1848 and 1849 United States House of Representatives elections

Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 31st Congress were held at various dates in different states from August 1848 to November 1849.

These elections spanned the presidential election of 1848 and took place amid the U.S. victory over Mexico in the (1846–48) Mexican–American War. The Whigs lost their House majority as Democrats, whose support had driven the war, gained a House plurality. Among minor parties, the Free Soil Party won nine Northern seats, while the American or "Know Nothing" Party retained one.

Following the discovery of gold in January 1848, California boomed, creating immediate pressure for statehood. The Compromise of 1850, though largely crafted in the Senate, was also passed by the House, brokering its admission to the Union. Anticipating statehood, California elected two members at-large on November 11, 1849, to be seated September 11, 1850.

As neither major party held a majority when Congress convened on December 3, 1849 - the Democrats finished three seats short, while the Whigs had lost 12 seats and the majority - the election of a Speaker proved contentious.

The Whigs were sectionally split, with Northern Whigs nominating incumbent speaker Robert C. Winthrop of Massachusetts and Southern Whigs supporting Meredith P. Gentry of Tennessee. Democrats primarily supported Howell Cobb of Georgia; 13 other Democratic hopefuls also garnered support. The small Free Soil Party, opposing expansion of slavery into the Western territories, supported David Wilmot of Pennsylvania, author of the Wilmot Proviso, calling attention to slave power's hold over both major parties.

After nearly three weeks of heated debate, the House suspended its majority rule for the Speaker election: Cobb was elected on the 63rd ballot by plurality.

Election summaries
Wisconsin was apportioned an additional seat in 1848, and two more seats were added for the new state of California.

30th Congress
! PA's 6th congressional district
 * John W. Hornbeck
 * | Whig
 * 1846
 * | Incumbent died January 16, 1848. New member elected March 6, 1848. Democratic gain. Successor was not a candidate for the next term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ Samuel Augustus Bridges (Democratic)

! MA's 8th congressional district
 * John Quincy Adams
 * | Whig
 * 1830
 * | Incumbent died February 23, 1848. New member elected April 3, 1848. Whig hold. Successor later re-elected for the next term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ Horace Mann (Whig) 60.07%

Edgar K. Whitaker (Democratic) 26.91%

Appleton Howe (Liberty) 13.02%

! SC's 1st congressional district
 * James A. Black
 * | Democratic
 * 1843
 * | Incumbent died April 3, 1848. New member elected October 10, 1848. Democratic hold. Successor later re-elected for the next term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ Daniel Wallace (Democratic) 39.59%

H. F. Thompson (Unknown) 35.77%

W. F. Davie (Unknown) 24.64%

! NY's 27th congressional district
 * John M. Holley
 * | Whig
 * 1846
 * | Incumbent died March 8, 1848. New member elected November 7, 1848. Whig hold. Successor later re-elected for the next term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ Esbon Blackmar (Whig) 45.62%

James C. Smith (Free Soil) 40.89%

Cullen Foster (Democratic) 13.49%

! SC's 4th congressional district
 * Alexander D. Sims
 * | Democratic
 * 1844
 * | Incumbent died November 22, 1848. New member elected January 9, 1849. Democratic hold. Successor later elected for the next term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ John McQueen (Democratic) 62.67%

Robert Munroe (Unknown) 37.33%

! Wisconsin Territory At-large
 * New delegate elected October 30, 1848.
 * New delegate elected October 30, 1848.
 * New delegate elected October 30, 1848.
 * New delegate elected October 30, 1848.


 * }

31st Congress
! SC's 4th congressional district
 * Alexander D. Sims
 * | Democratic
 * 1844
 * | Incumbent had been re-elected, see below, but died November 22, 1848. New member elected January 16, 1849. Democratic. Successor having already been elected to finish the current term, see above.
 * nowrap | ✅ John McQueen (Democratic) 62.54%

Robert Munroe (Unknown) 46%

! OH's 6th congressional district
 * Rodolphus Dickinson
 * | Democratic
 * Incumbent died March 20, 1849. New member elected in 1849.
 * Incumbent died March 20, 1849. New member elected in 1849.

! VT's 3rd congressional district ! VA's 15th congressional district
 * }
 * }
 * }
 * }

Alabama
Elections were held August 6, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

! 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 7, 1848.

! AR At-large


 * }

California
California two at-large members were elected November 11, 1849 in anticipation of statehood and seated September 11, 1850.

