1990 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1990 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the United States House of Representatives on November 6, 1990, to elect members to serve in the 102nd United States Congress. They occurred in the middle of President George H. W. Bush's term. As in most midterm elections, the President's Republican Party lost seats to the Democratic Party, slightly increasing the Democratic majority in the chamber. It was a rare instance, however, in which both major parties lost votes to third parties such as the Libertarian Party as well as independent candidates.

, this was the last time a party held 60 percent of the seats in the House.

Election summaries


Source: Election Statistics – Office of the Clerk

Retirements
There were a total of 27 Representatives and one delegate not seeking re-election: 11 Democrats and 17 Republicans.

Democrats

 * 1) Alabama's 5th congressional district: Ronnie Flippo retired to run for Governor of Alabama.
 * 2) California's 29th congressional district: Augustus Hawkins retired.
 * 3) Connecticut's 3rd congressional district: Bruce Morrison retired to run for Governor of Connecticut.
 * 4) DC At-large: Walter Fauntroy retired to run for mayor of Washington D.C.
 * 5) Florida's 11th congressional district: Bill Nelson retired to run for Governor of Florida.
 * 6) Louisiana's 2nd congressional district: Lindy Boggs retired.
 * 7) Maine's 1st congressional district: Joseph E. Brennan retired to run for Governor of Maine.
 * 8) Michigan's 13th congressional district: George Crockett Jr. retired.
 * 9) Ohio's 1st congressional district: Tom Luken retired
 * 10) Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district: Wes Watkins retired to run for Governor of Oklahoma.
 * 11) Texas's 11th congressional district: Marvin Leath retired.

Republicans

 * 1) Arkansas's 2nd congressional district: Tommy F. Robinson retired to run for Governor of Arkansas.
 * 2) California's 14th congressional district: Norman D. Shumway retired.
 * 3) Colorado's 4th congressional district: Hank Brown retired to run for U.S. Senate.
 * 4) Connecticut's 5th congressional district: John G. Rowland retired to run for Governor of Connecticut.
 * 5) Hawaii's 1st congressional district: Pat Saiki retired to run for U.S. Senate.
 * 6) Idaho's 1st congressional district: Larry Craig retired to run for U.S. Senate.
 * 7) Illinois's 16th congressional district: Lynn Morley Martin retired to run for U.S. Senate.
 * 8) Iowa's 2nd congressional district: Tom Tauke retired to run for U.S. Senate.
 * 9) Kansas's 5th congressional district: Bob Whittaker retired.
 * 10) Michigan's 10th congressional district: Bill Schuette retired to run for U.S. Senate.
 * 11) Minnesota's 3rd congressional district: Bill Frenzel retired.
 * 12) Nebraska's 3rd congressional district: Virginia D. Smith retired.
 * 13) New Hampshire's 1st congressional district: Bob Smith retired to run for U.S. Senate.
 * 14) New Jersey's 12th congressional district: Jim Courter retired
 * 15) Ohio's 7th congressional district: Mike DeWine retired to run for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio.
 * 16) Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district: Claudine Schneider retired to run for U.S. Senate.
 * 17) Utah's 3rd congressional district: Howard C. Nielson retired

Resignations
Four incumbents resigned in 1990, three Democrats and one Republican, with no special elections to fill the vacant seats before the November election.

Democrats

 * 1) NY's 18th congressional district: Robert Garcia resigned January 7, 1990 following trial over links to involvement in Wedtech scandal.
 * 2) NJ's 1st congressional district: James Florio resigned January 16, 1990, to become Governor of New Jersey.
 * 3) HI's 2nd congressional district: Daniel Akaka resigned January 16, 1990, to become a U.S. Senator.

Republican

 * 1) NY's 14th congressional district: Guy Molinari Incumbent resigned December 31, 1989.

In primary elections
One Member of Congress lost renomination.

Republican

 * 1) OH's 8th congressional district: Buz Lukens lost renomination to John Boehner, who won the general election.

