1842–43 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1842–43 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 1, 1842, and November 8, 1843. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 28th United States Congress convened on December 4, 1843. The exception was Maryland, who held theirs so late that they ran into February 1844. These elections occurred during President John Tyler's term. The congressional reapportionment based on the 1840 United States census unusually decreased the number of House seats, from 242 down to 223. After Whig President William Henry Harrison died within a month of taking office, his successor as president, John Tyler was only nominally a Whig who had not been properly validated for alignment to Whig policy. Effectively an independent, Tyler was disliked by politicians and was unpopular with voters of both parties, leaving the Whigs unexpectedly leaderless and in visible disarray. Despite the improving economy, rural voters favored Democrats, again rejecting Whig economic nationalism. The Whig Party lost 69 seats and their sizeable majority from the 1840 election, almost half their House delegation (one of the Whigs who won re-election was William Wright of New Jersey, elected as an "Independent Whig" ). The Democrats won a majority, flipping 48 Whig seats (this includes Henry Nes of Pennsylvania, elected as an Independent Democrat). In Rhode Island, the Law and Order Party, formed in response to the Dorr Rebellion, won both of Rhode Island's two seats.

Apportionment Act of 1842

Apportionment was based on the census of 1840 and was unusual in that the number of House seats was decreased, from 242 to 223: this came after the Apportionment Act of 1842 mandated that all members be elected from single-member contiguous districts, thus abolishing plural districts and at-large districts. Four states that did not comply with this new law delayed redistricting under a grandfather clause.

Election summaries

Special elections

27th Congress

! MA's 1st congressional district William Washburn (Democratic) 30.04% Amos Merrill (Liberty) 2.83% ! MA's 1st congressional district William Washburn (Democratic) 42.12% Dexter S. King (Liberty) 3.38%

28th Congress

! MA's 10th congressional district Sampson Perkins (Democratic) 42.48% Caleb Belcher (Liberty) 4.05%

Alabama

Alabama gained 2 seats, going from 5 to 7 members. Elections were held August 7, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. In the 1841 elections, Alabama briefly used at-large general-ticket elections, but in these elections it returned to districts. ! AL's 1st congressional district Henry Goldthwaite (Democratic) 49.3% ! AL's 2nd congressional district John Pettit (Whig) 47.9% ! AL's 3rd congressional district Henry Charles Lea (Whig) 47.7% ! AL's 4th congressional district Elisha Young (Whig) 48.3% ! AL's 5th congressional district Francis Armstrong (Whig) 49.7% ! AL's 6th congressional district Unknown 16.69% ! AL's 7th congressional district William Parish Chilton (Whig) 45.37% Samuel G. Daily (Unknown) 2.26%

Arkansas

Arkansas stayed at 1 seat, electing its one member at-large October 3, 1842. ! AR At-large William Cummins (Whig) 32.38% Lemuel D. Evans (Independent) 10.27%

Connecticut

Connecticut lost 2 seats, reduced from 6 to 4 members. Elections were held April 5, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1843. ! rowspan=2 | CT's 1st congressional district Thomas K. Brace (Whig) 48.7% Edward Hooker (Liberty) 2.3% ! CT's 2nd congressional district Samuel D. Hubbard (Whig) 48.3% Ely Warner (Liberty) 2.8% ! rowspan=2 | CT's 3rd congressional district Edward Eldridge (Whig) 41.0% Increase Wilson (Liberty) 5.1% Samuel Bowen (Unknown) 1.1% ! CT's 4th congressional district Thomas B. Osborne (Whig) 48.3% Daniel G. Platt (Liberty) 2.3%

Delaware

Delaware stayed at 1 seat, electing its one member at-large November 8, 1842. The election was decided by a nine-vote margin. ! DE At-large William H. Jones (Democratic) 49.96%

Florida Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Georgia

Georgia lost 1 seat, going from 9 to 8 members. Elections were held at-large on a general ticket October 3, 1842. ! rowspan=8 | GA At-large 8 at-large seats ✅ John B. Lamar (Democratic) 6.45% ✅ William H. Stiles (Democratic) 6.42% ✅ Hugh A. Haralson (Democratic) 6.42% ✅ Howell Cobb (Democratic) 6.41% ✅ John Millen (Democratic) 6.39% ✅ Edward J. Black (Democratic) 6.37% ✅ John H. Lumpkin (Democratic) 6.37% Absalom H. Chappell (Whig) 6.50% Richard W. Habersham (Whig) 6.11% Augustus R. Wright (Whig) 6.07% Roger L. Gamble (Whig) 6.06% Richard H. Wilde (Whig) 6.03% Augustus Holmes Kenan (Whig) 6.00% T. Butler King (Whig) 5.99% Henry P. Smead (Whig) 5.94%

