1856–57 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1856–57 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 4, 1856, and November 4, 1857. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives. 236 representatives were elected in 31 states and the pending new state of Minnesota before the first session of the 35th United States Congress convened on December 7, 1857.

The elections briefly returned a semblance of normalcy to the Democratic Party, restoring its House majority alongside the election of Democratic President James Buchanan. However, superficial victory masked severe, ultimately irretrievable divisions over slavery. Voters next would return a Democratic House majority only in 1874.

Party realignments continued. In 1856, the Whig Party disbanded, the Know Nothing movement declined, and its vehicle, the American Party, began to collapse. Many Northern Whig, American, and other Opposition Party Representatives joined the new, rapidly consolidating Republican Party, which contested the Presidency in 1856. Though the Republican Party did not yet demand abolition, its attitude toward slavery was stridently negative. It was an openly sectional Northern party opposing fugitive slave laws and slavery in the territories, and for the first time offered a mainstream platform to outspoken abolitionists.

In March 1857, after almost all Northern states had voted, the Supreme Court issued its infamous Dred Scott decision, amplifying tensions and hardening voter divisions. Remaining elections were concentrated in the South. Southern voters widely drove the American Party from office, rallying to the Democrats in firm opposition to the Republicans.

In October 1857, the pending new state of Minnesota elected its first Representatives, to be seated by the 35th Congress. Between the admissions of Vermont in 1791 and Wisconsin in 1848, Congress had admitted new states roughly in pairs: one slave, one free. California was admitted alone as a free state in 1850 only as part of a comprehensive compromise including significant concessions to slave state interests. Admission of Minnesota in May 1858, also alone but with no such deal, helped expose the declining influence of the South, destroying the formerly binding concept that slave and free state power was best kept in balance even in the Senate while solidifying a sense that the West would exclude slavery.

Election summaries
Two seats were added for the new state of Minnesota, which was unrepresented for part of the 1st session.



Special elections
There were a total of thirteen special elections in 1856 and 1857 during the 34th and 35th Congresses.

34th Congress
! SC's 3rd congressional district
 * Laurence M. Keitt
 * | Democratic
 * 1853
 * Incumbent resigned July 15, 1856, following the caning of Charles Sumner. Incumbent re-elected July 29, 1856.
 * nowrap | ✅ Laurence M. Keitt (Democratic) 100.0%

! SC's 4th congressional district
 * Preston Brooks
 * | Democratic
 * 1853
 * Incumbent resigned July 15, 1856, following the caning of Charles Sumner. Incumbent re-elected July 29, 1856.
 * nowrap | ✅ Preston Brooks (Democratic) 100.0%

! MO's 5th congressional district
 * John Gaines Miller
 * | Whig
 * 1850
 * | Incumbent died May 11, 1856. New member elected August 4, 1856. Know Nothing gain. Winner was not candidate for full term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ Thomas Peter Akers (Know Nothing) 55.8%

Claiborne Fox Jackson (Democratic) 44.2%

! IL's 5th congressional district
 * William Alexander Richardson
 * | Democratic
 * 1847 (special)
 * | Incumbent resigned August 25, 1856, to run for governor of Illinois. New member elected November 4, 1856. Winner was not candidate for full term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ Jacob C. Davis (Democratic) 52.6%

Thomas C. Sharp (Republican) 35.2%

James B. Kyle (Unknown) 12.2%

! IL's 7th congressional district
 * James C. Allen
 * | Democratic
 * 1852
 * Incumbent resigned July 18, 1856, amid election challenge. Incumbent re-elected November 4, 1856. Winner was not candidate for full term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ James C. Allen (Democratic) 56.3%

William Beatty Archer (Whig) 43.7%

! IL's 8th congressional district
 * colspan=3 | Vacant
 * | Rep.-elect Lyman Trumbull (D) was later elected U.S. senator and took office March 4, 1855. New member elected November 4, 1856. Democratic hold. Winner was not candidate for full term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ James L. D. Morrison (Democratic) 56.0%

John Thomas (Republican) 42.9%

William H. Short (Unknown) 1.2%

! VA's 1st congressional district
 * Thomas H. Bayly
 * | Democratic
 * 1853
 * | Incumbent died June 23, 1856. New member elected November 4, 1856. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Muscoe Russell Hunter Garnett (Democratic) 51.6%

