1898 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1898 United States House of Representatives elections were held for the most part on November 8, 1898, with Oregon, Maine, and Vermont holding theirs early in either June or September. They were held during the middle of President William McKinley's first term. Elections were held for 357 seats of the United States House of Representatives, representing 45 states, to serve in the 56th United States Congress. Special elections were also held throughout the year.

As in many midterm elections, the President's Republican Party lost seats, but was able to hold a majority over the Democratic Party. The Populist Party also lost many seats, as their movement began to decline. This was likely because many Populists rallied behind William Jennings Bryan's increasingly powerful branch of the Democratic Party, which built the rural economic issues advocated by Populists into their platform. As a result, the Democrats won a number of Western seats as well many in the Mid-Atlantic.

Election summaries
The previous elections of 1896 saw the election of 24 Populists, 2 Silver Republicans, and a Silver Party member.

Special elections
}

! MS's 2nd congressional district
 * William V. Sullivan
 * | Democratic
 * 1896
 * | Incumbent resigned when appointed U.S. Senator. New member elected July 5, 1898. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Thomas Spight (Democratic) 46.64%

Z. M. Stephens (Democratic) 42.17%

Leland L. Pearsons (Democratic) 11.19%

! OH's 19th congressional district

! PA's 23rd congressional district

! VA's 2nd congressional district

! VA's 4th congressional district

! MS's 6th congressional district
 * William F. Love
 * | Democratic
 * 1896
 * | Incumbent died October 16, 1898. New member elected November 29, 1898. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Frank A. McLain (Democratic) 100%

!MA's 15th congressional district
 * John Simpkins
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap | * ✅ William S. Greene (Republican) 63.04%

Charles S. Randall (Ind. Republican) 18.17%

Walter P.J. Skahan (Socialist Labor) 10.95%

Charles T. Luce (Democratic) 7.84%
 * }

Election dates
All the states held their elections November 8, 1898, except for 3 states, with 8 seats among them:


 * June 6: Oregon
 * September 6: Vermont
 * September 12: Maine

California
}

! California's 1st congressional district
 * John All Barham
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ John All Barham (Republican) 61.1%

Emmet Seawell (Democratic) 38.9%

! California's 2nd congressional district
 * Marion De Vries
 * | Democratic
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Marion De Vries (Democratic) 55.3%

Frank D. Ryan (Republican) 44.7%

! California's 3rd congressional district
 * Samuel G. Hilborn
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * | Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Victor H. Metcalf (Republican) 57.3%

John Aubrey Jones (Democratic) 39.1%

Thomas F. Burns (Socialist Labor) 3.6%

! California's 4th congressional district
 * James G. Maguire
 * | Democratic
 * 1892
 * | Incumbent retired to run for California Governor. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Julius Kahn (Republican) 50%

James H. Barry (Democratic) 44.1%

W. J. Martin (Socialist Labor) 3.7%

Joseph P. Kelly (Ind. Democratic) 2.2%

! California's 5th congressional district
 * Eugene F. Loud
 * | Republican
 * 1890
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Eugene F. Loud (Republican) 51.8%

William Craig (Democratic) 44.3%

E. T. Kingsley (Socialist Labor) 3.9%

! California's 6th congressional district
 * Charles A. Barlow
 * | Populist
 * 1900
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Russell J. Waters (Republican) 52.6%

Charles A. Barlow (Populist) 44.9%

James T. Van Ransselear (Socialist Labor) 2.5%

! California's 7th congressional district
 * Curtis H. Castle
 * | Populist
 * 1896
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ James C. Needham (Republican) 50.1%

Curtis H. Castle (Populist) 49.9%


 * }

Florida
! FL's 1st congressional district
 * Stephen M. Sparkman
 * | Democratic
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Stephen M. Sparkman (Democratic) 84.2%

E. R. Gunby (Republican) 15.8%

! FL's 2nd congressional district
 * Robert Wyche Davis
 * | Democratic
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Robert Wyche Davis (Democratic) 71.8%