Illinois

Illinois gained 4 seats, going from 3 to 7 members. Elections were held August 7, 1842. ! 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

Indiana gained 3 seats, going from 7 to 10 members. Elections were held August 7, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. ! 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

Kentucky

Kentucky lost 3 seats, going from 13 to 10 members. Elections were held August 7, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. ! 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

Louisiana gained 1 seats, going from 3 to 4 members. Elections were held July 3–5, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. ! LA's 1st congressional district ! LA's 2nd congressional district ! LA's 3rd congressional district ! LA's 4th congressional district

Maine

Maine lost 1 seat, going from 8 to 7 members. Elections were held September 11, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. ! 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

Maryland lost 2 seats, going from 8 to 6 members. Elections were held February 14, 1844, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. Maryland's elections to the next Congress were held February 14, 1844, after the 1842–1843 election cycle was passed and almost after the next Congress completed.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts lost 2 seats, going from 12 to 10 members. Elections were held November 14, 1842, but some districts' elections stretched to multiple ballots into 1843 and very early 1844. ! MA's 1st congressional district William Washburn (Democratic) 42.03% Dexter S. King (Liberty) 3.65% ! MA's 2nd congressional district Robert Rantoul Jr. (Democratic) 46.88% Leverett Saltonstall I (Whig) 42.76% William B. Dodge (Liberty) 7.28% David Pingree (Unknown) 3.09% Second ballot (February 13, 1843) Robert Rantoul Jr. (Democratic) 49.09% Leverett Saltonstall I (Whig) 39.11% David H. Barlow (Unknown) 7.33% David Pingree (Unknown) 2.99% Stephen Clarendon Phillips (Unknown) 1.49% Third ballot (April 3, 1843) Robert Rantoul Jr. (Democratic) 45.38% Daniel P. King (Whig) 43.97% Moses P. Hanson (Liberty) 7.56% David Pingree (Unknown) 3.10% Fourth ballot (June 5, 1843) ✅ Daniel P. King (Whig) 51.36% Jeremiah C. Stickney (Democratic) 39.50% Moses P. Hanson (Liberty) 9.14% ! MA's 3rd congressional district Joseph W. Mansur (Democratic) 48.68% John P. Robinson (Whig) 39.89% John Greenleaf Whittier (Liberty) 9.38% Caleb Cushing (Whig) 2.06% Second ballot (February 13, 1843) Joseph W. Mansur (Democratic) 45.74% Amos Abbott (Whig) 42.32% John Greenleaf Whittier (Liberty) 8.29% Caleb Cushing (Whig) 3.64% Third ballot (April 3, 1843) Joseph W. Mansur (Democratic) 42.76% Amos Abbott (Whig) 42.39% John Greenleaf Whittier (Liberty) 12.25% Caleb Cushing (Whig) 2.60% Fourth ballot (June 5, 1843) Amos Abbott (Whig) 43.82% Joseph W. Mansur (Democratic) 42.70% John Greenleaf Whittier (Liberty) 13.48% Fifth ballot (November 13, 1843) Amos Abbott (Whig) 45.19% Joseph W. Mansur (Democratic) 42.36% John Greenleaf Whittier (Liberty) 12.46% Sixth ballot (January 1, 1844) Amos Abbott (Whig) 48.63% Joseph W. Mansur (Democratic) 38.11% John Greenleaf Whittier (Liberty) 13.26% Seventh ballot (January 29, 1844) ✅ Amos Abbott (Whig) 51.04% Gayton P. Osgood (Democratic) 39.77% Gardner B. Perry (Liberty) 9.19% ! MA's 4th congressional district William Parmenter (Democratic) 49.92% Samuel Hoar (Whig) 43.68% Thomas M. Ward (Liberty) 5.95% Second ballot (February 13, 1843) ✅ William Parmenter (Democratic) 52.69% Samuel Hoar (Whig) 39.58% Thomas M. Ward (Liberty) 7.73% ! MA's 5th congressional district Charles Hudson (Whig) 48.41% Pliny Merrick (Democratic) 45.95% Phineas Crandall (Liberty) 5.64% Second ballot (February 13, 1843) Charles Hudson (Whig) 49.03% Pliny Merrick (Democratic) 44.48% Phineas Crandall (Liberty) 6.49% Third ballot (April 3, 1843) ✅ Charles Hudson (Whig) 51.22% David Henshaw (Democratic) 41.81% Phineas Crandall (Liberty) 6.97% ! MA's 6th congressional district Osmyn Baker (Whig) 49.02% Chester W. Chapin (Democratic) 45.71% Gardiner Dorance (Liberty) 5.27% Second ballot (February 13, 1843) Osmyn Baker (Whig) 48.19% Chester W. Chapin (Democratic) 45.57% Gardiner Dorance (Liberty) 6.24% Third ballot (April 3, 1843) Osmyn Baker (Whig) 47.18% Chester W. Chapin (Democratic) 45.18% Gardiner Dorance (Liberty) 7.64% Fourth ballot (June 5, 1843) Osmyn Baker (Whig) 47.85% Chester W. Chapin (Democratic) 45.16% Gardiner Dorance (Liberty) 6.99% Fifth ballot (November 13, 1843) Osmyn Baker (Whig) 49.57% Chester W. Chapin (Democratic) 43.95% Gardiner Dorance (Liberty) 6.48% Sixth ballot (January 1, 1844) ✅ Osmyn Baker (Whig) 50.26% Chester W. Chapin (Democratic) 40.26% Gardiner Dorance (Liberty) 9.48% ! MA's 7th congressional district Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 47.05% Julius Rockwell (Whig) 45.65% Joel Hayden (Liberty) 4.68% Henry Shaw (Unknown) 2.62% Second ballot (February 13, 1843) Julius Rockwell (Whig) 45.20% Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 43.31% Joel Hayden (Liberty) 4.20% Scattering 6.71% Third ballot (April 3, 1843) Julius Rockwell (Whig) 49.11% Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 46.04% Joel Hayden (Liberty) 4.86% Fourth ballot (June 5, 1843) Julius Rockwell (Whig) 47.49% Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 37.66% Joel Hayden (Liberty) 6.03% John Banning (Unknown) 3.23% Ira Curtis (Unknown) 1.76% Russell Brown (Democratic) 1.03% Scattering 2.02% Fifth ballot (November 13, 1843) Julius Rockwell (Whig) 49.15% Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 44.78% Joel Hayden (Liberty) 6.07% Sixth ballot (January 1, 1844)✅ Julius Rockwell (Whig) 54.05% Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 38.52% Joel Hayden (Liberty) 7.43% ! MA's 8th congressional district Ezra Wilkinson (Democratic) 46.86% William M. Jackson (Liberty) 1.27% ! MA's 9th congressional district Seth Sprague (Whig) 37.95% Hodges Read (Liberty) 6.73% ! MA's 10th congressional district John H. Shaw (Democratic) 44.36% Caleb Belcher (Liberty) 3.51%