Robert Saunders Jr. (Know Nothing) 48.4%

! Kansas Territory At-large
 * John Wilkins Whitfield
 * | Democratic
 * 1854
 * Seat declared vacant August 1, 1856. Incumbent re-elected November 5, 1856.
 * nowrap | ✅ John Wilkins Whitfield (Democratic)

Andrew Horatio Reeder (Republican)

! VT's 1st congressional district
 * James Meacham
 * | Whig
 * 1849 (special)
 * | Incumbent died August 23, 1856. New member elected December 1, 1856. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ George Tisdale Hodges (Republican) 79.8%

Stoddard B. Colby (Democratic) 20.2%


 * }

35th Congress
! MO's 3rd congressional district
 * colspan=3 | Vacant
 * | Rep.-elect James S. Green (D) was later elected U.S. senator and took office January 12, 1857. New member elected August 3, 1857. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ John Bullock Clark (Democratic) 58.7%

Joseph M. Collins (Know Nothing) 41.3%

! IN's 1st congressional district
 * James Lockhart
 * | Democratic
 * 1851 1852 (retired) 1856
 * | Incumbent died September 7, 1857. New member elected October 7, 1857. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ William E. Niblack (Democratic) 99.5%

! IN's 10th congressional district
 * Samuel Brenton
 * | Republican
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent died March 29, 1857. New member elected October 7, 1857. Republican hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Charles Case (Republican) 52.3%

James Worden (Democratic) 47.7%

! PA's 12th congressional district
 * John Gallagher Montgomery
 * | Democratic
 * 1856
 * | Incumbent died April 24, 1857. New member elected October 13, 1857. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Paul Leidy (Democratic) 61.0%

Smith Thompson (Republican) 39.0%


 * }

Alabama
! AL's 1st congressional district
 * Percy Walker
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Adams Stallworth (Democratic) 62.0%

John McCaskill (Know Nothing) 38.0%

! AL's 2nd congressional district
 * Eli Sims Shorter
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Eli Sims Shorter (Democratic) 62.4%

Batt Peterson (Know Nothing) 37.6%

! AL's 3rd congressional district
 * James Ferguson Dowdell
 * | Democratic
 * 1853
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Ferguson Dowdell (Democratic) 50.3%

Thomas J. Judge (Know Nothing) 49.7%

! AL's 4th congressional district
 * William Russell Smith
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1851
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Sydenham Moore (Democratic) 56.5%

William Russell Smith (Know Nothing) 43.5%

! AL's 5th congressional district
 * George S. Houston
 * | Democratic
 * 1841 1849 (retired) 1851
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ George S. Houston (Democratic) 55.1%

David Hubbard (Democratic) 44.9%

! AL's 6th congressional district
 * Williamson Robert Winfield Cobb
 * | Democratic
 * 1847
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Williamson Robert Winfield Cobb (Democratic) 62.4%

Henry Sanford (Democratic) 37.6%

! AL's 7th congressional district
 * Sampson Willis Harris
 * | Democratic
 * 1847
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry (Democratic) 98.5%


 * }

Arkansas
! AR's 1st congressional district
 * Alfred B. Greenwood
 * | Democratic
 * 1853
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Alfred B. Greenwood (Democratic) 71.4%

Hugh Thomason (Know Nothing) 28.6%

! AR's 2nd congressional district
 * Albert Rust
 * | Democratic
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Edward A. Warren (Democratic) 57.6%

Absalom Fowler (Know Nothing) 42.4%


 * }

California
! rowspan=2 | CA At-large 2 seats on a general ticket
 * James W. Denver
 * | Democratic
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * rowspan=2 nowrap | ✅ Charles L. Scott (Democratic) 29.9%

✅ Joseph C. McKibbin (Democratic) 21.0%

A. B. Dibble (Know Nothing) 20.7%

Ira P. Rankin (Independent) 13.0%

J. N. Turner (Republican) 12.5%


 * Philemon T. Herbert
 * | Democratic
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent retired after manslaughter acquittal. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * | Incumbent retired after manslaughter acquittal. New member elected. Democratic hold.


