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.

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, gained 10 seats in the South, as did the Southern Rights Party. 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
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.

31st Congress

 * IA's 1st congressional district: 1850
 * NH's 3rd congressional district: 1850
 * OH's 6th congressional district: 1851
 * LA's 3rd congressional district: 1850
 * MA's 1st congressional district: 1850

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.

! AL's 1st congressional district

! AL's 2nd congressional district

! AL's 3rd congressional district

! AL's 4th congressional district

! AL's 5th congressional district

! AL's 6th congressional district

! AL's 7th congressional district


 * }

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.

! AR At-large
 * Robert W. Johnson
 * | Democratic
 * 1846
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ 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.

! rowspan=2 | CA At-large 2 seats New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * George W. Wright
 * | Independent
 * 1849
 * | Incumbent retired.
 * rowspan=2 nowrap | (Elected on a general ticket)✅ Edward C. Marshall (Democratic) 27.16%

✅ Joseph W. McCorkle (Democratic) 26.77%

Edward J. Kewen (Whig) 23.70%

Benjamin J. Moore (Whig) 22.37%

New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * Edward Gilbert
 * | Democratic
 * 1849
 * | Incumbent retired.
 * | Incumbent retired.
 * }

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.

! CT's 1st congressional district

! CT's 2nd congressional district

! CT's 3rd congressional district

! CT's 4th congressional district


 * }

Delaware
The election was held November 12, 1850.

! DE At-large
 * John W. Houston
 * | Whig
 * 1844
 * |Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ George R. Riddle (Democratic) 49.21%

George B. Rodney (Whig) 48.24%

Francis D. Wait (Temperance) 2.54%


 * }

Florida
The election was held October 7, 1850.

! FL At-large
 * Edward C. Cabell
 * | Whig
 * 1845
 * |Incumbent re-elected. Whig hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ Edward C. Cabell (Whig) 52.80%

John Beard (Democratic) 47.20%


 * }

Georgia
Elections were held October 6, 1851.

! GA's 1st congressional district
 * Joseph W. Jackson
 * | Democratic
 * 1850
 * |Incumbent re-elected. Southern Rights gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ Joseph W. Jackson (Southern Rights) 51.67%

Charles H. Hopkins (Constitutional Union) 48.34%

! GA's 2nd congressional district
 * Marshall Johnson Wellborn
 * | Democratic
 * 1848
 * | New member elected. Union gain
 * nowrap |

✅ James Johnson (Constitutional Union) 53.72%

Henry L. Benning (Southern Rights) 46.28%

! GA's 3rd congressional district
 * Allen F. Owen
 * | Whig
 * 1848
 * | New member elected. Southern Rights gain
 * nowrap |

✅ David J. Bailey (Southern Rights) 50.67%

Absalom H. Chappell (Constitutional Union) 49.33%

! GA's 4th congressional district
 * Hugh A. Haralson
 * | Democratic
 * 1842
 * | New member elected. Union gain
 * nowrap |

✅ Charles Murphey (Constitutional Union) 58.05%

John P. Stell (Southern Rights) 41.95%

! GA's 5th congressional district
 * Thomas C. Hackett
 * | Democratic
 * 1848
 * | New member elected. Union gain
 * nowrap |

✅ Elijah W. Chastain (Constitutional Union) 64.98%

William H. Stiles (Southern Rights) 35.02%

! GA's 6th congressional district
 * Howell Cobb
 * | Democratic
 * 1842
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Union gain
 * nowrap | ✅ Junius Hillyer (Constitutional Union) 71.11%

Thomas F. Jones (Southern Rights) 28.90%

! GA's 7th congressional district
 * Alexander Hamilton Stephens
 * | Democratic
 * 1843
 * |Incumbent re-elected. Union gain
 * nowrap | ✅ Alexander Hamilton Stephens (Constitutional Union) 70.82%

David W. Lewis (Southern Rights) 29.18%

! GA's 8th congressional district
 * Robert Toombs
 * | Whig
 * 1844
 * |Incumbent re-elected. Union gain
 * nowrap | ✅ Robert Toombs (Constitutional Union)


 * }

Illinois
Elections were held November 5, 1850.

! IL's 1st congressional district

! IL's 2nd congressional district

! IL's 3rd congressional district

! IL's 4th congressional district

! IL's 5th congressional district

! IL's 6th congressional district

! IL's 7th congressional district


 * }

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.

