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1798–99 United States House of Representatives elections

House elections for the 6th U.S. Congress

1798–99 United States House of Representatives elections

House elections for the 6th U.S. Congress

FieldValue
election_name1798–99 United States House of Representatives elections
countryUnited States
flag_year1795
typelegislative
ongoingno
previous_election1796–97 United States House of Representatives elections
previous_year1796 & 1797
next_election1800–01 United States House of Representatives elections
next_year1800 & 1801
outgoing_members5th_United_States_Congress#House_of_Representatives_3
elected_members6th United States Congress#House_of_Representatives_3
seats_for_electionAll 106 seats in the United States House of Representatives
majority_seats54
election_dateApril 24, 1798 – August 1, 1799
image_size160x180px
image1Gilbert Stuart - Theodore Sedgwick - 33.508 - Museum of Fine Arts.jpg
leader1Theodore Sedgwick
party1Federalist Party
leaders_seat1
last_election157 seats
seats160
seat_change13
image2NC-Congress-NathanielMacon.jpg
leader2Nathaniel Macon
party2Democratic-Republican Party
leaders_seat2
last_election249 seats
seats246
seat_change23
swing2
map_image1798–99 US House election.svg
map_size350px
map_captionResults:
titleSpeaker
before_electionJonathan Dayton
before_partyFederalist Party
after_electionTheodore Sedgwick
after_partyFederalist Party
mapFile:House of Representatives, United States 1804 1805.svg

The 1798–99 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between April 24, 1798, in New York and August 1, 1799, in Tennessee. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives, with some after the official start of the 6th United States Congress on March 4, 1799, but before the start of the first session of this Congress in Philadelphia on December 2, 1799. These elections were held during President John Adams' term. It was the last congressional session before the move to the new capital at Washington, D.C. Elections were held for all 106 seats, representing 16 states.

President Adams, a Federalist elected two years prior in the election of 1796, remained popular during a time of national economic growth, and the Federalists made a modest gain of three seats at the expense of the opposition Democratic-Republicans, the party of Vice President and future President Thomas Jefferson. This resulted in an increased Federalist majority in the House, 60-46 seats.

The Federalist party squandered its popularity by passing a series of controversial new laws in the summer of 1798, including the Naturalization Act of 1798 and the Alien and Sedition Acts. Their passage seriously injured the chances of President Adams and Federalist congressional candidates in the elections of 1800.

The House that met during this Congress would ultimately elect Thomas Jefferson over Aaron Burr in the presidential election of 1800.

Election summaries

Federalist Party}}"FederalistDemocratic-Republican Party}}"Democratic-Republican
StateTypeDateTotal
seatsFederalistDemocratic-
RepublicanSeatsChangeSeatsChangeNew YorkNew HampshireNorth CarolinaConnecticutMarylandRhode IslandVermontDelawareGeorgiaPennsylvaniaNew JerseySouth CarolinaMassachusettsLate general elections (After the March 4, 1799, start of the next Congress)VirginiaKentuckyTennesseeTotal10660
56.6%346
43.4%3
DistrictsApril 24–26, 1798104262
At-largeAugust 2, 1798440
DistrictsAugust 10, 1798104363
At-largeSeptember 7, 1798770
DistrictsOctober 1, 179885131
At-largeAugust 28, 1798220
DistrictsSeptember 4, 1798211
At-largeOctober 2, 1798110
At-largeOctober 8, 179822202
DistrictsOctober 9, 1798135181
DistrictOctober 10, 179852333
DistrictsOctober 12, 179865212
DistrictsNovember 5, 17981412121
DistrictsApril 24, 17991962132
DistrictsMay 7, 1799202
At-largeAugust 1, 1799101

Special elections

There were special elections in 1798 and 1799 during the 5th United States Congress and 6th United States Congress.

Elections are sorted here by date then district.