H. L. Anderson (Republican) 28.2%


 * }

Idaho
! Idaho At-large
 * James Gunn
 * | Populist
 * 1896
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Silver Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Edgar Wilson (Silver Republican) 45.26%

Weldon B. Heyburn (Republican) 33.40%

James Gunn (Populist) 19.00%

William J. Boone (Prohibition) 2.34%


 * }

Massachusetts
! MA's 1st congressional district
 * George P. Lawrence
 * | Republican
 * 1897 (special)
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ George P. Lawrence (Republican) 58.0%

Charles P. Davis (Democratic) 35.5%

Edward A. Buckland (Socialist Labor) 6.5%

! MA's 2nd congressional district
 * Frederick H. Gillett
 * | Republican
 * 1892
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Frederick H. Gillett (Republican) 60.3%

Robert E. Bisbee (Democratic) 36.5%

George H. Wrenn (Socialist Labor) 3.2%

! MA's 3rd congressional district
 * Joseph H. Walker
 * | Republican
 * 1888
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ John R. Thayer (Democratic) 50.4%

Joseph H. Walker (Republican) 49.6%

! MA's 4th congressional district
 * George W. Weymouth
 * | Republican
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ George W. Weymouth (Republican) 62.9%

L. Porter Morse (Democratic) 37.1%

! MA's 5th congressional district
 * William S. Knox
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ William S. Knox (Republican) 51.8%

Joseph J. Flynn (Democratic) 48.2%

! MA's 6th congressional district
 * William H. Moody
 * | Republican
 * 1895 (special)
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ William H. Moody (Republican) 64.5%

E. Moody Boynton (Democratic) 28.9%

Albert L. Gillen (Social Democratic) 6.6%

! MA's 7th congressional district
 * William Emerson Barrett
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ Ernest W. Roberts (Republican) 55.8%

Walter L. Ramsdell (Democratic) 41.6%

Joseph Malloney (Socialist Labor) 2.6%

! MA's 8th congressional district
 * Samuel W. McCall
 * | Republican
 * 1892
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Samuel W. McCall (Republican) 70.0%

George A. Perkins (Democratic) 27.2%

William E. Stacey (Socialist Labor) 2.8%

! MA's 9th congressional district
 * John F. Fitzgerald
 * | Democratic
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ John F. Fitzgerald (Democratic) 48.7%

Franz H. Krebs Jr. (Republican) 25.8%

James A. Gallivan (Ind. Democratic) 23.6%

Florentine K. Bradman (Citizens Republican) 1.9%

! MA's 10th congressional district
 * Samuel J. Barrows
 * | Republican
 * 1896
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Henry F. Naphen (Democratic) 55.2%

Samuel J. Barrows (Republican) 44.8%

! MA's 11th congressional district
 * Charles F. Sprague
 * | Republican
 * 1892
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Charles F. Sprague (Republican) 61.3%

William H. Baker (Democratic) 38.6%

! MA's 12th congressional district
 * William C. Lovering
 * | Republican
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ William C. Lovering (Republican) 65.9%

Philip E. Brady (Democratic) 30.0%

Jeremiah O'Fihelly (Socialist Labor) 4.1%

! MA's 13th congressional district
 * William S. Greene
 * | Republican
 * 1898 (special)
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ William S. Greene (Republican) 68.65%

Charles T. Luce (Democratic) 24.82%

Thomas Stevenson (Socialist Labor) 6.51%

Others 0.01%


 * }

Mississippi
! MS's 1st congressional district
 * John M. Allen
 * | Democratic
 * 1884
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ John M. Allen (Democratic) 100%

! MS's 2nd congressional district
 * Thomas Spight
 * | Democratic
 * 1898 (special)
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Thomas Spight (Democratic) 92.91%

C. M. Haynie (Populist) 5.26%

S. M. Howry (Republican) 1.83%

! MS's 3rd congressional district
 * Thomas C. Catchings
 * | Democratic
 * 1884
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Thomas C. Catchings (Democratic) 85.07%

