1896 United States House of Representatives elections
House elections for the 55th U.S. Congress
1896 United States House of Representatives elections
Results: Democratic gain Republican gain Democratic hold Republican hold
Populist gain Populist hold Silver Republican gain
The 1896 United States House of Representatives elections were held for the most part on November 3, 1896, with Oregon, Maine, and Vermont holding theirs early in either June or September. They coincided with the election of President William McKinley . Elections were held for 357 seats of the United States House of Representatives , representing 45 states, to serve in the 55th United States Congress . The size of the House increased by one seat after Utah gained statehood on January 4, 1896. Special elections were also held throughout the year.
The Republican Party maintained its large majority in the House but lost 48 seats, mostly to the Democratic and Populist parties. The Republican losses were most likely due to the extraordinary gains that party made in the prior elections ,[citation needed ] when many normally Democratic districts voted Republican due to the severity of and fallout from the Panic of 1893 . The Democratic Party recovered in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern districts dominated by Catholic and working-class voters. In the Western United States , the Populist Party made large gains and several Republicans broke away over the national party platform 's endorsement of a gold standard .
This election marked the zenith of the Populist Party . The Populists would lose most of their seats in the 1898 elections and thereafter slowly fade from prominence.
Election summaries
↓
124
22
5
206
Democratic
Pop
[ b]
Republican
Popular vote
Democratic
40.99%
Independent
0.53%
Populist
6.86%
Republican
48.77%
Silver
0.05%
Silver Republican
1.02%
Others
1.78%
House seats
Democratic
34.73%
Independent
0.28%
Populist
6.16%
Republican
57.70%
Silver
0.28%
Silver Republican
0.84%
House seats by party holding plurality in state("Republican" includes Silver, Silver Republican, and Independent Republican) 80+ to 100% Democratic
80+ to 100% Populist
80+ to 100% Republican
60+ to 80% Democratic
60+ to 80% Populist
60+ to 80% Republican
Up to 60% Democratic
Up to 60% Populist
Up to 60% Republican
Net gain in party representation("Republican" includes Silver, Silver Republican, and Independent Republican) 6+ Democratic gain
6+ Republican gain
3-5 Democratic gain
3-5 Populist gain
3-5 Republican gain
1-2 Democratic gain
1-2 Populist gain
1-2 Republican gain
no net change
Special elections
District
Incumbent
This race
Member
Party
First elected
Results
Candidates
Virginia 5
South Carolina 7
J. William Stokes
Democratic
1894
Incumbent's previous election declared void June 1, 1896 due to electoral fraud. Incumbent re-elected November 3, 1896. Incumbent also elected to the next term; see below .
Early election dates
Three states, with 8 seats between them, held elections early in 1896:
Alabama
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
District
Incumbent
This race
Member
Party
First elected
Results
Candidates
Florida 1
Stephen M. Sparkman
Democratic
1894
Incumbent re-elected.
▌ Y Stephen M. Sparkman (Democratic) 77.5%
▌ E. K. Nichols (Republican) 14.6%
▌ J. Asakiah Williams (Populist) 6.8%
▌ J. C. Green (Prohibition) 1.1%
Florida 2
Charles Merian Cooper
Democratic
1892
Incumbent retired. Democratic hold.
▌ Y Robert Wyche Davis (Democratic) 61.9%
▌ Joseph N. Stripling (Republican) 28.6%
▌ Daniel G. Ambler (National Democratic) 5.0%
▌ William R. Peterson (Populist) 3.7%
▌ M. E. Spencer (Prohibition) 0.8%
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
District
Incumbent
This race
Member
Party
First elected
Results
Candidates
Maine 1
Thomas Brackett Reed
Republican
1876
Incumbent re-elected.
▌ Y Thomas Brackett Reed (Republican) 66.90%
▌ Edward W. Staples (Democratic) 30.42%
▌ Aaron Clark (Prohibition) 2.09%
▌ James E. Campion (Populist) 0.59%
Maine 2
Nelson Dingley Jr.
Republican
1880
Incumbent re-elected.
▌ Y Nelson Dingley Jr. (Republican) 69.21%
▌ Arwood Levensaler (Democratic) 26.01%
▌ Charles E. Allen (Populist) 3.38%
▌ Edward W. Ogier (Prohibition) 1.41%
Maine 3
Seth L. Milliken
Republican
1882
Incumbent re-elected.
▌ Y Seth L. Milliken (Republican) 68.20%
▌ Melvin S. Holway (Democratic) 26.18%
▌ Bradford F. Lancaster (Populist) 3.82%
▌ William S. Thompson (Prohibition) 1.80%
Maine 4
Charles A. Boutelle
Republican
1882
Incumbent re-elected.
▌ Y Charles A. Boutelle (Republican) 65.96%
▌ Andrew J. Chase (Democratic) 28.39%
▌ George M. Park (Prohibition) 2.89%
▌ Oliver D. Chapman (Populist) 2.76%
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oregon
District
Incumbent
This race
Member
Party
First elected
Results
Candidates
Oregon 1
Binger Hermann
Republican
1892
Incumbent retired. Republican hold.
