1846 and 1847 United States House of Representatives elections

Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 30th Congress were held during President James K. Polk's term at various dates in different states from August 1846 to November 1847.

The Whigs gained 37 seats to win 116 and a change in partisan control, while the rival Democrats lost 30, falling to 112. The Whigs gained seats in the Mid-Atlantic and the South. The nativist and anti-Catholic American Party was reduced to one seat. One Independent, Amos Tuck, was elected from New Hampshire.

The Mexican–American War, which the incumbent House had voted overwhelmingly to approve, was the main issue. The war had much stronger voter support in the West, South, and among Democrats than in the East, North, and among Whigs.

It was widely, accurately believed that war with Mexico would be won with large territorial gains. The Wilmot Proviso was the first congressional attempt to address slavery in these projected new territories, by proposing to ban it. Congress rejected the Wilmot Proviso, but not quickly or smoothly. Protracted debate aggravated sectional tensions. The repeated failure of Congress, and later also the President and Supreme Court, over the next decade to resolve the issue of slavery in the territories was a major cause of the Civil War.

This was the last time the Whig Party won a House majority, though candidates opposed to the Democratic Party would win a large majority in the realigning 1854 election. Notable freshmen included Abraham Lincoln of Illinois, elected as a Whig to his only term.

Election summaries
The trend toward single-member districts culminated as no multi-member districts featured.

In 1845, partly motivated by the successful 1844 test of the electric telegraph between Washington and Baltimore, Congress established a uniform date for choosing Presidential electors. Gradually, states aligned nearly all elections with this date, though as of this election, only three states had done so.

Two seats were added for the new State of Wisconsin. Wisconsin was unrepresented for most of the first session.

Special elections
! GA's 3rd congressional district
 * Washington Poe
 * | Democratic
 * 1844
 * | Member-elect declined the seat. New member elected January 5, 1846. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ George W. Towns (Democratic) 51.62%

Ambrose Baber (Whig) 48.38%

! MO At-large
 * Sterling Price
 * | Democratic
 * 1844
 * | Incumbent resigned August 12, 1846 to serve in the Mexican-American War. New member elected in 1846 and seated December 7, 1846. Democratic hold. Successor had not been elected to the next term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ William McDaniel (Democratic)

! AR At-large
 * Archibald Yell
 * | Democratic
 * 1836 1840 (Retired) 1844
 * | Incumbent resigned July 1, 1846 to serve in the United States Volunteers. New member elected December 14, 1846. Whig gain. Successor seated February 6, 1847. Successor had not been elected to the next term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ Thomas Willoughby Newton (Whig) 28.55%

George W. Paschal (Democratic) 28.17%

Albert Rust (Democratic) 27.06%

C.F. Noland (Whig) 13.97%

Herndon Haralson (Democratic) 2.26%

! IL's 7th congressional district
 * Edward D. Baker
 * | Whig
 * 1844
 * | Incumbent resigned January 15, 1847 to join the Illinois Volunteer Infantry. New member elected January 20, 1847 to finish the term. Whig hold. Successor had not been a candidate to the next term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ John Henry (Whig) 56.73%

Israel W. Crosby (Democratic) 30.33%

Archibald Job (Democratic) 6.92%

Turner R. King (Independent) 2.94%

William Brown (Whig) 1.91%

Scattering 1.17%

! LA's 1st congressional district

! MI's 1st congressional district

! MS's 1st congressional district


 * }

Alabama
Elections were held August 2, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

! 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
Arkansas elected its sole member August 3, 1846.

! AR At-large
 * Archibald Yell
 * | Democratic
 * 1836 1840 (Retired) 1844
 * | Incumbent resigned July 1, 1846 to serve in the United States Volunteers. New member elected. Democratic hold. Winner was not elected to finish the current term.
 * nowrap | ✅ Robert Ward Johnson (Democratic)

Unopposed


 * }

Connecticut
Elections were held April 5, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

! 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 10, 1846.