! IN's 1st congressional district

! IN's 2nd congressional district

! IN's 3rd congressional district

! IN's 4th congressional district

! IN's 5th congressional district

! IN's 6th congressional district

! IN's 7th congressional district

! IN's 8th congressional district

! IN's 9th congressional district

! IN's 10th congressional district


 * }

Iowa
Elections were held August 5, 1850.

! IA's 1st congressional district

! IA's 2nd congressional district


 * }

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.

! KY's 1st congressional district

! KY's 2nd congressional district

! KY's 3rd congressional district

! KY's 4th congressional district

! KY's 5th congressional district

! KY's 6th congressional district

! KY's 7th congressional district

! KY's 8th congressional district

! KY's 9th congressional district

! KY's 10th congressional district


 * }

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.

! LA's 1st congressional district

! LA's 2nd congressional district

! LA's 3rd congressional district

! LA's 4th congressional district


 * }

Maine
Elections were held September 9, 1850.

! ME's 1st congressional district

! ME's 2nd congressional district

! ME's 3rd congressional district

! ME's 4th congressional district

! ME's 5th congressional district

! ME's 6th congressional district

! ME's 7th congressional district


 * }

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.

! MD's 1st congressional district

! MD's 2nd congressional district

! MD's 3rd congressional district

! MD's 4th congressional district

! MD's 5th congressional district

! MD's 6th congressional district


 * }

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

! MA's 1st congressional district

! MA's 2nd congressional district

! MA's 3rd congressional district

! MA's 4th congressional district Whig gain. Benjamin Thompson (Whig) 39.60%
 * colspan=3 | Vacant due to failure to elect.
 * | New member elected on the 4th ballot.
 * nowrap | First ballot (November 11, 1850):

John G. Palfrey (Free Soil) 34.25%

Richard Frothingham (Democratic) 26.16%

Second ballot (January 20, 1851): Benjamin Thompson (Whig) 42.76%

John G. Palfrey (Free Soil) 33.86%

Richard Frothingham (Democratic) 23.39%

Third ballot (April 7, 1851): Benjamin Thompson (Whig) 42.12%

John G. Palfrey (Free Soil) 40.18%

Richard Frothingham (Democratic) 17.70%

Fourth ballot (May 26, 1851):✅ Benjamin Thompson (Whig) 47.65%

John G. Palfrey (Free Soil) 47.00%

Richard Frothingham (Democratic) 5.36%

! MA's 5th congressional district

! MA's 6th congressional district

! MA's 7th congressional district New member elected on the fourth ballot. Whig hold. Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 45.75%
 * Julius Rockwell
 * | Whig
 * 1844 (Late)
 * | Incumbent lost re-election.
 * nowrap | First ballot (November 11, 1850):

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): ✅ John Z. Goodrich (Whig) 52.80%

Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 46.32%

! MA's 8th congressional district

! MA's 9th congressional district

! MA's 10th congressional district


 * }

Michigan
Elections were held November 5, 1850.

! MI's 1st congressional district
 * Alexander W. Buel
 * 1848
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Whig gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Ebenezer J. Penniman (Whig) 54.7%
 * nowrap | ✅ Ebenezer J. Penniman (Whig) 54.7%

Alexander W. Buel (Democratic) 45.3%

! MI's 2nd congressional district
 * William Sprague
 * | Whig
 * 1848
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Charles E. Stuart (Democratic) 50.8%

Joseph R. Williams (Whig) 49.0%

! MI's 3rd congressional district
 * Kinsley S. Bingham
 * 1846
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Whig gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ James L. Conger (Whig) 50.6%
 * nowrap | ✅ 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.

! MS's 1st congressional district New member elected. Union gain.
 * Jacob Thompson
 * | Democratic
 * 1839
 * | Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate.
 * nowrap |

✅ Benjamin D. Nabers (Union) 57.80%

Jacob Thompson (Southern Rights) 42.20%

! MS's 2nd congressional district New member elected. Union gain.
 * Winfield S. Featherston
 * | Democratic
 * 1847
 * | Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate.
 * nowrap | ✅ John A. Wilcox (Union) 52.77%

Winfield S. Featherston (Southern Rights) 47.24%

! MS's 3rd congressional district New member elected. Union gain.
 * William McWillie
 * | Democratic
 * 1849
 * | Incumbent lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate.
 * nowrap | ✅ John D. Freeman (Union) 50.81%

William McWillie (Southern Rights) 49.19%

! MS's 4th congressional district Southern Rights gain.
 * Albert G. Brown
 * | Democratic
 * 1847
 * | Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Albert G. Brown (Southern Rights) 57.35%

A. B. Dawson (Union) 42.66%


 * }

Missouri
Elections were held August 5, 1850.