 * }

Connecticut
! CT's 1st congressional district
 * Ezra Clark Jr.
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Ezra Clark Jr. (Republican) 51.3%

Richard P. Hubbard (Democratic) 48.7%

! CT's 2nd congressional district
 * John Woodruff
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Samuel Arnold (Democratic) 51.3%

John Woodruff (Republican) 48.7%

! CT's 3rd congressional district
 * Sidney Dean
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Sidney Dean (Republican) 54.6%

James A. Hovey (Democratic) 45.4%

! CT's 4th congressional district
 * William W. Welch
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ William D. Bishop (Democratic) 50.1%

Orris S. Ferry (Republican) 49.9%


 * }

Delaware
! DE At-large
 * Elisha D. Cullen
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ William G. Whiteley (Democratic) 56.0%

Elisha D. Cullen (Know Nothing) 44.0%


 * }

Florida
! FL At-large
 * Augustus Maxwell
 * | Democratic
 * 1852
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ George S. Hawkins (Democratic) 53.1%

James McNair Baker (Know Nothing) 46.9%


 * }

Georgia
! GA's 1st congressional district
 * James Lindsay Seward
 * | Democratic
 * 1853
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Lindsay Seward (Democratic) 51.2%

Francis S. Bartow (Know Nothing) 44.4%

C. S. Gaulden (Independent) 4.4%

! GA's 2nd congressional district
 * Martin Jenkins Crawford
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Martin Jenkins Crawford (Democratic) 56.1%

Samuel C. Elam (Know Nothing) 43.9%

! GA's 3rd congressional district
 * Robert Pleasant Trippe
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Robert Pleasant Trippe (Know Nothing) 51.7%

David Jackson Bailey (Democratic) 48.3%

! GA's 4th congressional district
 * Hiram B. Warner
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Lucius Jeremiah Gartrell (Democratic) 53.6%

M. M. Tidwell (Know Nothing) 46.4%

! GA's 5th congressional district
 * John Henry Lumpkin
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Augustus Romaldus Wright (Democratic) 61.2%

J. W. Hooper (Know Nothing) 36.1%

Tatum (Democratic) 2.7%

! GA's 6th congressional district
 * Howell Cobb
 * | Democratic
 * 1842 1851 (retired) 1855
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Jackson (Democratic) 56.5%

Simmons (Independent) 43.5%

! GA's 7th congressional district
 * Nathaniel Greene Foster
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * bgcolor=lavender | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Know Nothing hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Joshua Hill (Know Nothing) 51.5%

Linton Stephens (Democratic) 48.5%

! GA's 8th congressional district
 * Alexander H. Stephens
 * | Democratic
 * 1843 (special)
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Alexander H. Stephens (Democratic) 57.1%

Thomas W. Miller (Know Nothing) 42.9%


 * }

Illinois
! IL's 1st congressional district
 * Elihu B. Washburne
 * | Republican
 * 1852
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Elihu B. Washburne (Republican) 73.9%

Richard S. Molony (Democratic) 25.0%

B. D. Eastman (Know Nothing) 1.0%

! IL's 2nd congressional district
 * James Hutchinson Woodworth
 * | Republican
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ John F. Farnsworth (Republican) 67.2%

John Vannortwick (Democratic) 30.6%

B. F. James (Know Nothing) 2.2%

! IL's 3rd congressional district
 * Jesse O. Norton
 * | Republican
 * 1852
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Owen Lovejoy (Republican) 59.5%

Uri Osgood (Democratic) 40.5%

! IL's 4th congressional district
 * James Knox
 * | Republican
 * 1852
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ William Kellogg (Republican) 51.1%

James W. Davidson (Democratic) 45.8%

Arthur H. Griffith (Know Nothing) 3.1%

! IL's 5th congressional district
 * colspan=3 | Vacant
 * | Rep. William Alexander Richardson (D) resigned August 25, 1856, to run for governor of Illinois. New member elected. Democratic hold. Winner was not candidate for unexpired term, see above.
 * nowrap | ✅ Isaac N. Morris (Democratic) 53.7%

Jackson Grimshaw (Republican) 45.8%

James S. Irwin (Know Nothing) 0.5%

! IL's 6th congressional district
 * Thomas L. Harris
 * | Democratic
 * 1848 1850 (lost) 1854
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Thomas L. Harris (Democratic) 58.0%

John Williams (Republican) 42.0%

! IL's 7th congressional district
 * colspan=3 | Vacant
 * | Rep. James C. Allen (D) resigned July 18, 1856, amid election contest. New member elected. Democratic hold. Winner was not candidate for unexpired term, see above.
 * nowrap | ✅ Aaron Shaw (Democratic) 56.8%

