1840–41 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1840–41 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between July 6, 1840, and November 2, 1841. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives, before or after the first session of the 27th United States Congress convened on May 31, 1841. Elections were held for all 242 seats, representing 26 states.

1840–41 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1838 & 1839July 6, 1840 – November 2, 18411842 & 1843 →

All 242 seats in the United States House of Representatives
122 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
 
LeaderJohn WhiteJohn Jones
PartyWhigDemocratic
Leader's seatKentucky 9thVirginia 3rd
Last election116 seats126 seats
Seats won14298
Seat changeIncrease 26Decrease 28
Popular vote1,089,6091,021,051
Percentage51.04%47.83%
SwingIncrease 1.31%Decrease 2.18%

 Third party
 
PartyIndependent
Last election0 seats
Seats won2 [a]
Seat changeIncrease 2
Popular vote18,063
Percentage0.85%
SwingIncrease 0.44%

Results:
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Whig hold      Whig gain
     Independent gain      Independent Democrat gain

Speaker before election

Robert M. T. Hunter
Whig

Elected Speaker

John White
Whig

In a Whig wave, voters gave the Whig Party a House majority for the first time. Most Americans experienced the Panic of 1837 as a severe economic downturn. Its perceived mishandling by Democratic President Martin Van Buren fueled new support for alternative economic policies favored by Whigs of which voters had previously been skeptical. Collapse of the Anti-Masonic Party in the late 1830s also drove some third-party incumbents into the Whig Party. Newly elected members included Robert M. T. Hunter, Independent of Virginia,[1][2][3] and Zadok Casey, Independent Democrat of Illinois.[4][5]

Election summaries

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982142
Democratic[b]Whig
StateTypeDateTotal
seats
DemocraticWhig
SeatsChangeSeatsChange
LouisianaDistrictsJuly 6–8, 184031 12 1
MissouriAt-largeAugust 3, 184022 0
IllinoisDistrictsAugust 7, 184032[c] 1
VermontDistrictsSeptember 4, 184050 25 2
MaineDistrictsSeptember 14, 184084 24 2
ArkansasAt-largeOctober 5, 184011 0
GeorgiaAt-largeOctober 6, 184090 9
South CarolinaDistrictsOctober 12–13, 184098 1
OhioDistrictsOctober 13, 1840197 412 4
PennsylvaniaDistrict (25[d])October 13, 18402815 213 8
New YorkDistrict (33[e])November 2–4, 18404021 219 2
ConnecticutDistrictsNovember 3, 184060 6
MichiganAt-largeNovember 3, 184010 11 1
New JerseyAt-largeNovember 3, 184060 56 5
MassachusettsDistrictsNovember 9, 1840121 111 1
DelawareAt-largeNovember 10, 184010 11 1
1841 elections
New HampshireAt-largeMarch 9, 184155 0
Rhode IslandAt-largeApril 21, 184120 2
Virginia[f]DistrictsApril 23, 184121[f]10 210 3
KentuckyDistrictsApril 26, 1841132 11
IndianaDistrictsMay 3, 184171 46 4
TennesseeDistrictsMay 6, 1841135 18 1
North CarolinaDistrictsMay 13, 1841135 38 3
MarylandDistrict (7[g])May 17, 184182 36 3
AlabamaAt-large[h]May 20, 184155 20 2
MississippiAt-largeNovember 1–2, 184122 0
Total24299[c]
40.9%
26142
59.5%
33
Popular vote
Whig
51.04%
Democratic
47.83%
Others
1.13%
House seats
Whig
58.68%
Democratic
40.50%
Independent
0.83%

The previous election had two minor parties, the Anti-Masonic Party with 6 seats and the Conservative Party (of Virginia) with 2 seats, both of which disappeared in this election.

The 1st session of the 27th Congress began May 31, 1841, before Mississippi had elected Representatives, leaving that State unrepresented until the 2nd session.

Special elections

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26th Congress

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27th Congress

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DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
New York 26Francis GrangerWhig1838Incumbent resigned March 5, 1841 to become U.S. Postmaster General.
New member elected May 13, 1841.
Whig hold.
Successor seated May 21, 1841.
New York 26John GreigWhig1841 (Special)Incumbent resigned September 25, 1841.
New member elected November 3, 1841.
Whig hold.
Successor seated November 27, 1841.
Georgia at-large
(Three of the at-large seats)
William C. DawsonWhig1836 (Special)Incumbent resigned November 13, 1841 to run for Governor of Georgia.
New member elected December 21, 1841.
Democratic gain.
Elected on a general ticket:
Eugenius A. NisbetWhig1838Incumbent resigned October 12, 1841.
New member elected December 21, 1841.
Democratic gain.
Julius Caesar AlfordWhig1838Incumbent resigned October 1, 1841.
New member elected December 21, 1841.
Democratic gain.

Alabama

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Arkansas

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DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Arkansas at-largeEdward CrossDemocratic1838Incumbent reelected.

Connecticut

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Delaware

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Florida Territory

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See Non-voting delegates, below.

Georgia

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Illinois

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Indiana

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Iowa Territory

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See Non-voting delegates, below.

Kentucky

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Louisiana

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Maine

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Maine elected its members September 14, 1840.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Maine 1
Maine 2
Maine 3
Maine 4
Maine 5
Maine 6
Maine 7
Maine 8Thomas DaveeDemocratic1836Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig gain.