! MO's 1st congressional district

! MO's 2nd congressional district

! MO's 3rd congressional district

! MO's 4th congressional district

! MO's 5th congressional district


 * }

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.

! NH's 1st congressional district

! NH's 2nd congressional district

! NH's 3rd congressional district

! NH's 4th congressional district


 * }

New Jersey
Elections were held November 5, 1850.

! NJ's 1st congressional district

! NJ's 2nd congressional district

! NJ's 3rd congressional district

! NJ's 4th congressional district

! NJ's 5th congressional district


 * }

New Mexico Territory
See Non-voting delegates, below.

New York
Elections were held November 5, 1850.

! NY's 1st congressional district

! NY's 2nd congressional district

! NY's 3rd congressional district

! NY's 4th congressional district

! NY's 5th congressional district

! NY's 6th congressional district

! NY's 7th congressional district

! NY's 8th congressional district

! NY's 9th congressional district

! NY's 10th congressional district

! NY's 11th congressional district

! NY's 12th congressional district

! NY's 13th congressional district

! NY's 14th congressional district

! NY's 15th congressional district

! NY's 16th congressional district

! NY's 17th congressional district

! NY's 18th congressional district

! NY's 19th congressional district

! NY's 20th congressional district

! NY's 21st congressional district

! NY's 22nd congressional district

! NY's 23rd congressional district

! NY's 24th congressional district

! NY's 25th congressional district

! NY's 26th congressional district

! NY's 27th congressional district

! NY's 28th congressional district

! NY's 29th congressional district

! NY's 30th congressional district

! NY's 31st congressional district

! NY's 32nd congressional district

! NY's 33rd congressional district

! NY's 34th congressional district


 * }

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.

! NC's 1st congressional district

! NC's 2nd congressional district

! NC's 3rd congressional district

! NC's 4th congressional district

! NC's 5th congressional district

! NC's 6th congressional district

! NC's 7th congressional district

! NC's 8th congressional district

! NC's 9th congressional district


 * }

Ohio
Elections were held October 8, 1850.

! OH's 1st congressional district

! OH's 2nd congressional district

! OH's 3rd congressional district

! OH's 4th congressional district

! OH's 5th congressional district

! OH's 6th congressional district

! OH's 7th congressional district

! OH's 8th congressional district

! OH's 9th congressional district

! OH's 10th congressional district

! OH's 11th congressional district

! OH's 12th congressional district

! OH's 13th congressional district

! OH's 14th congressional district

! OH's 15th congressional district

! OH's 16th congressional district

! OH's 17th congressional district

! OH's 18th congressional district

! OH's 19th congressional district

! OH's 20th congressional district

! OH's 21st congressional district


 * }

Oregon Territory
See Non-voting delegates, below.

Pennsylvania
Elections were held October 8, 1850.

! PA's 1st congressional district

! PA's 2nd congressional district

! PA's 3rd congressional district

! PA's 4th congressional district

! PA's 5th congressional district

! PA's 6th congressional district

! PA's 7th congressional district

! PA's 8th congressional district

! PA's 9th congressional district

! PA's 10th congressional district

! PA's 11th congressional district

! PA's 12th congressional district

! PA's 13th congressional district

! PA's 14th congressional district

! PA's 15th congressional district

! PA's 16th congressional district

! PA's 17th congressional district

! PA's 18th congressional district

! PA's 19th congressional district

! PA's 20th congressional district

! PA's 21st congressional district

! PA's 22nd congressional district

! PA's 23rd congressional district

! PA's 24th congressional district


 * }

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.

! RI's 1st congressional district

! RI's 2nd congressional district


 * }

South Carolina
Elections were held October 14–15, 1850.

! SC's 1st congressional district

! SC's 2nd congressional district

! SC's 3rd congressional district

! SC's 4th congressional district

! SC's 5th congressional district

! SC's 6th congressional district

! SC's 7th congressional district


 * }

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.