Henry P. H. Bromwell (Republican) 43.2%

! IL's 8th congressional district
 * colspan=3 | Vacant
 * | Rep.-elect Lyman Trumbull (D) was later elected U.S. senator and took office March 4, 1855. New member elected. Democratic hold. Winner was not candidate for unexpired term, see above.
 * nowrap | ✅ Robert Smith (Democratic) 60.1%

James D. Lansing (Republican) 39.9%

! IL's 9th congressional district
 * Samuel S. Marshall
 * | Democratic
 * 1854
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Samuel S. Marshall (Democratic) 82.4%

Benjamin Ladd Wiley (Republican) 17.6%


 * }

Indiana
! IN's 1st congressional district
 * Smith Miller
 * | Democratic
 * 1852
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Lockhart (Democratic) 61.5%

James G. Veach (Republican) 38.5%

! IN's 2nd congressional district
 * William Hayden English
 * | Democratic
 * 1852
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ William Hayden English (Democratic) 57.2%

John M. Wilson (Republican) 42.8%

! IN's 3rd congressional district
 * George Grundy Dunn
 * | People's
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Hughes (Democratic) 53.8%

John A. Hendricks (Republican) 46.2%

! IN's 4th congressional district
 * William Cumback
 * | People's
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Bradford Foley (Democratic) 53.7%

William Cumback (Republican) 46.3%

! IN's 5th congressional district
 * David P. Holloway
 * | People's
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ David Kilgore (Republican) 60.8%

Edmund Johnson (Democratic) 39.2%

! IN's 6th congressional district
 * Lucien Barbour
 * | People's
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ James M. Gregg (Democratic) 52.1%

John Coburn (Republican) 47.9%

! IN's 7th congressional district
 * Harvey D. Scott
 * | People's
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ John G. Davis (Democratic) 53.9%

John Palmer Usher (Republican) 46.1%

! IN's 8th congressional district
 * Daniel Mace
 * | People's
 * 1851
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Wilson (Republican) 50.5%

Daniel W. Voorhees (Democratic) 49.5%

! IN's 9th congressional district
 * Schuyler Colfax
 * | People's
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Schuyler Colfax (Republican) 52.1%

William Z. Stewart (Democratic) 47.9%

! IN's 10th congressional district
 * Samuel Brenton
 * | People's
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Samuel Brenton (Republican) 51.7%

Robert Lowry (Democratic) 48.3%

! IN's 11th congressional district
 * John U. Pettit
 * | People's
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ John U. Pettit (Republican) 51.8%

William Garver (Democratic) 48.2%


 * }

Iowa
! IA's 1st congressional district
 * Augustus Hall
 * | Democratic
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Samuel Ryan Curtis (Republican) 50.2%

Augustus Hall (Democratic) 47.5%

John J. Selman (Know Nothing) 2.3%

! IA's 2nd congressional district
 * James Thorington
 * | Whig
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Timothy Davis (Republican) 58.0%

Shepherd Leffler (Democratic) 42.0%


 * }

Kansas Territory
See non-voting delegates, below.

Kentucky
! KY's 1st congressional district
 * Henry Cornelius Burnett
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Henry Cornelius Burnett (Democratic) 75.3%

Owen Grimes (Know Nothing) 24.7%

! KY's 2nd congressional district
 * John P. Campbell Jr.
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * | Incumbent withdrew. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Samuel Peyton (Democratic) 53.9%

James Leeper Johnson (Know Nothing) 46.1%

! KY's 3rd congressional district
 * Warner Underwood
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Warner Underwood (Know Nothing) 50.8%

Joseph Horace Lewis (Democratic) 49.2%

! KY's 4th congressional district
 * Albert G. Talbott
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Albert G. Talbott (Democratic) 50.6%

William Clayton Anderson (Know Nothing) 49.4%

! KY's 5th congressional district
 * Joshua Jewett
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Joshua Jewett (Democratic) 59.6%

Bryan Young (Know Nothing) 40.4%

! KY's 6th congressional district
 * John Milton Elliott
 * | Democratic
 * 1853
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ John Milton Elliott (Democratic) 55.7%

John A. Moore (Know Nothing) 44.3%

! KY's 7th congressional district
 * Humphrey Marshall
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Humphrey Marshall (Know Nothing) 55.0%

Thomas H. Holt (Democratic) 45.0%

! KY's 8th congressional district
 * Alexander Keith Marshall
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Brown Clay (Democratic) 50.5%