Maryland

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Massachusetts

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Massachusetts held its elections November 9, 1840, but one district went to a second ballot on January 4, 1841.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Massachusetts 1
Massachusetts 2
Massachusetts 3
Massachusetts 4William ParmenterDemocratic1836Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts 5
Massachusetts 6
Massachusetts 7
Massachusetts 8
Massachusetts 9
Massachusetts 10Henry WilliamsDemocratic1838Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected on the second ballot.
Whig gain.
First ballot (November 9, 1840):

Second ballot (January 4, 1841):
Massachusetts 11
Massachusetts 12John Quincy AdamsWhig1830Incumbent re-elected.

Mississippi

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Elections held late, from November 1 to 2, 1841.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Mississippi at-large
(2 seats)
Jacob ThompsonDemocratic1839Incumbent re-elected.
Albert G. BrownDemocratic1839Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.

Michigan

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DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Michigan at-largeIsaac E. CraryDemocratic1835Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig gain.

Missouri

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New Hampshire

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New Jersey

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North Carolina

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New York

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Ohio

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Pennsylvania

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Rhode Island

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South Carolina

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Tennessee

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Elections held late, on May 6, 1841.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Tennessee 1William B. CarterWhig1835Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Whig hold.
  • Y Thomas D. Arnold (Whig) 90.21%
  • Robert J. McKinney (Unknown) 5.65%
  • Jeremiah Jack (Unknown) 4.14%[17]
Tennessee 2Abraham McClellanDemocratic1837Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 3Joseph L. WilliamsWhig1837Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 4Julius W. BlackwellDemocratic1839Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Whig gain.
Tennessee 5Hopkins L. TurneyDemocratic1837Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 6William B. CampbellWhig1837Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 7John BellWhig1827Incumbent retired to become Secretary of War.
New member elected.
Whig hold.
Tennessee 8Meredith P. GentryWhig1839Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 9Harvey M. WattersonDemocratic1839Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 10Aaron V. BrownDemocratic1839Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 11Cave JohnsonDemocratic1839Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee 12John W. CrockettWhig1837Incumbent retired to become Attorney General for the 9th district.
New member elected.
Whig hold.
Tennessee 13Kit WilliamsWhig1837Incumbent re-elected.

Vermont

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Virginia

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Wisconsin Territory

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See Non-voting delegates, below.

Non-voting delegates

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26th Congress

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DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Iowa Territory at-largeWilliam W. ChapmanDemocratic1838Incumbent's term expired by law.
New delegate elected in 1840.
Democratic hold.

27th Congress

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DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Florida Territory at-largeCharles DowningDemocratic1836Incumbent re-elected on an unknown date.
Iowa Territory at-largeAugustus C. DodgeDemocratic1840Incumbent re-elected August 6, 1841.
Wisconsin Territory at-largeJames D. DotyDemocratic1838Incumbent re-elected on an unknown date.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Includes one Independent from Virginia, and one Independent Democrat from Illinois.
  2. ^ There was 1 Independent and 1 Independent Democrat.
  3. ^ a b Including one Independent Democrat elected to Illinois's 2nd congressional district.
  4. ^ Includes 3 plural districts
  5. ^ Includes 5 plural districts
  6. ^ a b Robert M. T. Hunter was elected as an Independent in Virginia's 9th congressional district, and so is not included in the figures here. Hunter had previously run in earlier elections as a Whig.
  7. ^ Includes 1 plural district
  8. ^ Changed from district

References

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  1. ^ Dubin 1998, p. 129.
  2. ^ Martis 1989, p. 98.
  3. ^ CQGuide, p. 974.
  4. ^ Dubin 1998, p. 128.
  5. ^ Martis 1989, p. 96.
  6. ^ "Our Campaigns - NY District 26 - Special Election Race - May 11, 1841". OurCampaigns.com.
  7. ^ "Our Campaigns - NY District 26 - Special Election Race - Nov 01, 1841". OurCampaigns.com.
  8. ^ "Our Campaigns - GA At-Large - Special Election Race - Dec 21, 1841". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  9. ^ Guide to U.S. Elections. Vol. II (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. 2010. p. 996. ISBN 9781604265361. LCCN 2009033938. OCLC 430736650.
  10. ^ "Our Campaigns - ME District 8 Race - Sep 14, 1840".
  11. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 Race - Nov 09, 1840". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  12. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 10 - 1st Trial Race - Nov 09, 1840". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  13. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 10 - 2nd Trial Race - Jan 04, 1841". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  14. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 12 Race - Nov 09, 1840". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  15. ^ "MS - At Large". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  16. ^ "MI - District 01 Race - Nov 03, 1840". Our Campaigns. January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  17. ^ "TN - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  18. ^ "TN - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  19. ^ "TN - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  20. ^ "TN - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  21. ^ "TN - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  22. ^ "TN - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  23. ^ "TN - District 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  24. ^ "TN - District 08". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  25. ^ "TN - District 09". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  26. ^ "TN - District 10". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  27. ^ "TN - District 11". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  28. ^ "TN - District 12". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  29. ^ "TN - District 13". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  30. ^ Pelzer, Louis (1908). Shambaugh, Benjamin F. (ed.). "The Early Democratic Party of Iowa". Iowa Journal of History and Politics. 6 (1). Iowa City, Iowa: State Historical Society of Iowa: 15. hdl:2027/uc1.31210017304112. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  31. ^ Pelzer, Louis (1908). Shambaugh, Benjamin F. (ed.). "The Early Democratic Party of Iowa". Iowa Journal of History and Politics. 6 (1). Iowa City, Iowa: State Historical Society of Iowa: 16. hdl:2027/uc1.31210017304112. Retrieved December 18, 2020.

Bibliography

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