▌ Y Thomas H. Tongue (Republican) 40.39%
▌ W. S. Vandenberg (Populist) 40.26%
▌ Jefferson Myers (Democratic) 16.52%
▌ N. C. Christensen (Prohibition) 2.83%
Oregon 2
William R. Ellis
Republican
1892
Incumbent re-elected.
▌ Y William R. Ellis (Republican) 30.38%
▌ Martin Quinn (Populist) 29.47%
▌ H. H. Northrup (Independent) 21.20%
▌ A. S. Bennett (Democratic) 17.09%
▌ F. McKercher (Prohibition) 1.87%
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
District
Incumbent
This race
Member
Party
First elected
Results
Candidates
Washington at-large 2 seats on a general ticket
William H. Doolittle
Republican
1892
Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain.
▌ C. A. Sayler (Prohibition) 0.56%
▌ Martin Olsen (Prohibition) 0.49%
▌ C. E. Mix (National) 0.09%
Samuel C. Hyde
Republican
1894
Incumbent lost re-election.Silver Republican gain.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wisconsin elected ten members of congress on Election Day, November 3, 1896.[ 39] [ 40]
Wyoming
Non-voting delegates
Oklahoma Territory
See also
Notes
^ Three states held early elections between June 1 and September 14.
^ 1 Silver, 3 Silver Republican, and 1 Independent Republican
^ a b c Elections held early.
^ While Dubin (p. 320) indicates the two representatives elected to serve Washington state, J. Hamilton Lewis and William C. Jones , were Populists, most other sources (e.g. Martis, pp. 150–151, etc.) indicate that they were elected as a Democrat and a Silver Republican, respectively.
References
^ a b c d e Martis, pp. 150–151.
^ "JoinCalifornia - 11-03-1896 Election" . www.joincalifornia.com . Retrieved 2024-10-14 .
^ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » Search Past Election Results" . State of Connecticut Elections Database . Retrieved 2024-10-09 .
^ "ID At Large" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 4 April 2021 .
^ University of Minnesota Libraries. "Minnesota Historical Election Archive" . Minnesota Historical Election Archive . Retrieved 2024-10-14 .
^ "MS - District 01" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 15 March 2021 .
^ "MS - District 02" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 15 March 2021 .
^ "MS - District 03" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 15 March 2021 .
^ "MS - District 04" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 15 March 2021 .
^ "MS - District 05" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 15 March 2021 .
^ "MS - District 06" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 15 March 2021 .
^ "MS - District 07" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 15 March 2021 .
^ "MT At-Large" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 5 April 2021 .
^ "Our Campaigns - NE - District 01 Race - Nov 3, 1896" . www.ourcampaigns.com . Retrieved 26 September 2021 .
^ "Our Campaigns - NE - District 02 Race - Nov 3, 1896" . www.ourcampaigns.com . Retrieved 26 September 2021 .
^ "Our Campaigns - NE - District 03 Race - Nov 3, 1896" . www.ourcampaigns.com . Retrieved 26 September 2021 .
^ "Our Campaigns - NE - District 04 Race - Nov 3, 1896" . www.ourcampaigns.com . Retrieved 26 September 2021 .
^ "Our Campaigns - NE - District 05 Race - Nov 3, 1896" . www.ourcampaigns.com . Retrieved 26 September 2021 .
^ "Our Campaigns - NE - District 06 Race - Nov 3, 1896" . www.ourcampaigns.com . Retrieved 26 September 2021 .
^ "ND At Large" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 6 April 2021 .
^ Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio . Vol. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 694, 695.
^ Ohio Election Results 1896 . Norwalk, Ohio: The Laning Printing Company. 1897. pp. 33– 39.
^ "TN - District 01" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
^ "TN - District 02" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
^ "TN - District 03" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
^ "TN - District 04" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
^ "TN - District 05" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
^ "TN - District 06" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
^ "TN - District 07" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
^ "TN - District 08" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
^ "TN - District 09" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
^ "TN - District 10" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
^ "VT Elections Database » Vermont Election Results and Statistics" . VT Elections Database . Retrieved 2024-08-29 .
^ "Virginia Elections Database » Virginia Election Results and Statistics" . Virginia Elections Database . Retrieved 2024-09-03 .
^ "WV District 01" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 20 April 2021 .
^ "WV District 02" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 20 April 2021 .
^ "WV District 03" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 20 April 2021 .
^ "WV District 04" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 20 April 2021 .
^ "Wisconsin U.S. House Election Results" (PDF) . Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Wayback Machine .
^ Casson, Henry, ed. (1897). "Biographical Sketches". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin 1897 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin : State of Wisconsin. Retrieved April 8, 2023 .
^ "WY At-Large" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved 12 April 2021 .
^ "Our Campaigns - OK Territorial Delegate Race - Nov 03, 1896" . www.ourcampaigns.com .
Bibliography
Dubin, Michael J. (March 1, 1998). United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results of the Elections of the 1st Through 105th Congresses . McFarland and Company. ISBN 978-0786402830 .
Martis, Kenneth C. (January 1, 1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789-1989 . Macmillan Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0029201701 .
Moore, John L., ed. (1994). Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections (Third ed.). Congressional Quarterly Inc. ISBN 978-0871879967 .
"Party Divisions of the House of Representatives* 1789–Present" . Office of the Historian, House of United States House of Representatives. Retrieved January 21, 2015 .
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