Roger Hanson (Know Nothing) 49.5%

! KY's 9th congressional district
 * Leander Cox
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1853
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ John Calvin Mason (Democratic) 52.0%

Leander Cox (Know Nothing) 48.0%

! KY's 10th congressional district
 * Samuel F. Swope
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ John W. Stevenson (Democratic) 67.6%

William L. Rankin (Know Nothing) 32.4%


 * }

Louisiana
! LA's 1st congressional district
 * George Eustis Jr.
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ George Eustis Jr. (Know Nothing) 60.4%

Charles J. Villiers (Democratic) 39.6%

! LA's 2nd congressional district
 * Miles Taylor
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Miles Taylor (Democratic) 50.3%

Glendy Burke (Know Nothing) 49.7%

! LA's 3rd congressional district
 * Thomas G. Davidson
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Thomas G. Davidson (Democratic) 43.0%

George W. Watterson (Know Nothing) 35.4%

Laurent J. Sigur (Independent) 21.6%

! LA's 4th congressional district
 * John M. Sandidge
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ John M. Sandidge (Democratic) 63.5%

W. H. Sparks (Know Nothing) 36.5%


 * }

Maine
! ME's 1st congressional district
 * John M. Wood
 * | Republican
 * 1854
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ John M. Wood (Republican) 53.4%

Josiah S. Little (Democratic) 46.6%

! ME's 2nd congressional district
 * John J. Perry
 * | Republican
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Charles J. Gilman (Republican) 57.3%

Eben F. Pillsbury (Democratic) 42.7%

! ME's 3rd congressional district
 * Ebenezer Knowlton
 * | Republican
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Nehemiah Abbott (Republican) 56.1%

Henry Ingalls (Democratic) 43.9%

! ME's 4th congressional district
 * Samuel P. Benson
 * | Republican
 * 1852
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Samuel P. Benson (Republican) 65.1%

David Bronson (Democratic) 34.9%

! ME's 5th congressional district
 * Israel Washburn Jr.
 * | Republican
 * 1850
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Israel Washburn Jr. (Republican) 60.1%

Abraham Sanborn (Democratic) 39.9%

! ME's 6th congressional district
 * Thomas J. D. Fuller
 * | Democratic
 * 1848
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Stephen Clark Foster (Republican) 52.9%

Amo Wiswell (Democratic) 47.1%


 * }

Maryland
! 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
! MA's 1st congressional district
 * Robert B. Hall
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Robert B. Hall (Republican) 69.73%

Moses Bates (Democratic) 16.14%

Daniel Fisher (American) 14.12%

! MA's 2nd congressional district
 * James Buffinton
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Buffinton (Republican) 68.25%

Charles R. Vickery (Democratic) 20.58%

Darius Dunbar (American) 7.03%

! MA's 3rd congressional district
 * William S. Damrell
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ William S. Damrell (Republican) 61.57%

Arthur W. Austin (Democratic) 29.96%

Alfred B. Ely (American) 8.47%

! MA's 4th congressional district
 * Linus B. Comins
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Linus B. Comins (Republican) 45.92%

Charles Greene (Democratic) 39.22%

Benjamin F. Cooke (American) 14.85%

! MA's 5th congressional district
 * Anson Burlingame
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Anson Burlingame (Republican) 50.26%

William Appleton (American) 49.74%

! MA's 6th congressional district
 * Timothy Davis
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Timothy Davis (Republican) 69.39%

Nathaniel J. Lord (Democratic) 22.21%

Benjamin Perley (American) 7.74%

Scattering 0.66%

! MA's 7th congressional district
 * Nathaniel P. Banks
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1852
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Nathaniel P. Banks (Republican) 61.95%

Isaac H. Wright (Democratic) 26.31%

Isaac Story (American) 11.74%

! MA's 8th congressional district
 * Chauncey L. Knapp
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Chauncey L. Knapp (Republican) 70.36%

Benjamin Butler (Democratic) 26.97%

Abiel Lewis (American) 2.66%

! MA's 9th congressional district
 * Alexander DeWitt
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1852
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Eli Thayer (Republican) 53.69%

Alexander DeWitt (American) 26.57%

Nathaniel Wood (Democratic) 17.98%

Alfred Mowrey (American) 1.76%

! MA's 10th congressional district
 * Calvin C. Chaffee
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855 (special)
 * | Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Calvin C. Chaffee (Republican) 72.66%

William C. Fowler (American) 27.34%

! MA's 11th congressional district
 * Mark Trafton
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Henry L. Dawes (Republican) 43.85%