5th Congress

DistrictIncumbentResultsCandidatesRepresentativePartyFirst elected
Samuel SitgreavesFederalist1794Incumbent resigned sometime in 1798.
New member elected October 9, 1798 and seated December 4, 1798.
Democratic-Republican gain.
Winner also elected to the next term on the same day; see below.nowrap{{Plainlist
Nathan BryanDemocratic-
Republican1795Incumbent died June 4, 1798.
New member elected August 2, 1798 and seated December 10, 1798.
Democratic-Republican hold.
New member also elected to the next term one week later; see below.nowrap{{Plainlist
John SwanwickDemocratic-
Republican1794Incumbent died July 31, 1798.
New member elected October 9, 1798 and seated December 3, 1798.
Federalist gain.
Winner elected to the next term on the same day; see below.nowrap{{Plainlist
Joshua CoitFederalist1792Incumbent died September 5, 1798.
New member elected October 22, 1798 and seated December 3, 1798.
Federalist hold.
Winner had already been elected to the next term; see below.nowrap{{Plainlist
William GilesDemocratic-
Republican1790 (special)Incumbent resigned October 2, 1798.
New member elected November 1, 1798 and seated December 3, 1798.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Winner later elected to the next term; see below.nowrap{{Plainlist
Joshua SeneyDemocratic-
Republican1789
1792 (resigned)
1798Representative-elect died October 20, 1798.
New member elected November 29, 1798 and seated with the new Congress.
Democratic-Republican hold.nowrap{{Plainlist

6th Congress

DistrictIncumbentResultsCandidatesRepresentativePartyFirst elected
Jonathan HavensDemocratic-
Republican1794Incumbent died October 25, 1799.
New member elected December 27, 1799 and seated February 27, 1800.
Democratic-Republican hold.nowrap{{Plainlist

Connecticut

Main article: United States House of Representatives election in Connecticut, 1798

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
7 seats on a general ticket
William EdmondFederalist1797 (special)Incumbent re-elected.{{Plainlist
Chauncey GoodrichFederalist1794Incumbent re-elected.
VacantIncumbent Joshua Coit (F) died September 5, 1798.
Federalist hold.
Roger GriswoldFederalist1794Incumbent re-elected.
Nathaniel SmithFederalist1795 (special)Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist hold.
John AllenFederalist1796Incumbent re-elected, but declined to serve.
Samuel W. DanaFederalist1796Incumbent re-elected.

Delaware

Main article: United States House of Representatives election in Delaware, 1798

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
James A. BayardFederalist1796Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist

Georgia

Main article: United States House of Representatives election in Georgia, 1798

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
2 seats on a general ticket
Abraham BaldwinDemocratic-
Republican1789Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist gain.
Winner died January 11, 1801, and seat remained vacant throughout the next Congress.{{Plainlist
John MilledgeDemocratic-
Republican1794Incumbent retired.
Federalist gain.

Kentucky

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 1799

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
"Southern district"
"Northern district"
Thomas T. DavisDemocratic-
Republican1797Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
John FowlerDemocratic-
Republican1797Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist

Maryland

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland, 1798

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
George DentFederalist1792Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Richard Sprigg Jr.Democratic-
Republican1796 (special)Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
William CraikFederalist1796 (special)Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
George Baer Jr.Federalist1796Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Samuel SmithDemocratic-
Republican1792Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
William MatthewsFederalist1796Incumbent retired.
Democratic-Republican gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
William HindmanFederalist1792Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic-Republican gain.
Winner died October 20, 1798, before the new Congress, causing a special election; see above.nowrap{{Plainlist
John DennisFederalist1796Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist

Massachusetts

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 1798–1799

Massachusetts required a majority for election. This was not met in the and necessitating additional ballots in those districts.

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
"1st Western District"
"2nd Western District"
"3rd Western District"
"4th Western District"
"1st Southern District"
"2nd Southern District"
"3rd Southern District"
"1st Middle District"
"2nd Middle District"
"3rd Middle District"
"4th Middle District"
District of Maine
"1st Eastern District"
District of Maine
"2nd Eastern District"
District of Maine
"3rd Eastern District"
Thomson J. SkinnerDemocratic-
Republican1796 (special)Incumbent retired.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
William ShepardFederalist1797Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Samuel LymanFederalist1794Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Dwight FosterFederalist1793Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Nathaniel Freeman Jr.Democratic-
Republican1794Incumbent retired.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{collapsible listtitle=First ballot (November 5, 1798)Lemuel Williams (Federalist) 32.5%Macajah Coffin (Democratic-Republican) 30.4%Beriah Norton (Federalist) 17.4%Jonathan Moore (Federalist) 13.4%Scattering 6.3%}}Macajah Coffin (Democratic-Republican) 33.5%Lemuel Williams (Federalist) 30.1%Sam Savage (Unknown) 27.1%Beriah Norton (Federalist) 9.3%}}Lemuel Williams (Federalist) 36.5%Sam Savage (Unknown) 33.9%Macajah Coffin (Democratic-Republican) 29.5%}}Lemuel Williams (Federalist) 46.6%Sam Savage 27.2%Macajah Coffin (Democratic-Republican) 26.2%}}
John Reed Sr.Federalist1794Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Stephen BullockFederalist1797Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic-Republican gain.nowrap
Harrison Gray OtisFederalist1796Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Joseph Bradley VarnumDemocratic-
Republican1795Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Samuel SewallFederalist1796Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Bailey BartlettFederalist1797 (special)Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Isaac ParkerFederalist1797Incumbent retired.
Federalist hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
Peleg WadsworthFederalist1793Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
George ThatcherFederalist1788Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist

