The 1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 5, 1850, and November 4, 1851. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 32nd United States Congress convened on December 1, 1851. Elections were held for all 233 seats, representing 31 states. The Democrats gained 17 seats, increasing their majority relative to the rival Whigs, who lost 22 seats. Incumbent Whig President Millard Fillmore, who succeeded to the Presidency in July 1850 after the death of more charismatic General Zachary Taylor, lacked a strong political base. The Compromise of 1850, which admitted California alone as a free state in exchange for concessions to slave state interests, began integration of the Mexican Cession. It appeared in the short term that Congress had politically feasible options to contain sectionalism and to reduce tensions over expanding slavery in the West. This optimism soon would prove unfounded. The Union Party, formed in support of the Compromise of 1850, gained 10 seats in the South, as did the Southern Rights Party. The Free Soil Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery into the Western territories, lost five seats and was reduced to four Representatives, all in New England.

Election summaries

One district in Massachusetts had been vacant in the 31st Congress. No new seats were added. The previous election had 1 Know-Nothing and 1 Independent.

Special elections

31st Congress

32nd Congress

Alabama

Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! AL's 1st congressional district Charles Langdon (Whig) 41.19%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 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! AR At-large John Preston (Whig) 42.6%

California

California's members were elected late, at-large statewide, September 3, 1851. There were nevertheless seated with the rest of the House at the beginning of the first session. ! rowspan=2 | CA At-large 2 seats Democratic gain. ✅ Joseph W. McCorkle (Democratic) 26.77% Edward J. Kewen (Whig) 23.70% Benjamin J. Moore (Whig) 22.37% Democratic hold.

Connecticut

Elections were held April 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! CT's 1st congressional district Loren P. Waldo (Democratic) 48.5% Timothy Cowles (Free Soil) 2.6% ! CT's 2nd congressional district James F. Babcock (Whig) 45.9% Walter Booth (Free Soil) 2.6% ! CT's 3rd congressional district John C. Ames (Whig) 49.3% Ephraim Williams (Free Soil) 1.7% ! CT's 4th congressional district Thomas B. Butler (Whig) 48.4% Lewis Beers Jr. (Free Soil) 2.3%

Delaware

The election was held November 12, 1850. ! DE At-large ✅ George R. Riddle (Democratic) 49.21% George B. Rodney (Whig) 48.24% Francis D. Wait (Temperance) 2.54%

Florida

The election was held October 7, 1850. ! FL At-large ✅ Edward C. Cabell (Whig) 52.80% John Beard (Democratic) 47.20%

Georgia

Elections were held October 6, 1851. ! GA's 1st congressional district ✅ Joseph W. Jackson (Southern Rights) 51.67% Charles H. Hopkins (Constitutional Union) 48.34% ! GA's 2nd congressional district ✅ James Johnson (Constitutional Union) 53.72% Henry L. Benning (Southern Rights) 46.28% ! GA's 3rd congressional district ✅ Jack Bailey (Southern Rights) 50.67% Absalom H. Chappell (Constitutional Union) 49.33% ! GA's 4th congressional district ✅ Charles Murphey (Constitutional Union) 58.05% John P. Stell (Southern Rights) 41.95% ! GA's 5th congressional district ✅ Elijah W. Chastain (Constitutional Union) 64.98% William H. Stiles (Southern Rights) 35.02% ! GA's 6th congressional district Thomas F. Jones (Southern Rights) 28.90% ! GA's 7th congressional district David W. Lewis (Southern Rights) 29.18% ! GA's 8th congressional district

Illinois

Elections were held November 5, 1850. ! 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 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! 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 5, 1850. ! IA's 1st congressional district ! IA's 2nd congressional district

Kentucky

Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! 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 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! 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 9, 1850. ! 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 1, 1851 elections were after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the new term, but still before the Congress convened in December 1851. ! 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 11, 1850, but at least one district's elections went to multiple ballots into 1851. ! MA's 1st congressional district ! MA's 2nd congressional district ! MA's 3rd congressional district ! MA's 4th congressional district Benjamin Thompson (Whig) 39.60% John G. Palfrey (Free Soil) 34.25% Richard Frothingham (Democratic) 26.16% Second ballot (January 20, 1851) Benjamin Thompson (Whig) 42.76% John G. Palfrey (Free Soil) 33.86% Richard Frothingham (Democratic) 23.39% Third ballot (April 7, 1851) Benjamin Thompson (Whig) 42.12% John G. Palfrey (Free Soil) 40.18% Richard Frothingham (Democratic) 17.70% Fourth ballot (May 26, 1851)✅ Benjamin Thompson (Whig) 47.65% John G. Palfrey (Free Soil) 47.00% Richard Frothingham (Democratic) 5.36% ! MA's 5th congressional district ! MA's 6th congressional district ! MA's 7th congressional district Whig hold. Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 45.75% John Z. Goodrich (Whig) 45.30% Joel Hayden (Free Soil) 6.72% Julius Rockwell (Whig) 2.23% Second ballot (January 20, 1851) John Z. Goodrich (Whig) 48.32% Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 42.61% Joel Hayden (Free Soil) 7.73% Julius Rockwell (Whig) 1.34% Third ballot (April 7, 1851) John Z. Goodrich (Whig) 48.24% Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 43.02% Joel Hayden (Free Soil) 7.96% Fourth ballot (May 26, 1851) ✅ John Z. Goodrich (Whig) 52.80% Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 46.32% ! MA's 8th congressional district ! MA's 9th congressional district ! MA's 10th congressional district