Mark Trafton (American) 27.41%

Josiah D. Weston (Democratic) 28.74%


 * }

Michigan
! MI's 1st congressional district
 * William A. Howard
 * 1854
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ William A. Howard (Republican) 51.6%
 * nowrap | ✅ William A. Howard (Republican) 51.6%

George V. N. Lothrop (Democratic) 48.4%

! MI's 2nd congressional district
 * Henry Waldron
 * 1854
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Henry Waldron (Republican) 62.1%
 * nowrap | ✅ Henry Waldron (Republican) 62.1%

John S. Barry (Democratic) 37.9%

! MI's 3rd congressional district
 * David S. Walbridge
 * 1854
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ David S. Walbridge (Republican) 59.3%
 * nowrap | ✅ David S. Walbridge (Republican) 59.3%

Flavius Littlejohn (Democratic) 40.7%

! MI's 4th congressional district
 * George W. Peck
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Dewitt C. Leach (Republican) 55.7%
 * nowrap | ✅ Dewitt C. Leach (Republican) 55.7%

George W. Peck (Democratic) 44.3%


 * }

Minnesota
Minnesota Territory elected three members in advance of Minnesota's 1848 statehood. "Although three men won this election, which was held before Minnesota was actually a state, only two representatives from Minnesota were allowed in the congressional bill creating the state in 1858. George L. Becker lost in the drawing of lots to decide who would present their credentials, therefore he did not serve in Congress."

! rowspan=2 | MN At-large 2 seats on a general ticket
 * colspan=3 | None (New seat)
 * | New state would be admitted May 11, 1858. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * rowspan=2 nowrap | Elected on a general ticket:✅ William Wallace Phelps (Democratic) 17.3%

✅ James Michael Cavanaugh (Democratic) 17.2%

George Loomis Becker (Democratic) 17.1%

Henry Adoniram Swift (Republican) 16.2%

Cyrus Aldrich (Republican) 16.1%

Morton S. Wilkinson (Republican) 16.1%


 * colspan=3 | None (New seat)
 * | New state would be admitted May 11, 1858. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * | New state would be admitted May 11, 1858. New member elected. Democratic gain.


 * }

Mississippi
Elections held late, from October 5 to 6, 1857.

! MS's 1st congressional district
 * Daniel B. Wright
 * | Democratic
 * 1853
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ Lucius Q. C. Lamar (Democratic) 63.76%

James L. Alcorn (Know Nothing) 36.24%

! MS's 2nd congressional district
 * Hendley S. Bennett
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * | Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Reuben Davis (Democratic) 65.30%

Charles Clark (Know Nothing) 34.70%

! MS's 3rd congressional district
 * William Barksdale
 * | Democratic
 * 1853
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ William Barksdale (Democratic) 98.21%

Scattering 1.79%

! MS's 4th congressional district
 * William A. Lake
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Otho R. Singleton (Democratic) 55.04%

William A. Lake (Know Nothing) 44.97%

! MS's 5th congressional district
 * John A. Quitman
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ John A. Quitman (Democratic) 98.47%

Scattering 1.53%


 * }

Missouri
! 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

! MO's 6th congressional district

! MO's 7th congressional district


 * }

Nebraska Territory
See non-voting delegates, below.

New Hampshire
! NH's 1st congressional district

! NH's 2nd congressional district

! NH's 3rd congressional district


 * }

New Jersey
! 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 York
! 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


 * }

North Carolina
! 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


 * }

Ohio
! 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
! PA's 1st congressional district
 * Thomas B. Florence
 * | Democratic
 * 1850
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Thomas B. Florence (Democratic) 56.62%

Edward B. Knight (Republican) 43.38%

! PA's 2nd congressional district New member elected. Republican gain.
 * Job R. Tyson
 * | Whig
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent retired.
 * nowrap |

✅ Edward Joy Morris (Republican) 51.58%

John A. Marshall (Democratic) 48.42%

! PA's 3rd congressional district New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * William Millward
 * | Opposition
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent lost re-election.
 * nowrap |

✅ James Landy (Democratic) 54.02%

William Millward (Unionist) 45.98%

! PA's 4th congressional district New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * Jacob Broom
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent retired.
 * nowrap |

