Seats Change
Alabama District 8 8 2 0 2
Arkansas District 4 4[lower-alpha 7] 0
California District 4 2 1 2 1
Colorado At-large 1 1 1 0 1
Connecticut District 4 3 1
Delaware At-large 1 1 0
Florida District 2 2 1 0 1
Georgia District 9 9[lower-alpha 7] 0
Illinois District 19 8 2 11 4
Indiana District 13 4 4 9 4
Iowa District 9 0 1 9 1
Kansas District 3 0 1 3 1
Kentucky District 10 10 1 0 1
Louisiana District 6 5 1 1 1
Maine District 5 0 5
Maryland District 6 6 0
Massachusetts District 11 2 1 9 4
Michigan District 9 1 2 8 2
Minnesota District 3 0 3
Mississippi District 6 6 2 0 2
Missouri District 13 9 4 4 4
Nebraska At-large 1 0 1
Nevada At-large 1 0 1
New Hampshire[lower-alpha 8] District 3 1 1 2 1
New Jersey District 7 4 1 3 1
New York District 33 16 1 17 1
North Carolina District 8 7 1
Ohio District 20 8 5 12 5
Oregon At-large 1 0 1 1 1
Pennsylvania District 27 10 7 17 7
Rhode Island District 2 0 2
South Carolina District 5 2 2 3 2
Tennessee District 10 8 1 2 1
Texas District 6 6 0
Vermont District 3 0 3
Virginia District 9 8 1
West Virginia District 3 3 0
Wisconsin District 8 3 5
Total 293 157[1][lower-alpha 6]
53.6%		 27 136[1]
46.4%		 31
Popular vote
Democratic
 
 51.27%
Independent
 
 1.17%
Republican
 
 46.47%
Others
 
 1.09%
House seats
Democratic
 
 52.90%
Independent
 
 0.68%
Republican
 
 46.42%

The previous election included 4 Independents, in Illinois and Massachusetts.

[[File:45 us house membership.png|thumb|left|400px|
House seats by party holding plurality in state
  80+% Democratic
  80+% Republican
  60+ to 80% Democratic
  60+ to 80% Republican
  Up to 60% Democratic
  Up to 60% Republican
]]		 [[File:45 us house changes.png|thumb|right|400px|
Net gain in party representation
  6+ Democratic gain
  6+ Republican gain
  3-5 Democratic gain
  3-5 Republican gain
  1-2 Democratic gain
  1-2 Republican gain
  no net change
]]

Election dates

In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform nationwide date for choosing Presidential electors.[2] This law did not affect election dates for Congress, which remained within the jurisdiction of State governments, but over time, the states moved their congressional elections to this date as well. In 1876–77, there were still 8 states with earlier election dates, and 1 state with a later election date.

Elections before Election Day (United States):

Standard Election Day:

  • November 7, 1876

Election after Election Day:

Special elections
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Connecticut 3 Henry H. Starkweather Republican 1867 Incumbent died January 28, 1876.
New member elected April 12, 1876.
Republican hold.
Winner later re-elected to the next term, see below.
Connecticut 4 William Henry Barnum Democratic 1867 Incumbent resigned May 18, 1876 when elected U.S. senator.
New member elected November 7, 1876.
Democratic hold.
Winner also elected to the next term, see below.
  • Y Levi Warner (Democratic) 52.74%
  • Robbert Hubbard (Republican) 47.26%[3]
Indiana 2

Alabama
See also: List of United States Representatives from Alabama and 1876 United States Senate election in Alabama

Alabama redistricted and eliminated its at-large seats, going from 6 districts and 2 at-large seats to 8 districts. The state also elected a full delegation of Democrats, voting out the two Republicans.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Alabama 1 Charles Hays
Redistricted from the 4th district		 Republican 1872 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Alabama 2 New district New seat.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Alabama 3 Jeremiah Norman Williams
Redistricted from the 2nd district		 Democratic 1874 Incumbent re-elected.
Alabama 4 Jeremiah Haralson
Redistricted from the 1st district		 Republican 1874 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Alabama 5 New district New seat.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Alabama 6 Goldsmith W. Hewitt Democratic 1874 Incumbent re-elected.
Burwell Boykin Lewis
Redistricted from the at-large district		 Democratic 1874 Incumbent lost renomination.
Democratic loss.
Alabama 7 William Henry Forney
Redistricted from the at-large district		 Democratic 1874 Incumbent re-elected.
Taul Bradford
Redistricted from the 3rd district		 Democratic 1874 Incumbent retired.
Democratic loss.
John H. Caldwell
Redistricted from the 5th district		 Democratic 1872 Incumbent retired.
Democratic loss.
Alabama 8 New district New seat.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Arkansas
See also: List of United States Representatives from Arkansas and 1877 United States Senate election in Arkansas
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Arkansas 1 Lucien C. Gause Democratic 1874 Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas 2 William F. Slemons Democratic 1874 Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas 3 William W. Wilshire Democratic 1872
1874 (Lost contest)
1874		 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Arkansas 4 Thomas M. Gunter Democratic 1872 Incumbent re-elected.