C. J. Jones (Colored Republican) 14.93%

! MS's 4th congressional district
 * Andrew F. Fox
 * | Democratic
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Andrew F. Fox (Democratic) 77.08%

Ralph Brewer (Populist) 22.92%

! MS's 5th congressional district
 * John S. Williams
 * | Democratic
 * 1892
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ John S. Williams (Democratic) 97.02%

S. R. Pitts (Republican) 2.79%

J. E. Everett (Independent) 0.20%

! MS's 6th congressional district
 * colspan=3 | Vacant (incumbent died October 16, 1898)
 * | New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Frank A. McLain (Democratic) 53.78%

M. M. Evans (Ind. Democratic) 22.82%

A. C. Hathorn (Populist) 16.39%

H. C. Turley (Republican) 7.01%

! MS's 7th congressional district
 * Patrick Henry
 * | Democratic
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Patrick Henry (Democratic) 90.95%

T. B. Yellowley (Republican) 4.75%

E. F. Brennan (Republican) 4.30%


 * }

Montana
! Montana At-large
 * Charles S. Hartman
 * | Silver Republican
 * 1892
 * |Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Albert J. Campbell (Democratic) 46.90%

Thomas C. Marshall (Republican) 29.79%

Thomas S. Hogan (Silver Republican) 23.31%


 * }

Nebraska
! Nebraska's 1st congressional district
 * Jesse B. Strode
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Elmer Burkett (Republican) 53.88%

James Manahan (Democratic) 45.96%

Fred Herman (Unknown) 0.16%

! Nebraska's 2nd congressional district
 * David H. Mercer
 * | Republican
 * 1892
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ David H. Mercer (Republican) 52.02%

Gilbert M. Hitchcock (Democratic) 47.98%

! Nebraska's 3rd congressional district
 * Samuel Maxwell
 * | Populist
 * 1896
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ John S. Robinson (Democratic) 51.93%

W. F. Norris (Republican) 48.07%

! Nebraska's 4th congressional district
 * William L. Stark
 * | Populist
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ William L. Stark (Populist) 50.71%

Edmund H. Hinshaw (Republican) 49.29%

! Nebraska's 5th congressional district
 * Roderick Dhu Sutherland
 * | Populist
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Roderick Dhu Sutherland (Populist) 51.36%

Clarendon E. Adams (Republican) 48.64%

! Nebraska's 6th congressional district
 * William L. Greene
 * | Populist
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ William L. Greene (Populist) 53.50%

Norris Brown (Republican) 46.51%


 * }

North Dakota
! ND At-large
 * Martin N. Johnson
 * | Republican
 * 1890
 * | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Burleigh F. Spalding (Republican) 60.89%

H. M. Creel (Fusion) 39.11%


 * }

Oregon
! Oregon's 1st congressional district
 * Thomas H. Tongue
 * | Republican
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Thomas H. Tongue (Republican) 48.96%

R. M. Veatch (Fusion) 44.28%

J. L. Hill (Populist) 4.21%

L. H. Pederson (Prohibition) 2.56%

! Oregon's 2nd congressional district
 * William R. Ellis
 * | Republican
 * 1892
 * | Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ Malcolm A. Moody (Republican) 54.15%

C. M. Donaldson (Fusion) 37.22%

H. E. Courtney (Populist) 5.78%

G. W. Ingalls (Prohibition) 2.85%


 * }

South Carolina
! SC's 1st congressional district
 * William Elliott
 * | Democratic
 * 1886 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ William Elliott (Democratic) 66.5%

George W. Murray (Republican) 33.5%

! SC's 2nd congressional district
 * W. Jasper Talbert
 * | Democratic
 * 1892
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ W. Jasper Talbert (Democratic) 97.0%

B. P. Chatfield (Republican) 2.9%

Others 0.1%

! SC's 3rd congressional district
 * Asbury Latimer
 * | Democratic
 * 1892
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Asbury Latimer (Democratic) 96.6%