! rowspan=2 | CA At-large 2 seats
 * colspan=3 | None
 * | New seat. New member elected. Independent gain.
 * rowspan=2 nowrap | (Elected on a general ticket)

✅ George W. Wright (Independent) 22%

✅ Edward Gilbert (Democratic) 20.6%

Rodman M. Price 16.3%

P. A. Morse 8.3%

Lewis Dent 8.2%

E. J. C. Kewen 7.3%

W. M. Sheppard 7.2%

William E. Shannon 5.4%

Peter Halsted 2.4%

L. W. Hastings 0.9%

Pierson B. Reading (Whig) 0.7%

W. H. Russell 0.4%

J. S. Thompson 0.3%

Kimball H. Dimmick 0.2%


 * colspan=3 | None
 * | New seat. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * | New seat. New member elected. Democratic gain.


 * }

Connecticut
Elections were held April 2, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

! 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 6, 1848.

! DE At-large


 * }

Florida
Florida's single at-large member was elected October 2, 1848.

! FL At-large
 * Edward C. Cabell
 * | Whig
 * 1846
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Edward C. Cabell (Whig) 53.5%

William Pope Duval (Democratic) 46.5%


 * }

Georgia
Elections were held October 2, 1848.

! GA's 1st congressional district

! GA's 2nd congressional district

! GA's 3rd congressional district

! GA's 4th congressional district

! GA's 5th congressional district

! GA's 6th congressional district

! GA's 7th congressional district

! GA's 8th congressional district


 * }

Illinois
Elections were held August 7, 1848.

! 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 10, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

! 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 7, 1848.

! IA's 1st congressional district

! IA's 2nd congressional district


 * }

Kentucky
Elections were held August 6, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

! 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 5, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

! 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 11, 1848.

! 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 3, 1849 elections were after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the new term, but still before the Congress convened in December 1849.

! 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 13, 1848.

! MA's 1st congressional district

! MA's 2nd congressional district

! MA's 3rd congressional district

! MA's 4th congressional district
 * John G. Palfrey
 * | Whig
 * 1846
 * | Incumbent lost re-election as Free Soil candidate. No member elected due to failure to achieve majority vote. Whig loss.
 * nowrap | John G. Palfrey (Free Soil)

Frederick Robinson (Democratic)

Benjamin Thompson (Whig)

! MA's 5th congressional district

! MA's 6th congressional district

! MA's 7th congressional district
 * Julius Rockwell
 * | Whig
 * 1844 (Late)
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Julius Rockwell (Whig) 51.40%

Thomas F. Plunkett (Democratic) 28.22%

Charles Sedgwick (Free Soil) 20.38%

! MA's 8th congressional district

! MA's 9th congressional district

! MA's 10th congressional district


 * }

Michigan
Elections were held November 7, 1848.

! MI's 1st congressional district

! MI's 2nd congressional district

! MI's 3rd congressional district


 * }

Minnesota Territory
See Non-voting delegates, below.

Mississippi
Elections were held November 5–6, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

! MS's 1st congressional district
 * Jacob Thompson
 * | Democratic
 * 1839
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ Jacob Thompson (Democratic) 57.25%

Alexander B. Bradford (Whig) 42.75%

! MS's 2nd congressional district
 * Winfield S. Featherston
 * | Democratic
 * 1847
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Winfield S. Featherston (Democratic) 53.98%

William L. Harris (Whig) 46.48%

! MS's 3rd congressional district
 * Patrick W. Tompkins
 * | Whig
 * 1847
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ William McWillie (Democratic) 52.03%

Henry Gray (Whig) 47.97%

! MS's 4th congressional district
 * Albert G. Brown
 * | Democratic
 * 1847
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Albert G. Brown (Democratic) 67.63%

William Winans (Whig) 32.37%


 * }

Missouri
Elections were held August 7, 1848.

! 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 13, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

! 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 7, 1848.

! 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
Elections were held November 7, 1848.

! 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, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

! 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 10, 1848.

! 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 10, 1848.

! 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 4, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

! RI's 1st congressional district

! RI's 2nd congressional district


 * }

South Carolina
Elections were held October 9–10, 1848.

! SC's 1st congressional district

! SC's 2nd congressional district

! SC's 3rd congressional district

! SC's 4th congressional district
 * Alexander D. Sims
 * | Democratic
 * 1844
 * Incumbent re-elected. Incumbent then died November 22, 1848, leading to two special elections.
 * nowrap | ✅ Alexander D. Sims (Conservative Democratic) 50.52%

John McQueen (Cass Democratic) 49.48%

! SC's 5th congressional district

! SC's 6th congressional district

! SC's 7th congressional district


 * }

Tennessee
Elections were held August 2, 1849.