✅ Henry M. Phillips (Democratic) 50.72%

Robert Faust (Know Nothing) 35.86%

William D. Kelley (Republican) 13.43%

! PA's 5th congressional district New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * John Cadwalader
 * | Democratic
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent retired.
 * nowrap |

✅ Owen Jones (Democratic) 54.86%

Daniel H. Mulvany (Whig) 45.14%

! PA's 6th congressional district
 * John Hickman
 * | Democratic
 * 1854
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ John Hickman (Democratic) 48.91%

John S. Bowen (Republican) 47.85%

John Larkin Jr. (Know Nothing) 3.24% ! PA's 7th congressional district New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * Samuel C. Bradshaw
 * | Opposition
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent lost re-election.
 * nowrap |

✅ Henry Chapman (Democratic) 54.01%

Samuel C. Bradshaw (Republican) 45.99%

! PA's 8th congressional district
 * J. Glancy Jones
 * | Democratic
 * nowrap |

1850

1852 (retired)

1854 (special)


 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ J. Glancy Jones (Democratic) 71.60%

David Yoder (Republican) 28.40%

! PA's 9th congressional district
 * Anthony E. Roberts
 * | Opposition
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ Anthony E. Roberts (Republican) 54.59%

Isaac E. Heister (Democratic) 45.41%

! PA's 10th congressional district
 * John C. Kunkel
 * | Opposition
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ John C. Kunkel (Republican) 55.63%

Henry C. Eyer (Democratic) 44.37%

! PA's 11th congressional district New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * James H. Campbell
 * | Opposition
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent lost re-election.
 * nowrap |

✅ William L. Dewart (Democratic) 58.26%

James H. Campbell (Republican) 41.74%

! PA's 12th congressional district
 * Henry M. Fuller
 * | Opposition
 * nowrap |

1850

1852 (lost)

1854

New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * |Incumbent retired.
 * nowrap |

✅ John G. Montgomery (Democratic) 57.69%

Elhanan Smith (Republican) 42.31%

! PA's 13th congressional district New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * Asa Packer
 * | Democratic
 * 1852
 * |Incumbent retired.
 * nowrap |

✅ William H. Dimmick (Democratic) 68.93%

Samuel E. Demmick (Republican) 31.07%

! PA's 14th congressional district
 * Galusha A. Grow
 * | Democratic
 * 1850
 * |Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ Galusha A. Grow (Republican) 71.31%

Daniel L. Sherwood (Democratic) 28.69%

! PA's 15th congressional district New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * John J. Pearce
 * | Opposition
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent retired.
 * nowrap |

✅ Allison White (Democratic) 51.36%

William H. Irvin (Republican) 48.64%

! PA's 16th congressional district New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * Lemuel Todd
 * | Opposition
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent lost re-election.
 * nowrap |

✅ John A. Ahl (Democratic) 53.75%

Lemuel Todd (Republican) 46.25%

! PA's 17th congressional district New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * David F. Robison
 * | Opposition
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent retired.
 * nowrap |

✅ Wilson Reilly (Democratic) 51.28%

Joseph Pumroy (Republican) 48.72%

! PA's 18th congressional district
 * John R. Edie
 * | Opposition
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ John R. Edie (Republican) 50.91%

Cyrus L. Pershing (Democratic) 49.09%

! PA's 19th congressional district
 * John Covode
 * | Opposition
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ John Covode (Union) 54.40%

Alexander McKinney (Democratic) 45.60%

! PA's 20th congressional district New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * Jonathan Knight
 * | Opposition
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent lost re-election.
 * nowrap |

✅ William Montgomery (Democratic) 52.15%

Jonathan Knight (Republican) 47.85%

! PA's 21st congressional district
 * David Ritchie
 * | Opposition
 * 1852
 * |Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ David Ritchie (Republican) 54.45%

Wilson McCandless (Democratic) 42.17%

William M. Wright (Know Nothing) 3.38%

! PA's 22nd congressional district
 * Samuel A. Purviance
 * | Opposition
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ Samuel A. Purviance (Republican) 57.09%

James Gibson (Democratic) 40.51%

Alexander Wadlow (Know Nothing) 2.40%

! PA's 23rd congressional district
 * John Allison
 * | Opposition
 * nowrap |

1850

1852 (lost)

1854

New member elected. Republican gain.
 * |Incumbent retired.
 * nowrap |

✅ William Stewart (Republican) 61.00%

Thomas Cunningham (Democratic) 39.00%

! PA's 24th congressional district New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * David Barclay
 * | Democratic
 * 1854
 * |Incumbent retired.
 * nowrap |

