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1838–39 United States House of Representatives elections

House elections for the 26th U.S. Congress

1838–39 United States House of Representatives elections

House elections for the 26th U.S. Congress

FieldValue
election_name1838–39 United States House of Representatives elections
countryUnited States
flag_year1837
typelegislative
ongoingno
previous_election1836–37 United States House of Representatives elections
previous_year1836 & 1837
next_election1840–41 United States House of Representatives elections
next_year1840 & 1841
outgoing_members25th United States Congress#House of Representatives_3
elected_members26th United States Congress#House of Representatives_3
seats_for_electionAll 242 seats in the United States House of Representatives
majority_seats122
election_dateJuly 2, 1838 – November 5, 1839
image_sizex180px
party1Democratic Party (US)
image1JohnWinstonJones.jpg
leader1John Jones
leaders_seat1
last_election1128 seats
seats1126
seat_change12
popular_vote1995,133
percentage150.01%
swing10.94
party2Whig Party (US)
image2File:RbrtMTHntr (rotated).jpg
leader2Robert M. T. Hunter
leaders_seat2
last_election2100 seats
seats2116
seat_change216
popular_vote2989,712
percentage249.73%
swing23.23
party4Independent
last_election41 seat
seats40
seat_change41
popular_vote48,205
percentage40.41%
swing40.58
titleSpeaker
before_electionJames K. Polk
after_electionRobert M. T. Hunter
before_partyDemocratic Party (US)
after_partyWhig Party (US)

The 1838–39 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between July 2, 1838, and November 5, 1839. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 26th United States Congress convened on December 2, 1839. They occurred during President Martin Van Buren's term. Elections were held for all 242 seats, representing 26 states.

The Panic of 1837 and consequent economic downturn drove Whig Party gains. Van Buren's Democratic Party had lost popularity and Whig policies of economic nationalism appealed to a larger number of voters. Democrats were able, however, to contain the political fallout by blaming banks for the crisis. The Anti-Masonic Party, influential in New York, Pennsylvania, and other Northern states, lost seats, while the Southern Nullifier Party disappeared. Two Virginia representatives were elected on that state's Conservative Party ticket.

Early business of the new House reflected the close partisan division. When Congress first Convened on December 3, 1839, two contingents of New Jersey representatives-elect, one composed of Democrats and the other of Whigs, arrived and both requested to be seated as members. Charging the Whigs with election fraud and facing loss of control of the House, the Democratic Party majority (119 to 118 Whigs from outside New Jersey) refused to seat all but one Whig. Massachusetts Representative John Quincy Adams presided as "chairman" of the House after the clerk lost control. Two weeks later, when voting for speaker of the House finally commenced, 11 ballots were needed before Robert M. T. Hunter, a compromise Whig candidate, was elected, receiving 119 votes (out of 232 cast). This congress also enacted the first Independent Treasury bill.

The results of the election in a seating chart.

Election summaries

DemocraticWhig
StateTypeDateTotal
seatsDemocraticWhigOthersSeatsChangeSeatsChangeSeatsChangeLouisianaIllinoisMissouriVermontMaineArkansasGeorgiaNew JerseySouth CarolinaOhioPennsylvaniaMichiganNew YorkMassachusettsDelawareNew HampshireConnecticutVirginiaKentuckyTennesseeAlabamaIndianaNorth CarolinaRhode IslandMarylandMississippiTotal242125
51.7%3109
45.0%98
3.3%6
DistrictsJuly 2–4, 1838301310
DistrictsAugust 6, 1838321110
At-largeAugust 6, 18382200
DistrictsSeptember 1, 1838521310
DistrictsSeptember 10, 18388620
At-largeOctober 1, 18381100
At-largeOctober 1, 1838908980
At-largeOctober 8, 1838655150
DistrictsOctober 8–9, 1838986106
DistrictsOctober 9, 183819113830
DistrictsOctober 9, 183828175161
At-largeNovember 6, 18381100
DistrictsNovember 5–7, 183840191121110
DistrictsNovember 12, 1838122100
At-largeNovember 13, 1838111010
At-largeMarch 12, 18395500
DistrictsApril 1, 1839606660
DistrictsMay 23, 1839211237122
DistrictsAugust 1, 183913211101
DistrictsAugust 1, 18391363730
DistrictsAugust 5, 18395320
DistrictsAugust 5, 1839754240
DistrictsAugust 8, 18391383530
At-largeAugust 27, 18392020
DistrictsOctober 3, 1839851310
At-largeNovember 4–5, 1839222020

Special elections

There were special elections in 1838 and 1839 to the 25th United States Congress and 26th United States Congress.