! DE At-large


 * }

Florida
The election was held October 5, 1846.

! FL At-large
 * William H. Brockenbrough
 * | Democratic
 * 1845 (Special)
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Whig gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ Edward C. Cabell (Whig) 50.9%

William A. Kain (Democratic) 49.1%


 * }

Georgia
Elections were held October 5, 1846.

! 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 3, 1846.

! 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
 * Edward D. Baker
 * | Whig
 * 1844
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Whig hold. Incumbent then resigned early, leading to a special election.
 * nowrap | ✅ Abraham Lincoln (Whig) 55.53%

Peter Cartwright (Democratic) 42.29%

Elihu Walcott (Liberty) 2.18%


 * }

Indiana
Elections were held August 2, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

! 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


 * }

Elections to the 29th Congress
Elections for the new state were held October 26, 1846.

! rowspan=2 | IA At-large (2 seats)
 * colspan=3 | New state
 * | New seat. New member elected October 26, 1846. Democratic gain. Winner (Leffler) was later elected in the IA's 2nd congressional district to the next term, see below.
 * rowspan=2 nowrap | (Elected on a general ticket)✅ Shepherd Leffler (Democratic) 26.47%

✅ S. Clinton Hastings (Democratic) 26.10%

Joseph H. Hedrick (Whig) 23.86%

G. C. Mitchell (Whig) 23.57%


 * colspan=3 | New state
 * | New seat. New member elected October 26, 1846. Democratic gain. Winner (Hastings) would not be a candidate for the next term, see below.
 * | New seat. New member elected October 26, 1846. Democratic gain. Winner (Hastings) would not be a candidate for the next term, see below.


 * }

Elections to the 30th Congress
Elections were held August 2, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

! IA's 1st congressional district
 * colspan=3 | New seat
 * | New district. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ William Thompson (Democratic) 52.59%

Jesse B. Browne (Whig) 47.41%

! rowspan=2 | IA's 2nd congressional district
 * Shepherd Leffler Redistricted from the IA's at-large congressional district
 * | Democratic
 * 1846
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * rowspan=2 nowrap | ✅ Shepherd Leffler (Democratic) 51.43%

Thomas McKnight (Whig) 48.58%


 * S. Clinton Hastings Redistricted from the IA's at-large congressional district
 * | Democratic
 * 1846
 * | Incumbent retired. Democratic loss.
 * | Incumbent retired. Democratic loss.


 * }

Kentucky
Elections were held August 2, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

! 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 2, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

! 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 14, 1846.

! 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 6, 1847 elections were after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the new term, but still before the Congress convened in December 1847.

! 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 9, 1846.

! MA's 1st congressional district

! MA's 2nd congressional district

! MA's 3rd congressional district

! MA's 4th congressional district

! 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) 53.34%

Horatio Byington (Democratic) 38.63%

Jasper Bement (Liberty) 8.04%

! MA's 8th congressional district
 * John Quincy Adams
 * | Whig
 * 1830
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ John Quincy Adams (Whig) 62.23%

Isaac H. Wright (Democratic) 28.25%

Appleton Howe (Liberty) 9.52%

! MA's 9th congressional district

! MA's 10th congressional district


 * }

Michigan
Elections were held November 3, 1846.

! MI's 1st congressional district

! MI's 2nd congressional district

! MI's 3rd congressional district


 * }

Mississippi
Elections were held November 1–2, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

! MS's 1st congressional district
 * Jacob Thompson
 * | Democratic
 * 1839
 * | Incumbent redistricted from the Ms's at-large congressional district. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ Jacob Thompson (Democratic) 54.38%

Robert Josselyn (Independent Democratic) 45.62%

! MS's 2nd congressional district
 * colspan=3 | None (new district)
 * | New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Winfield S. Featherston (Democratic) 53.52%

Alexander K. McClung (Whig) 46.48%

! MS's 3rd congressional district
 * Robert W. Roberts
 * | Democratic
 * 1843
 * | Incumbent redistricted from the Ms's at-large congressional district. New member elected. Whig gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Patrick W. Tompkins (Whig) 52.06%

Robert W. Roberts (Democratic) 47.94%

! MS's 4th congressional district
 * colspan=3 | None (new district)
 * | New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Albert G. Brown (Democratic) 93.74%

John A. Quitman (Democratic) 5.64%

Scattering 0.62%


 * }

Missouri
Elections were held August 2, 1846. All five seats remained Democratic. Three of the members retired.