John R. Tolbert (Republican) 3.3%

Others 0.1%

! SC's 4th congressional district
 * Stanyarne Wilson
 * | Democratic
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Stanyarne Wilson (Democratic) 96.4%

P. S. Suber (Republican) 3.6%

! SC's 5th congressional district
 * Thomas J. Strait
 * | Democratic
 * 1892
 * | Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ David E. Finley (Democratic) 100%

! SC's 6th congressional district
 * James Norton
 * | Democratic
 * 1897 (special)
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Norton (Democratic) 96.9%

J. H. Evans (Republican) 3.1%

! SC's 7th congressional district
 * J. William Stokes
 * | Democratic
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ J. William Stokes (Democratic) 89.8%

James Weston (Republican) 10.2%


 * }

South Dakota
! rowspan=2 | SD At-large (2 seats)
 * John Edward Kelley
 * | Populist
 * 1896
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * rowspan=2 nowrap | Elected on a general ticket:✅ Robert J. Gamble (Republican) 27.4%

✅ Charles H. Burke (Republican) 25.7%

John Edward Kelley (Populist) 22.9%

Freeman Knowles (Populist) 22.8%

A. Jamison (Prohibition) 0.6%

M.D. Alexander (Prohibition) 0.6%


 * Freeman Knowles
 * | Populist
 * 1896
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain.


 * }

Tennessee
! TN's 1st congressional district
 * Walter P. Brownlow
 * | Republican
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Walter P. Brownlow (Republican) 54.96%

Hugh H. Guckenour (Democratic) 44.12%

R. S. Cheves (Prohibition) 0.92%

! TN's 2nd congressional district
 * Henry R. Gibson
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Henry R. Gibson (Republican) 66.34%

John M. Davis (Democratic) 33.07%

[FNU] Jones (Unknown) 0.59%

! TN's 3rd congressional district
 * John A. Moon
 * | Democratic
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ John A. Moon (Democratic) 58.87%

Gus Cate (Republican) 40.62%

W. A. Wetmore (Populist) 0.51%

! TN's 4th congressional district
 * Benton McMillin
 * | Democratic
 * 1878
 * |Incumbent retired to run for Governor. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ Charles E. Snodgrass (Democratic) 62.29%

George H. Morgan (Republican) 37.72%

! TN's 5th congressional district
 * James D. Richardson
 * | Democratic
 * 1884
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ James D. Richardson (Democratic) 69.52%

W. Y. Elliott (Republican) 30.48%

! TN's 6th congressional district
 * John W. Gaines
 * | Democratic
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ John W. Gaines (Democratic) 78.78%

J. C. Napier (Republican) 14.26%

N. P. Gill (Prohibition) 6.97%

! TN's 7th congressional district
 * Nicholas N. Cox
 * | Democratic
 * 1890
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Nicholas N. Cox (Democratic) 70.28%

J. A. Cunningham (Independent) 29.72%

! TN's 8th congressional district
 * Thetus W. Sims
 * | Democratic
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Thetus W. Sims (Democratic) 60.21%

W. F. Hinkle (Republican) 36.86%

T. J. Brooks (Populist) 2.94%

! TN's 9th congressional district
 * Rice A. Pierce
 * | Democratic
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Rice A. Pierce (Democratic) 76.89%

Isaac Revelle (Republican) 21.27%

E. F. Falley (Prohibition) 1.84%

! TN's 10th congressional district
 * Edward W. Carmack
 * | Democratic
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * ✅ Edward W. Carmack (Democratic) 81.46%

J. W. Vernon (Republican) 18.12%

J. T. Brooks (Populist) 0.42%


 * }

West Virginia
! West Virginia's 1st congressional district
 * Blackburn B. Dovener
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Blackburn B. Dovener (Republican) 51.91%

J. V. Blair (Democratic) 47.29%

W. A. Williams (Independent) 0.63%

J. B. Arnold (Independent) 0.17%

! West Virginia's 2nd congressional district
 * Alston G. Dayton
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Alston G. Dayton (Republican) 50.33%