Michigan

Elections were held November 5, 1850. ! MI's 1st congressional district Alexander W. Buel (Democratic) 45.3% ! MI's 2nd congressional district Joseph R. Williams (Whig) 49.0% ! MI's 3rd congressional district Charles C. Hascall (Democratic) 49.4%

Minnesota Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Mississippi

Elections were held November 3–4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! MS's 1st congressional district Union gain. ✅ Benjamin D. Nabers (Union) 57.80% Jacob Thompson (Southern Rights) 42.20% ! MS's 2nd congressional district Union gain. Winfield S. Featherston (Southern Rights) 47.24% ! MS's 3rd congressional district Union gain. William McWillie (Southern Rights) 49.19% ! MS's 4th congressional district Southern Rights gain. A. B. Dawson (Union) 42.66%

Missouri

Elections were held August 5, 1850. ! 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 11, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! NH's 1st congressional district George W. Kittredge (Democratic) 48.77% !NH's 2nd congressional district Anthony Colby (Whig) 29.18% Asa Fowler (Free Soil) 15.81% !NH's 3rd congressional district George W. Morrison (Democratic) 47.16% !NH's 4th congressional district Jonathan Kitteridge (Whig) 27.32% John H. White (Free Soil) 13.02%

New Jersey

Elections were held November 5, 1850. ! 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 Mexico Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

New York

Elections were held November 5, 1850. ! 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, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! 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 8, 1850. ! 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 8, 1850. ! 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 2, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! RI's 1st congressional district ! RI's 2nd congressional district

South Carolina

Elections were held October 14–15, 1850. ! 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 7, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! TN's 1st congressional district ✅ Andrew Johnson (Democratic) 57.52% Landon Carter Haynes (Democratic) 42.48% ! TN's 2nd congressional district ✅ Albert G. Watkins (Whig) 78.65% [FNU] Hurley (Democratic) 17.57% J. D. Dickinson (Whig) 3.78% ! TN's 3rd congressional district Democratic gain. ✅ William M. Churchwell (Democratic) 50.06% Josiah M. Anderson (Whig) 49.94% ! TN's 4th congressional district ✅ John H. Savage (Democratic) 57.20% Jefferson D. Goodpasture (Whig) 42.80% ! TN's 5th congressional district ! TN's 6th congressional district Independent Democratic gain. ✅ William H. Polk (Independent Democratic) 56.13% James H. Thomas (Democratic) 43.87% ! TN's 7th congressional district ! TN's 8th congressional district Whig gain. ✅ William Cullom (Whig) 55.63% J. J. Southall (Democratic) 44.37% ! TN's 9th congressional district I. G. Hornberger (Whig) 40.53% ! TN's 10th congressional district ✅ Frederick P. Stanton (Democratic) 51.81% Walter S. Coleman (Whig) 48.19% ! TN's 11th congressional district

Texas

Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! TX's 1st congressional district ! TX's 2nd congressional district

Utah Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont

Elections were held September 3, 1850. ! VT's 1st congressional district A. P. Lyman (Whig) 31.4% Ahiman Louis Miner (Whig) 30.5% Daniel Roberts Jr. (Free Soil) 27.2% Merritt Clark (Democratic) 10.3% Second ballot✅ Ahiman Louis Miner (Whig) 39.2% A. P. Lyman (Whig) 37.2% Daniel Roberts Jr. (Free Soil) 23.6% ! VT's 2nd congressional district Jefferson P. Kidder (Free Soil) 42.8% J. F. Redfield (Unknown) 0.8% Daniel Cobb (Unknown) 0.2% ! VT's 3rd congressional district Herman R. Beardsley (Free Soil) 30.1% Giles Harrington (Democratic) 14.4% ! VT's 4th congressional district Bliss N. Davis (Whig) 35.9%

Virginia

Elections were held October 23, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. ! VA's 1st congressional district Leopold P. C. Cowper (Whig) 40.4% ! VA's 2nd congressional district ! VA's 3rd congressional district Thomas Flournoy (Whig) 42.6% ! VA's 4th congressional district Philip A. Bolling (Whig) 36.5% ! VA's 5th congressional district William L. Goggin (Whig) 48.5% ! VA's 6th congressional district John Botts (Whig) 45.5% ! VA's 7th congressional district ! VA's 8th congressional district Robert W. Carter (Whig) 38.7% ! VA's 9th congressional district Jeremiah Morton (Democratic) 44.1% ! VA's 10th congressional district Henry Bedinger (Democratic) 46.3% ! VA's 11th congressional district ! VA's 12th congressional district ! VA's 13th congressional district ! VA's 14th congressional district [FNU] Smith (Whig) 41.2% ! VA's 15th congressional district Thomas Haymond (Whig) 47.5%

Wisconsin

Elections were held November 5, 1850. ! Wisconsin's 1st congressional district Andrew E. Elmore (Democratic) 42.6% ! Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district Democratic gain. Orsamus Cole (Whig) 44.2% ! Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district Independent Democratic gain. Harrison Carroll Hobart (Democratic) 32.5%

Non-voting delegates

! Minnesota Territory's at-large congressional district 1849 (Wis. Territory: eliminated) 1849 (Minn. Territory) ! New Mexico Territory's at-large congressional district Democratic gain. A. W. Reynolds (Whig) 3,458 votes ! Oregon Territory's at-large congressional district New delegate elected June 2, 1851. Democratic hold. ! Utah Territory's at-large congressional district Independent gain.