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

✅ Andrew Johnson (Democratic) 52.43%

Nathaniel G. Taylor (Whig) 43.72%

Brookins Campbell (Democratic) 3.85%

! TN's 2nd congressional district
 * William M. Cocke
 * | Whig
 * 1845
 * |Incumbent lost re-election as a Democrat. New member elected. Whig hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ Albert G. Watkins (Whig) 58.90%

William M. Cocke (Democratic) 41.10%

! TN's 3rd congressional district
 * John H. Crozier
 * | Whig
 * 1845
 * |Incumbent retired. New member elected. Whig hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ Josiah M. Anderson (Whig) 54.71%

Thomas C. Lyon (Democratic) 45.29%

! TN's 4th congressional district
 * Hugh L.W. Hill
 * | Democratic
 * 1847
 * |Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ John H. Savage (Democratic) 48.44%

Samuel Turney (Unknown) 38.82%

John B. Rogers (Whig) 12.74%

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

✅ George W. Jones (Democratic) 100%

! TN's 6th congressional district
 * James H. Thomas
 * | Democratic
 * 1847
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ James H. Thomas (Democratic) 56.09%

Franklin Buchanan (Whig) 43.91%

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

✅ Meredith P. Gentry (Whig) 95.29%

[FNU] Bailey (Unknown) 4.71%

! TN's 8th congressional district
 * Washington Barrow
 * | Whig
 * 1847
 * |Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ Andrew Ewing (Democratic) 50.40%

William Calhoun (Whig) 49.60%

! TN's 9th congressional district
 * Lucien B. Chase
 * | Democratic
 * 1845
 * |Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Isham G. Harris (Democratic) 55.81%

James T. Morris (Whig) 44.19%

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

✅ Frederick P. Stanton (Democratic) 51.87%

John W. Harris (Whig) 48.13%

! TN's 11th congressional district
 * William T. Haskell
 * | Whig
 * 1847
 * |Incumbent retired. New member elected. Whig hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ Christopher H. Williams (Whig) 100%


 * }

Texas
Elections were held August 6, 1849.

! TX's 1st congressional district

! TX's 2nd congressional district


 * }

Vermont
Elections were held September 5, 1848.

! VT's 1st congressional district

! VT's 2nd congressional district

! VT's 3rd congressional district

! VT's 4th congressional district


 * }

Virginia
Elections were held April 26, 1849, after the March 4, 1849 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1849.

! 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
Wisconsin members were first elected in advance of its June 1848 statehood. It elected two members to finish the current term in the 30th Congress, and then it gained an elected an additional member for elections to the 31st Congress.

30th Congress
Wisconsin's two members were elected May 8, 1848.

! Wisconsin's 1st congressional district
 * colspan=3 | New seat
 * | New seat. New member elected May 8, 1848. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ William Pitt Lynde (Democratic) 54.89%

Edward V. Whiton (Whig) 41.23%

Ichabod Cotting (Liberty) 3.89%

! Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district
 * colspan=3 | New seat
 * | New seat. New member elected May 8, 1848. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ Mason C. Darling (Democratic) 58.38%

Alexander L. Collins (Whig) 41.21%


 * }

31st Congress
Wisconsin's three members were elected November 7, 1848.

! Wisconsin's 1st congressional district
 * William Pitt Lynde
 * | Democratic
 * 1848
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Free Soil gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ Charles Durkee (Free Soil) 38.49%

William Pitt Lynde (Democratic) 33.89%

Asahel Finch Jr. (Whig) 27.62%

! Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district
 * Mason C. Darling
 * | Democratic
 * 1848
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Whig gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ Orsamus Cole (Whig) 45.23%

A. Hyatt Smith (Democratic) 40.97%

George W. Crabb (Free Soil) 13.80%

! Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district
 * colspan=3 | New seat
 * | New seat. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ James Duane Doty (Democratic) 50.34%

Timothy O. Howe (Whig) 29.25%

Stoddard Judd (Free Soil) 20.41%


 * }

Non-voting delegates
Going into these elections, there were no incumbent delegates, because the only territory — Wisconsin Territory — became a state in 1848. Two new territories — Minnesota Territory and Oregon Territory — were granted delegates in 1849.

! Minnesota Territory's at-large congressional district
 * colspan=3 | New district
 * | New seat. New delegate elected July 7, 1849. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ Henry Hastings Sibley (Democratic)

! Oregon Territory's at-large congressional district
 * colspan=3 | New district
 * | New seat. New delegate elected in 1849. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ Samuel Thurston (Democratic)


 * }