John T. McGraw (Democratic) 48.98%

George Morrow (Populist) 0.69%

! West Virginia's 3rd congressional district
 * Charles Dorr
 * | Republican
 * 1896
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ David E. Johnston (Democratic) 50.63%

William S. Edwards (Republican) 48.93%

J. W. Davis (Populist) 0.45%

! West Virginia's 4th congressional district
 * Warren Miller
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Romeo H. Freer (Republican) 50.84%

George I. Neal (Democratic) 48.79%

Oliver Gorrell (Populist) 0.37%


 * }

Wisconsin
Wisconsin elected ten members of congress on Election Day, November 8, 1898.

! WI's 1st congressional district
 * Henry Allen Cooper
 * | Republican
 * 1892
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Henry Allen Cooper (Republican) 61.5%

Clinton Babbitt (Democratic) 35.4%

John C. Huffman (Prohibition) 3.1%

! WI's 2nd congressional district New member elected. Republican hold.
 * Edward Sauerhering
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * | Incumbent retired.
 * nowrap |

✅ Herman B. Dahle (Republican) 50.4%

James E. Jones (Democratic) 47.0%

Jabez B. Smith (Prohibition) 2.6%

! WI's 3rd congressional district
 * Joseph W. Babcock
 * | Republican
 * 1892
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Joseph W. Babcock (Republican) 59.5%

Thomas L. Cleary (Democratic) 37.3%

Richard B. Griggs (Prohibition) 3.2%

! WI's 4th congressional district
 * Theobald Otjen
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Theobald Otjen (Republican) 47.3%

Joseph G. Donnelly (Democratic) 41.7%

Robert C. Schilling (Populist) 6.6%

Louis A. Arnold (Social Democratic) 3.0%

John Moser (Socialist Labor) 1.5%

! WI's 5th congressional district
 * Samuel S. Barney
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Samuel S. Barney (Republican) 51.8%

Charles E. Armin (Democratic) 40.2%

George Eckelman (Social Democratic) 3.3%

William P. Rubin (Populist) 3.0%

Albert F. Hintz (Socialist Labor) 1.0%

William R. Nethercut (Prohibition) 0.7%

! WI's 6th congressional district
 * James H. Davidson
 * | Republican
 * 1896
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ James H. Davidson (Republican) 53.6%

Frank C. Stewart (Democratic) 44.4%

William H. Clark (Prohibition) 2.0%

! WI's 7th congressional district New member elected. Republican hold.
 * Michael Griffin
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * | Incumbent retired.
 * nowrap |

✅ John J. Esch (Republican) 64.7%

John F. Doherty (Democratic) 32.6%

Luther W. Wood (Prohibition) 2.8%

! WI's 8th congressional district
 * Edward S. Minor
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Edward S. Minor (Republican) 54.2%

Philip Sheridan (Democratic) 43.8%

John W. Evans (Prohibition) 2.0%

! WI's 9th congressional district
 * Alexander Stewart
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Alexander Stewart (Republican) 58.1%

Wells M. Ruggles (Democratic) 40.1%

Edwin Kerswill (Prohibition) 1.8%

! WI's 10th congressional district
 * John J. Jenkins
 * | Republican
 * 1894
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ John J. Jenkins (Republican) 63.1%

John R. Mathews (Democratic) 30.3%

William B. Hopkins (Prohibition) 3.5%

Carl Pieper (Populist) 3.1%


 * }

Wyoming
! Wyoming At-large
 * John E. Osborne
 * | Democratic
 * 1896
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Frank W. Mondell (Republican) 54.71%

Constantine P. Arnold (Democratic) 43.04%

William Brown (Populist) 2.25%


 * }

Non-voting delegates
! Arizona Territory At-large

! New Mexico Territory At-large

! Oklahoma Territory At-large
 * James Y. Callahan
 * | Free Silver
 * 1896
 * | Incumbent retired. New delegate elected. Republican gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Dennis T. Flynn (Republican)


 * }