New Hampshire

Main article: United States House of Representatives election in New Hampshire, 1798

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
4 seats on a general ticket
Abiel FosterFederalist1794Incumbent re-elected.{{Plainlist
William GordonFederalist1796Incumbent re-elected.
Jonathan FreemanFederalist1796Incumbent re-elected.
Peleg SpragueFederalist1797 (special)Incumbent re-elected, but declined to serve.
A special election was held.

New Jersey

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey, 1798

New Jersey switched to district representation for this election. The districts were not numbered at the time, but are retroactively numbered here as 1–5. New Jersey would go back to an the following election.

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
"Eastern district"
"Northern district"
"Western district"
"Middle district"
"Southern district"
James Schureman
Redistricted from theFederalist1797Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic-Republican gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
Mark Thomson
Redistricted from theFederalist1794Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic-Republican gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
Jonathan Dayton
Redistricted from theFederalist1791Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator.
Democratic-Republican gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
James H. Imlay
Redistricted from theFederalist1797Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Thomas Sinnickson
Redistricted from theFederalist1797Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired.
Federalist hold.nowrap{{Plainlist

New York

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 1798

Between the 1796 and 1798 elections, New York re-districted. This marked the first time that its districts were numbered.

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
Jonathan N. HavensDemocratic-
Republican1794Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Edward LivingstonDemocratic-
Republican1794Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Philip Van CortlandtDemocratic-
Republican1793Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Lucas ElmendorfDemocratic-
Republican1796Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
David BrooksFederalist1796Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic-Republican gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
Hezekiah L. HosmerFederalist1796Incumbent retired.
Federalist hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
John E. Van AlenFederalist1793Incumbent retired.
Democratic-Republican gain.{{Plainlist
John Williams
Redistricted from theFederalist1796Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist loss.
Henry GlenFederalist1793Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
None (District created)New seat.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
James CochranFederalist1796Incumbent retired.
Federalist hold.nowrap{{Plainlist

North Carolina

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 1798

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
Joseph McDowellDemocratic-
Republican1796Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
Matthew LockeDemocratic-
Republican1793Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
Robert WilliamsDemocratic-
Republican1796Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Richard StanfordDemocratic-
Republican1796Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Nathaniel MaconDemocratic-
Republican1791Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
James GillespieDemocratic-
Republican1793Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
William B. GroveFederalist1791Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Dempsey BurgessDemocratic-
Republican1795Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic-Republican hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
Thomas BlountDemocratic-
Republican1793Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic-Republican hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
VacantIncumbent Nathan Bryan (D-R) died June 4, 1798.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Winner was also elected to finish the current term; see above.nowrap{{Plainlist

Northwest Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Pennsylvania

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 1798

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
Plural district with 2 seats
VacantIncumbent John Swanwick (Democratic-Republican) died August 1, 1798.
Federalist gain.
Winner was also elected to finish the current term; see above.nowrap{{Plainlist
Blair McClenachanDemocratic-
Republican1796Incumbent retired.
Democratic-Republican hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
Richard ThomasFederalist1794Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
VacantIncumbent Samuel Sitgreaves (F) resigned August 29, 1798.
Democratic-Republican gain.{{Plainlist
John ChapmanFederalist1796Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic-Republican gain.
VacantIncumbent George Ege (F) resigned in October 1797.
New member elected October 10, 1797 and seated December 1, 1797.
Democratic-Republican gain.
Winner was also elected to finish the current term; see above.nowrap{{Plainlist
John A. HannaDemocratic-
Republican1796Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
John W. KitteraFederalist1791Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Thomas HartleyFederalist1788Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Andrew GreggDemocratic-
Republican1791Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
David BardDemocratic-
Republican1794Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
William FindleyDemocratic-
Republican1791Incumbent retired.
Democratic-Republican hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
Albert GallatinDemocratic-
Republican1794Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist

Rhode Island

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island, 1798

Rhode Island used at-large districts, but elected the candidates on separate tickets instead of using a general ticket.