! TN's 1st congressional district
 * Andrew Johnson
 * | Democratic
 * 1842
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Andrew Johnson (Democratic) 57.52%

Landon Carter Haynes (Democratic) 42.48%

! TN's 2nd congressional district
 * Albert G. Watkins
 * | Whig
 * 1849
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Albert G. Watkins (Whig) 78.65%

[FNU] Hurley (Democratic) 17.57%

J. D. Dickinson (Whig) 3.78%

! TN's 3rd congressional district New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * Josiah M. Anderson
 * | Whig
 * 1849
 * |Incumbent lost re-election.
 * nowrap |

✅ William M. Churchwell (Democratic) 50.06%

Josiah M. Anderson (Whig) 49.94%

! TN's 4th congressional district
 * John H. Savage
 * | Democratic
 * 1849
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ John H. Savage (Democratic) 57.20%

Jefferson D. Goodpasture (Whig) 42.80%

! TN's 5th congressional district
 * George W. Jones
 * | Democratic
 * 1842
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ George W. Jones (Democratic) 100%

! TN's 6th congressional district New member elected. Independent Democratic gain.
 * James H. Thomas
 * | Democratic
 * 1847
 * |Incumbent lost re-election.
 * nowrap |

✅ William H. Polk (Independent Democratic) 56.13%

James H. Thomas (Democratic) 43.87%

! TN's 7th congressional district
 * Meredith P. Gentry
 * | Whig
 * 1845
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Meredith P. Gentry (Whig) 100%

! TN's 8th congressional district New member elected. Whig gain.
 * Andrew Ewing
 * | Democratic
 * 1849
 * |Incumbent retired.
 * nowrap |

✅ William Cullom (Whig) 55.63%

J. J. Southall (Democratic) 44.37%

! TN's 9th congressional district
 * Isham G. Harris
 * | Democratic
 * 1849
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Isham G. Harris (Democratic) 59.47%

I. G. Hornberger (Whig) 40.53%

! TN's 10th congressional district
 * Frederick P. Stanton
 * | Democratic
 * 1845
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Frederick P. Stanton (Democratic) 51.81%

Walter S. Coleman (Whig) 48.19%

! TN's 11th congressional district
 * Christopher H. Williams
 * | Whig
 * 1849
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ 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.

! TX's 1st congressional district

! TX's 2nd congressional district


 * }

Utah Territory
See Non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont
Elections were held September 3, 1850.

! VT's 1st congressional district

! VT's 2nd congressional district

! VT's 3rd congressional district

! VT's 4th congressional district


 * }

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.

! VA's 1st congressional district

! VA's 2nd congressional district

! VA's 3rd congressional district

! VA's 4th congressional district

! VA's 5th congressional district

! VA's 6th congressional district

! VA's 7th congressional district

! VA's 8th congressional district

! VA's 9th congressional district

! VA's 10th congressional district

! VA's 11th congressional district

! VA's 12th congressional district

! VA's 13th congressional district

! VA's 14th congressional district

! VA's 15th congressional district


 * }

Wisconsin
Elections were held November 5, 1850.

! Wisconsin's 1st congressional district
 * Charles Durkee
 * | Free Soil
 * 1848
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Charles Durkee (Free Soil) 57.23%

Andrew E. Elmore (Democratic) 42.47%

! Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * Orsamus Cole
 * | Whig
 * 1848
 * | Incumbent lost re-election.
 * nowrap | ✅ Ben C. Eastman (Democratic) 54.98%

Orsamus Cole (Whig) 44.31%

! Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district Independent Democratic gain.
 * James Duane Doty
 * | Democratic
 * 1848
 * | Incumbent won re-election as an Independent.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Duane Doty 67.12%

Harrison Carroll Hobart (Democratic) 32.31%


 * }

Non-voting delegates
! Minnesota Territory's at-large congressional district 1849 (Wis. Territory: eliminated) 1849 (Minn. Territory)
 * Henry Hastings Sibley
 * | Democratic
 * 1848 (Wis. Territory: special)
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Henry Hastings Sibley (Democratic)

! New Mexico Territory's at-large congressional district Democratic gain.
 * colspan=3 | New seat
 * | New seat.
 * nowrap | ✅ Richard H. Weightman (Democratic) 4,200 votes

A. W. Reynolds (Whig) 3,458 votes

! Oregon Territory's at-large congressional district New delegate elected June 2, 1851. Democratic hold.
 * Samuel Thurston
 * | Democratic
 * 1849 (new seat)
 * | Incumbent died April 9, 1851.
 * nowrap | ✅ Joseph Lane (Democratic)

! Utah Territory's at-large congressional district Independent gain.
 * colspan=3 | New seat
 * | New seat.
 * nowrap | ✅ John M. Bernhisel (Independent)


 * }