California
Main article: 1876 United States House of Representatives elections in California
See also: List of United States Representatives from California
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
California 1 William Adam Piper Democratic 1875 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
  • Y Horace Davis (Republican) 53.3%
  • William A. Piper (Democratic) 46.7%
California 2 Horace F. Page Republican 1872 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Horace F. Page (Republican) 56.7%
  • G. J. Carpenter (Democratic) 43.3%
California 3 John K. Luttrell Democratic 1872 Incumbent re-elected.
California 4 Peter D. Wigginton Democratic 1875 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Colorado
Main article: 1876 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado
See also: List of United States Representatives from Colorado

There were two elections to the new state of Colorado.

44th Congress
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Colorado at-large New district New seat.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

45th Congress
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Colorado at-large James B. Belford Republican 1876 Incumbent re-elected.
Election was later successfully challenged by the challenger.

Connecticut
See also: List of United States Representatives from Connecticut and 1876 United States Senate special election in Connecticut

Connecticut had been electing is members late in the cycle, even after the terms had begun. But starting in 1876, the state joined the others in electing its members on the November 7, 1876 Election Day. The delegation remained 3 Democrats and 1 Republican.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Connecticut 1 George M. Landers Democratic 1875 Incumbent re-elected.
Connecticut 2 James Phelps Democratic 1875 Incumbent re-elected.
Connecticut 3 John T. Wait Republican 1876 (Special) Incumbent re-elected.
Connecticut 4 William Henry Barnum Democratic 1867 Incumbent resigned May 18, 1876 when elected U.S. senator.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Winner also elected to finish the current next term.

Delaware
See also: List of United States Representatives from Delaware and 1876 United States Senate election in Delaware
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Delaware at-large James Williams Democratic 1874 Incumbent re-elected.

Florida
Main article: 1876 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida
See also: List of United States Representatives from Florida
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Florida 1 William J. Purman Republican 1872 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Florida 2 Jesse J. Finley Democratic 1874[lower-alpha 9] Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.[lower-alpha 10]
Republican gain.

South Carolina
Main article: 1876 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina
See also: List of United States Representatives from South Carolina
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
South Carolina 1 Joseph Rainey Republican 1870 (Special) Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 2 Edmund W. M. Mackey Independent Republican 1874 Seat declared vacant July 19, 1876 due to contested election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
South Carolina 3 Solomon L. Hoge Republican 1874 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
South Carolina 4 Alexander S. Wallace Republican 1868 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
South Carolina 5 Robert Smalls Republican 1874 Incumbent re-elected.

Wisconsin
See also: List of United States Representatives from Wisconsin

Wisconsin elected eight members of congress on Election Day, November 7, 1876.[13][14]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Wisconsin 1 Charles G. Williams Republican 1872 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 2 Lucien B. Caswell Republican 1874 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 3 Henry S. Magoon Republican 1870 Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Wisconsin 4 William Pitt Lynde Democratic 1874 Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin 5 Samuel D. Burchard Democratic 1874 Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Wisconsin 6 Alanson M. Kimball Republican 1874 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Wisconsin 7 Jeremiah McLain Rusk Republican 1870 Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Wisconsin 8 George W. Cate Democratic 1874 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

See also

Notes
  1. Regular elections, not specials
  2. Most states held their elections November 7, 1876.
  3. There is a significant discrepancy for the party totals in the U.S House resulting from the 1874 elections between Dubin (p. 241, who records 150 Democrats, 2 Independent Democrats, and 141 Republicans), and Martis (pp. 130–131). The discrepancy seems to be accounted for by the fact that Dubin's party figures represent the party totals on the first day of the 45th United States Congress, while Martis' figures take into account the results of later contested elections (all of which were decided in favor of the Democratic candidates who challenged the election results).
  4. Included 1 Independent Democrat.
  5. Included 3 Independent Republicans.
  6. Includes 2 Independent Democrats
  7. Includes 1 Independent Democrat.
  8. Elections held late
  9. After disputed election
  10. The election in the Florida's 2nd district was extremely close, with initial returns showing a difference between the two candidates of only 3 votes. Finley challenged Bisbee's election and was eventually seated on February 20, 1879.

References
  1. Martis, p. 130–131.
  2. Statutes at Large, 28th Congress, 2nd Session, p. 721.
  3. "Our Campaigns - CT District 4 - Special Election Race - Nov 07, 1876". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  4. "Our Campaigns - AL District 1 Race - Nov 07, 1876". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  5. "Our Campaigns - AL District 2 Race - Nov 07, 1876". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  6. "Our Campaigns - AL - District 03 Race - Nov 07, 1876". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  7. "Our Campaigns - AL District 4 Race - Nov 07, 1876". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  8. "Our Campaigns - AL District 5 Race - Nov 07, 1876". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  9. "Our Campaigns - AL District 6 Race - Nov 07, 1876". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  10. "Our Campaigns - AL District 7 Race - Nov 07, 1876". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  11. "Our Campaigns - AL District 8 Race - Nov 07, 1876". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  12. "Our Campaigns - CT District 04 Race - Nov 07, 1876". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  13. "Wisconsin U.S. House Election Results" (PDF). Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  14. Bashford, R. M., ed. (1878). "Official Directory: Members of Congress". The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 449–452. Retrieved July 18, 2020.

Bibliography
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