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
(Seat A)
(Seat B)
Thomas TillinghastFederalist1797 (special)Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
Christopher G. ChamplinFederalist1796Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist

South Carolina

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 1798

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
"Charleston district"
"Beaufort district"
"Georgetown district"
"Camden district"
"Ninety-Six district"
"Washington district"
Thomas PinckneyFederalist1797 (special)Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
John Rutledge Jr.Federalist1796Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Lemuel BentonDemocratic-
Republican1793Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
Thomas SumterDemocratic-
Republican1796Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Robert Goodloe HarperFederalist1794Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
William SmithDemocratic-
Republican1796Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{Plainlist

Tennessee

Main article: United States House of Representatives election in Tennessee, 1799

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
William C. C. ClaiborneDemocratic-
Republican1797Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist

Vermont

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Vermont, 1798

Majority vote required to win, necessitating a run-off election in the 1st (Western) district.

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
"Western district"
"Eastern district"
Matthew LyonDemocratic-
Republican1797Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{collapsible listtitle=First ballot (September 4, 1798)Matthew Lyon (Democratic-Republican) 49.7%Samuel Williams (Federalist) 22.0%Daniel Chipman (Federalist) 19.5%
Lewis R. MorrisFederalist1797 (special)Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{PlainlistStephen Jacobs (Unknown) 1.9%Stephen R. Bradley (Democratic-Republican) 1.1%Others 1.2%

Virginia

Main article: 1799 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
electedResultCandidates
Daniel MorganFederalist1797Incumbent retired.
Federalist hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
David HolmesDemocratic-
Republican1797Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
James MachirFederalist1797Incumbent retired.
Democratic-Republican gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
Abram TriggDemocratic-
Republican1797Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
John J. TriggDemocratic-
Republican1797Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Matthew ClayDemocratic-
Republican1797Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Abraham B. VenableDemocratic-
Republican1790Incumbent retired.
Democratic-Republican hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
Thomas ClaiborneDemocratic-
Republican1793Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic-Republican hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
Joseph EgglestonDemocratic-
Republican1798 (special)Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Carter B. HarrisonDemocratic-
Republican1793Incumbent retired.
Democratic-Republican hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
Josiah ParkerFederalist1789Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Thomas EvansFederalist1797Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
John CloptonDemocratic-
Republican1795Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
Samuel J. CabellDemocratic-
Republican1795Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
John DawsonDemocratic-
Republican1797Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Anthony NewDemocratic-
Republican1793Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Richard BrentDemocratic-
Republican1795Incumbent retired.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{Plainlist
John NicholasDemocratic-
Republican1793Incumbent re-elected.nowrap{{Plainlist
Walter JonesDemocratic-
Republican1797Incumbent lost re-election.
Federalist gain.nowrap{{Plainlist

Non-voting delegates

|- ! | | New seat created. New delegate elected October 3, 1799. New delegate had no known party. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • William Henry Harrison (Party affiliation unclear) 11
  • Arthur St. Clair Jr. (Federalist) 10 |}

Notes

References

Bibliography

References

  1. "Party Divisions of the House of Representatives, 1789 to Present {{!}} US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives".
  2. "Sixth Congress (membership roster)".
  3. 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.
  4. (January 13, 2007). "5th Congress 1797{{endash}}1798".
  5. (August 7, 2008). "NC District 10 - Special Election".
  6. "Virginia 1798 U.S. House of Representatives, District 9, Special". Tufts University.
  7. (April 3, 2006). "MD District 7".
  8. (April 7, 2006). "NY District 1".
  9. (January 6, 2007). "6th Congress 1799{{endash}}1801".
  10. (January 15, 2011). "TN-Initial District".
  11. Smith, William Henry. (1882). "The St. Clair Papers The Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair : Soldier of the Revolutionary War, President of the Continental Congress; and Governor of the North-western Territory : with His Correspondence and Other Papers · Volume 1". Harvard University.
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