Democrats
Six Democrats lost re-election to Republicans
 * 1) CA's 1st congressional district: Douglas H. Bosco (first elected in 1982) lost re-election to Frank Riggs
 * 2) CA's 44th congressional district: Jim Bates (first elected in 1982) lost re-election to Duke Cunningham
 * 3) MD's 1st congressional district: Roy Dyson (first elected in 1980) lost re-election to Wayne Gilchrest
 * 4) NC's 11th congressional district: James M. Clarke (first elected in 1982, and then re-elected in 1986 after losing in 1984) lost re-election to Charles H. Taylor
 * 5) PA's 18th congressional district: Doug Walgren (first elected in 1976) lost re-election to Rick Santorum
 * 6) WI's 2nd congressional district: Robert Kastenmeier (first elected in 1958) lost re-election to Scott Klug

Republicans
Eight Republicans lost re-election to Democrats
 * 1) CA's 17th congressional district: Chip Pashayan (first elected in 1978) lost re-election to Cal Dooley
 * 2) FL's 2nd congressional district: James W. Grant (first elected in 1986) lost re-election to Pete Peterson
 * 3) IN's 3rd congressional district: John P. Hiler (first elected in 1980) lost re-election to Tim Roemer
 * 4) MN's 7th congressional district: Arlan Stangeland (first elected in 1977) lost re-election to Collin Peterson
 * 5) MO's 2nd congressional district: Jack Buechner (first elected in 1986) lost re-election to Joan Kelly Horn
 * 6) NH's 2nd congressional district: Charles Douglas III (first elected in 1988) lost re-election to Richard Swett
 * 7) OR's 5th congressional district: Denny Smith (first elected in 1980) lost re-election to Michael J. Kopetski
 * 8) VA's 8th congressional district: Stanford Parris (first elected in 1972, and then re-elected in 1980 after losing in 1974) lost re-election Jim Moran

One Republican lost re-election to an Independent
 * 1) VT At-large: Peter Plympton Smith (first elected in 1988) lost re-election to Bernie Sanders

Republican seats won by Democrats
Six Republican seats were won by Democrats
 * 1) AR's 2nd congressional district: Won by Ray Thornton
 * 2) HI's 1st congressional district: Won by Neil Abercrombie
 * 3) ID's 1st congressional district: Won by Larry LaRocco
 * 4) IL's 16th congressional district: Won by John W. Cox Jr.
 * 5) RI's 2nd congressional district: Won by Jack Reed
 * 6) UT's 3rd congressional district: Won by Bill Orton

Democratic seats won by Republicans
There were no Democratic seats won by Republicans

Democratic seats held by Democrats
Democrats held thirteen of their open seats
 * 1) CA's 14th congressional district: Won by Anna Eshoo
 * 2) CA's 29th congressional district: Won by Maxine Waters
 * 3) DC At-large: Won by Eleanor Holmes Norton
 * 4) CT's 3rd congressional district: Won by Rosa DeLauro
 * 5) FL's 11th congressional district: Won by Jim Bacchus
 * 6) HI's 2nd congressional district: Won by Patsy Mink who also won the district's special election, see below
 * 7) LA's 2nd congressional district: Won by William Jefferson
 * 8) ME's 1st congressional district: Won by Thomas Andrews
 * 9) MI's 13th congressional district: Won by Barbara-Rose Collins
 * 10) NJ's 1st congressional district: Won by Rob Andrews who also won the district's special election, see below
 * 11) OH's 1st congressional district: Won by Charlie Luken
 * 12) OK's 3rd congressional district: Won by Bill Brewster
 * 13) TX's 11th congressional district: Won by Chet Edwards

Republican seats held by Republicans
Republicans held twelve of their open seats
 * 1) CA's 14th congressional district: Won by John Doolittle
 * 2) CO's 4th congressional district: Won by Wayne Allard
 * 3) CT's 5th congressional district: Won by Gary Franks
 * 4) IA's 2nd congressional district: Won by Jim Nussle
 * 5) KS's 5th congressional district: Won by Dick Nichols
 * 6) MI's 10th congressional district: Won by Dave Camp
 * 7) MN's 3rd congressional district: Won by Jim Ramstad
 * 8) NE's 3rd congressional district: Won by Bill Barrett
 * 9) NH's 1st congressional district: Won by Bill Zeliff
 * 10) NJ's 12th congressional district: Won by Dick Zimmer
 * 11) OH's 7th congressional district: Won by Dave Hobson
 * 12) OH's 8th congressional district: Won by John Boehner

Special elections
Elections are listed by date and district.