! MO's 1st congressional district
 * James B. Bowlin Redistricted from the MO's at-large congressional district
 * | Democratic
 * 1842
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ James B. Bowlin (Democratic) 52.20%

Uriel Wright (Whig) 36.81%

William Milburn (Independent) 10.99%

! rowspan=2 | MO's 2nd congressional district
 * William McDaniel Redistricted from the MO's at-large congressional district
 * | Democratic
 * 1846 (Special)
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * rowspan=2 nowrap | ✅ John Jameson (Democratic) 81.09%

Preston P. Brickey (Whig) 18.91%


 * James Hugh Relfe Redistricted from the MO's at-large congressional district
 * | Democratic
 * 1842
 * | Incumbent retired. Democratic loss.
 * | Incumbent retired. Democratic loss.

! MO's 3rd congressional district
 * colspan=3 | New district
 * | New seat. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ James S. Green (Democratic) 55.27%

John Gaines Miller (Whig) 44.73%

! MO's 4th congressional district
 * colspan=3 | New district
 * | New seat. New member elected. Democratic gain.
 * nowrap | ✅ Willard P. Hall (Democratic) 64.98%

James H. Birch (Whig) 35.02%

! rowspan=2 | MO's 5th congressional district
 * John S. Phelps Redistricted from the MO's at-large congressional district
 * | Democratic
 * 1844
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * rowspan=2 nowrap | ✅ John S. Phelps (Democratic) 53.26%

John P. Campbell (Whig) 46.74%


 * Leonard H. Sims Redistricted from the MO's at-large congressional district
 * | Democratic
 * 1844
 * | Incumbent retired. Democratic loss.
 * | Incumbent retired. Democratic loss.


 * }

New Hampshire
Elections were held March 9, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847. Two of the districts had run-off elections in July 1847.

! NH's 1st congressional district
 * colspan=3 | Vacant seat due to the failure to elect.
 * | New member elected on the second ballot. Independent gain.
 * nowrap | First ballot (March 9, 1847): Benning W. Jenness (Democratic) 44.66%

Amos Tuck (Liberty) 15.04%

Ichabod Goodwin (Whig) Second ballot (July 8, 1847): ✅ Amos Tuck (Independent) 56.66%

Benning W. Jenness (Democratic) 42.49%

! NH's 2nd congressional district
 * Moses Norris Jr. Redistricted from the NH's at-large congressional district
 * | Democratic
 * 1843
 * | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | ✅ Charles Peaslee (Democratic) 57.27%

Joel Eastman (Whig) 27.78%

George W. Stevens (Liberty) 14.96%

! NH's 3rd congressional district
 * Mace Moulton Redistricted from the NH's at-large congressional district
 * | Democratic
 * 1845
 * | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected on the second ballot. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap | First ballot (March 9, 1847): Mace Moulton (Democratic)

James Wilson (Whig) 42.34%

John Preston (Liberty) 10.51% Second ballot (July 8, 1847): ✅ James Wilson (Whig) 51.27%

Mace Moulton (Democratic) 44.00%

John Preston (Liberty) 4.72%

! NH's 4th congressional district
 * James Hutchins Johnson Redistricted from the NH's at-large congressional district
 * | Democratic
 * 1845
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ James Hutchins Johnson (Democratic)


 * }

New Jersey
Elections were held November 3, 1846.