Michigan

Michigan gained 2 seats, going from 1 to 3 members. Elections were held from districts November 8, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term, having previously elected a single member at-large. ! MI's 1st congressional district Jacob M. Howard (Whig) 38.7% Arthur S. Porter (Liberty) 5.8% ! MI's 2nd congressional district Joseph R. Williams (Whig) 38.2% Rufus B. Bement (Liberty) 9.2% ! MI's 3rd congressional district Thomas J. Drake (Whig) 36.5% William Caulfield (Liberty) 6.9%

Mississippi

Mississippi gained 2 seats, going from 2 to 4 members. Elections were held at-large on a general ticket November 6–7, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. Due to a banking crisis in Mississippi, the state Democratic party was split into two factions; the Redemptions, which favored the repudiation of bank bonds, and Anti-Redemptions, which opposed it. ! rowspan=4 | MS At-large (4 seats) ✅ Jacob Thompson (Democratic Redemption) 14.97% ✅ William H. Hammett (Democratic Redemption) 14.32% ✅ Robert W. Roberts (Democratic Redemption) 13.91% ✅ Tilghman Tucker (Democratic Redemption) 12.24% Volney E. Tucker (Democratic Anti-Redemption) 11.74% Joseph Dunbar (Democratic Anti-Redemption) 11.36% John Gilmer (Democratic Anti-Redemption) 10.95% William G. Kendall (Democratic Anti-Redemption) 10.52%

Missouri

Missouri gained 3 seats, going from 2 to 5 members. Elections were held at-large on a general ticket August 1, 1842. ! rowspan=5 | MO At-large 5 seats on a general ticket ✅ James B. Bowlin (Democratic) 19.06% ✅ James M. Hughes (Democratic) 18.98% ✅ James H. Relfe (Democratic) 18.90% ✅ Gustavus M. Bower (Democratic) 18.47% John P. Campbell (Democratic) 4.44%

New Hampshire

New Hampshire lost 1 seat, going from 5 to 4 members. Elections were held at-large on a general ticket March 3, 1843. ! rowspan=4 | NH At-large 4 seats on a general ticket

New Jersey

New Jersey lost 1 seats, going from 6 to 5 members. Elections were held from districts October 8, 1842, having previously elected them at-large. ! NJ's 1st congressional district Edmond L. Wales (Whig) 48.67% ! NJ's 2nd congressional district William Irick (Whig) 48.02% ! NJ's 3rd congressional district Unopposed ! NJ's 4th congressional district Samuel B. Halsey (Whig) 48.94% ! rowspan=2 | NJ's 5th congressional district William B. Winney (Whig) 48.32%