✅ James L. Gillis (Democratic) 51.75%

James S. Myers (Republican) 48.25%

! PA's 25th congressional district
 * John Dick
 * | Opposition
 * 1852
 * |Incumbent re-elected to a new party. Republican gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ John Dick (Republican) 67.97%

James A. McFadden (Democratic) 32.03%


 * }

Rhode Island
! RI's 1st congressional district

! RI's 2nd congressional district


 * }

South Carolina
! 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


 * }

Tennessee
! TN's 1st congressional district
 * Albert G. Watkins
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Albert G. Watkins (Democratic) 50.58%

Nathaniel G. Taylor (Know Nothing) 49.42%

! TN's 2nd congressional district
 * William H. Sneed
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * bgcolor=lavender | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Know Nothing hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ Horace Maynard (Know Nothing) 50.89%

Wayne W. Wallace (Democratic) 49.11%

! TN's 3rd congressional district
 * Samuel A. Smith
 * | Democratic
 * 1853
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Samuel A. Smith (Democratic) 52.98%

William Heiskell (Know Nothing) 47.02%

! TN's 4th congressional district
 * John H. Savage
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ John H. Savage (Democratic) 55.16%

Joseph Pickett (Know Nothing) 44.84%

! TN's 5th congressional district
 * Charles Ready
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1853
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Charles Ready (Know Nothing) 51.25%

Joseph Guild (Democratic) 48.75%

! TN's 6th congressional district
 * George W. Jones
 * | Democratic
 * 1842
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * ✅ George W. Jones (Democratic) 100%

! TN's 7th congressional district
 * John V. Wright
 * | Democratic
 * 1855
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ John V. Wright (Democratic) 83.81%

D. E. McElrath (Know Nothing) 16.19%

! TN's 8th congressional district
 * Felix Zollicoffer
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1853
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Felix Zollicoffer (Know Nothing) 52.18%

James M. Quarles (Democratic) 47.82%

! TN's 9th congressional district
 * Emerson Etheridge
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1853
 * |Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ John D.C. Atkins (Democratic) 50.37%

Emerson Etheridge (Know Nothing) 49.63%

! TN's 10th congressional district
 * Thomas Rivers
 * | Know Nothing
 * 1855
 * |Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ William T. Avery (Democratic) 51.32%

William H. Stevens (Know Nothing) 48.68%


 * }

Texas
! TX's 1st congressional district

! TX's 2nd congressional district


 * }

Vermont
! VT's 1st congressional district

! VT's 2nd congressional district

! VT's 3rd congressional district


 * }

Virginia
! 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


 * }

Wisconsin
Election results in Wisconsin for 1856:

! WI's 1st congressional district
 * Daniel Wells Jr.
 * | Democratic
 * 1852
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ John F. Potter (Republican) 50.6%

Jackson Hadley (Democratic) 49.4%

! WI's 2nd congressional district
 * Cadwallader C. Washburn
 * | Republican
 * 1854
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Cadwallader C. Washburn (Republican) 61.8%

Samuel Crawford (Democratic) 38.2%

! WI's 3rd congressional district
 * Charles Billinghurst
 * | Republican
 * 1854
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Charles Billinghurst (Republican) 52.0%

Harrison Carroll Hobart (Democratic) 48.0%


 * }

Non-voting delegates
! Kansas Territory's at-large congressional district
 * John Wilkins Whitfield
 * | Democratic
 * 1854 1856 (Seat vacated) 1856 (Special)
 * | Re-elected in 1855 before seat was vacated. Won special 1856 election. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ John Wilkins Whitfield (Democratic)

Andrew H. Reeder (Free-State Democrat)

! Minnesota Territory's at-large congressional district
 * Henry Mower Rice
 * | Democratic
 * 1852
 * | Incumbent retired. New delegate elected. Democratic hold. District eliminated in 1858 upon Minnesota's statehood.
 * nowrap |

✅ William W. Kingsbury (Democratic)

! Nebraska Territory's at-large congressional district
 * Bird Chapman
 * | Democratic
 * 1854
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New delegate elected August 3, 1857. Independent Democratic gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ Fenner Ferguson (Independent Democratic)

Bird Chapman (Democratic)

! Oregon Territory's at-large congressional district
 * Joseph Lane
 * | Democratic
 * 1851
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Joseph Lane (Democratic)


 * }