! 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 3, 1846.

! 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 5, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

! 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 13, 1846.

! 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


 * }

Pennsylvania
Elections were held October 13, 1846.

! 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 7, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

! RI's 1st congressional district

! RI's 2nd congressional district


 * }

South Carolina
Elections were held October 12–13, 1846.

! SC's 1st congressional district

! SC's 2nd congressional district

! SC's 3rd congressional district

! SC's 4th congressional district

! SC's 5th congressional district

! SC's 6th congressional district

! SC's 7th congressional district


 * }

Tennessee
Elections were held August 2, 1847.

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

✅ Andrew Johnson (Democratic) 51.87%

Oliver P. Temple (Whig) 48.13%

! TN's 2nd congressional district
 * William M. Cocke
 * | Whig
 * 1845
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ William M. Cocke (Whig) 61.01%

Wayne W. Wallace (Democratic) 38.99%

! TN's 3rd congressional district
 * John H. Crozier
 * | Whig
 * 1845
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap |

✅ John H. Crozier (Whig) 51.76%

Samuel S. Smith (Democratic) 48.25%

! TN's 4th congressional district
 * Alvan Cullom
 * | Democratic
 * 1842
 * |Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ Hugh L.W. Hill (Democratic) 59.92%

John L. Goodall (Whig) 40.08%

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

✅ George W. Jones (Democratic) 99.14%

J. M. Crowly (Unknown) 0.86%

! TN's 6th congressional district
 * Barclay Martin
 * | Democratic
 * 1845
 * |Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ James H. Thomas (Democratic) 55.59%

Boling Gordan (Whig) 44.41%

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

✅ Meredith P. Gentry (Whig) 65.05%

R. G. Ellis (Democratic) 34.95%

! TN's 8th congressional district
 * Edwin H. Ewing
 * | Whig
 * 1845 (special)
 * |Incumbent retired. New member elected. Whig hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ Washington Barrow (Whig) 58.79%

John B. Pittman (Democratic) 41.22%

! TN's 9th congressional district
 * Lucien B. Chase
 * | Democratic
 * 1845
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Lucien B. Chase (Democratic) 54.29%

John T. Swayne (Whig) 45.71%

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

✅ Frederick P. Stanton (Democratic) 50.11%

John W. Harris (Whig) 49.89%

! TN's 11th congressional district
 * Milton Brown
 * | Whig
 * 1841
 * |Incumbent retired. New member elected. Whig hold.
 * nowrap |

✅ William T. Haskell (Whig) 57.18%

John Gardner (Democratic) 42.82%


 * }

29th Congress
Elections were held in March 1846.

! TX's 1st congressional district
 * colspan=3 | New state
 * | New seat. New member elected. Democratic gain. Winner was also elected to the next term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ David S. Kaufman (Democratic)

! TX's 2nd congressional district
 * colspan=3 | New state
 * | New seat. New member elected. Democratic gain. Winner was also elected to the next term, see below.
 * nowrap | ✅ Timothy Pilsbury (Democratic)


 * }

30th Congress
Elections were held November 2, 1846.

! TX's 1st congressional district
 * David S. Kaufman
 * | Democratic
 * 1846
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ David S. Kaufman (Democratic)

! TX's 2nd congressional district
 * Timothy Pilsbury
 * | Democratic
 * 1846
 * Incumbent re-elected.
 * nowrap | ✅ Timothy Pilsbury (Democratic)


 * }

Vermont
Elections were held September 1, 1846.

! 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 22, 1847, after the March 4, 1847 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1847.

! 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 Territory
See Non-voting delegates, below.

Non-voting delegates
! Wisconsin Territory's at-large congressional district
 * Morgan Lewis Martin
 * | Democratic
 * 1844 or 1845
 * | Incumbent was not renominated. New member elected. Whig gain.
 * nowrap |

✅ John Hubbard Tweedy (Whig)

Moses M. Strong (Democratic)


 * }