New York

New York lost 6 seats, going from 40 to 34 members, but remaining the largest delegation. Its thirty-four members were elected November 8, 1842. ! 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

North Carolina lost 4 seats, going from 13 to 9 members. Elections were held August 3, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. ! 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

Ohio gained 2 seats, going from 19 to 21 members. Its twenty-one members were elected October 10, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. ! 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

Pennsylvania lost 4 seats, going from 28 to 24 members. Its twenty-four members were elected October 10, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. ! 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

Rhode Island stayed at 2 seats, but elected its members from districts, having previously elected them at-large. Elections were held August 29, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. ! RI's 1st congressional district ! RI's 2nd congressional district

South Carolina

South Carolina lost 2 seats, going from 9 to 7 members. Elections were held February 20–21, 1843. ! 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

Tennessee lost 2 seats, going from 13 to 11 members. Elections were held August 3, 1842. ! TN's 1st congressional district ✅ Andrew Johnson (Democratic) 52.31% John Aiken (Whig) 47.69% ! TN's 2nd congressional district ✅ William T. Senter (Whig) 59.03% William Wallace (Democratic) 40.97% ! rowspan=2 | TN's 3rd congressional district ✅ Julius W. Blackwell (Democratic) 50.41% Thomas J. Campbell (Whig) 49.60% ! TN's 4th congressional district ✅ Alvan Cullom (Democratic) 58.66% Thomas L. Bransford (Whig) 41.34% ! TN's 5th congressional district ✅ George W. Jones (Democratic) 63.46% Medicas H. Long (Whig) 36.54% ! rowspan=2 | TN's 6th congressional district ✅ Aaron V. Brown (Democratic) 52.76% Neill S. Brown (Whig) 47.24% ! TN's 7th congressional district ✅ David W. Dickinson (Whig) 100% ! TN's 8th congressional district ✅ Joseph H. Peyton (Whig) 55.62% David Donalson (Democratic) 44.38% ! rowspan=2 | TN's 9th congressional district G. A. Henry (Whig) 48.81% ! TN's 10th congressional district ✅ John B. Ashe (Whig) 50.85% Frederick P. Staunton (Democratic) 49.15% ! TN's 11th congressional district ✅ Milton Brown (Whig) 61.12% Stephen C. Davatt (Democratic) 38.88%

Vermont

Vermont lost 1 seat, going from 5 to 4 members. Elections were held September 5, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. ! VT's 1st congressional district Caleb B. Harrington (Democratic) 40.5% ! rowspan=2 | VT's 2nd congressional district Jacob Collamer (Whig) 48.9% Truman B. Ransom (Democratic) 38.7% Titus Hutchinson (Liberty) 10.2% Second ballot✅ Jacob Collamer (Whig) 54.1% Truman B. Ransom (Democratic) 39.4% Titus Hutchinson (Liberty) 5.0% Horace Everett (Whig) 1.5% ! VT's 3rd congressional district John Smith (Democratic) 39.3% William H. French (Unknown) 6.1% ! VT's 4th congressional district George B. Chandler (Whig) 40.4% ! VT's 5th congressional district

Virginia

Virginia lost 6 seats, going from 21 to 15 members. Elections were held April 27, 1843, after the March 4, 1843 beginning of the term. ! VA's 1st congressional district James E. Langhorne (Whig) 49.9% ! rowspan=2 | VA's 2nd congressional district William B. Robertson (Whig) 12.3% ! VA's 3rd congressional district [FNU] Gilmer (Whig) 48.7% ! VA's 4th congressional district Richard H. Toler (Whig) 48.5% ! rowspan=2 | VA's 5th congressional district William L. Goggin (Whig) 49.8% ! rowspan=2 | VA's 6th congressional district ! VA's 7th congressional district Hitt Carter (Whig) 42.8% ! VA's 8th congressional district Robert M. T. Hunter (Independent) 46.2% ! VA's 9th congressional district William Smith (Democratic) 40.1% ! rowspan=2 | VA's 10th congressional district Charles James Faulkner (Whig) 43.8% ! VA's 11th congressional district Alexander H. H. Stuart (Whig) 38.1% ! VA's 12th congressional district James B. Watts (Whig) 35.4% ! VA's 13th congressional district John H. Fulton (Whig) 42.9% ! rowspan=3 | VA's 14th congressional district Samuel L. Hays (Democratic) 47.4% ! VA's 15th congressional district ! VA's 16th congressional district

Wisconsin Territory