Special elections are listed by date then district.

25th Congress

|- ! | | | | New member elected March 8, 1838. | |- ! | | | | New member elected April 28, 1838. | |- ! | | | | New member elected May 29, 1838. | |- ! rowspan=2 | 2 seats on a general ticket | John F. H. Claiborne | | Democratic | 1835 New members elected May 29, 1838. Two Whig gains. Successors seated May 30, 1838.

  • Sergeant S. Prentiss (Whig) 26.55%
  • Thomas J. Word (Whig) 25.20%
  • John F. H. Claiborne (Democratic) 24.57%
  • Samuel J. Gholson (Democratic) 23.68%

|- | Samuel J. Gholson | | Democratic | 1836 (special)

|- ! | | | | New member elected October 9, 1838. | |- ! | | | | New member elected November 5, 1838. | |- ! | Stephen C. Phillips | | Whig | 1834 (special) | | Incumbent resigned September 28, 1838 to become Mayor of Salem. New member elected November 12, 1838. Whig hold. Winner also elected to the next term; see below. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Leverett Saltonstall (Whig) 59.15%
  • Robert Rantoul Jr. (Democratic) 32.26%
  • Joseph S. Cabot (Democratic) 8.60%

|}

26th Congress

|- ! | Albert G. Harrison | | Democratic | 1835 | | New member elected October 28, 1839 and seated December 5, 1839. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • John Jameson (Democratic) 63.16%
  • Thorton Grimsley (Whig) 35.96%

|- ! | Richard Fletcher | | Whig | 1836 | | Incumbent member-elect declined to serve. New member elected November 11, 1839. Whig hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Abbott Lawrence (Whig) 57.52%
  • Bradford Sumner (Democratic) 42.48%

|- ! | | | | New member elected November 20, 1839. | |- ! | James C. Alvord | | Whig | 1838 | | Incumbent died September 27, 1839. New member elected December 23, 1839. Whig hold. | nowrap | {{collapsible list|title=First ballot (November 11, 1839)| | Rodolphus Dickensen (Democratic) 48.99% | Osmyn Baker (Whig) 44.48% | Henry Chapman (Unknown) 4.58% | Israel Billings (Anti-Slavery) 1.95% Second ballot (December 23, 1839) {{Plainlist|

  • Osmyn Baker (Whig) 51.09%
  • Rodolphus Dickensen (Democratic) 39.98%
  • Israel Billings (Anti-Slavery) 8.93%

|}

Alabama

Arkansas

|- ! | Archibald Yell | | Democratic | 1836 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Edward Cross (Democratic) 61.0%
  • William Cummins (Whig) 39.0%

|}

Connecticut

Main article: 1839 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut

Connecticut elected its six members April 1, 1839, flipping all six seats from Democratic to Whig.

|- ! | Isaac Toucey | | Democratic | 1835 | | Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Joseph Trumbull (Whig) 53.3%
  • Isaac Toucey (Democratic) 42.2%
  • Charles Chapman (Unknown) 4.6%

|- ! | Samuel Ingham | | Democratic | 1835 | | Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • William L. Storrs (Whig) 50.5%
  • Samuel Ingham (Democratic) 49.2%

|- ! | Elisha Haley | | Democratic | 1835 | | Incumbent retired. Whig gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Thomas W. Williams (Whig) 50.4%
  • Coolidge Billings (Democratic) 48.9%

|- ! | Thomas T. Whittlesey | | Democratic | 1836 (special) | | Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Thomas B. Osborne (Whig) 52.2%
  • Thomas T. Whittlesey (Democratic) 47.4%

|- ! | Lancelot Phelps | | Democratic | 1835 | | Incumbent retired. Whig gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Truman Smith (Whig) 53.4%
  • Charles B. Phelps (Democratic) 46.4%

|- ! | Orrin Holt | | Democratic | 1836 (special) | | Incumbent retired. Whig gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • John H. Brockway (Whig) 52.4%
  • Chauncey F. Cleveland (Democratic) 46.7%

|}

Delaware

Florida Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

|- !

|- !

|- !

|- !

|- !

|- !

|- !

|- ! | Thomas Davee | | Democratic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Thomas Davee (Democratic) 51.90%
  • John S. Tenney (Whig) 46.62%
  • Samuel Farrar (Conservative) 1.48%

|}

Maryland

Massachusetts

Elections were held November 12, 1838, but one district's election went to a fourth ballot in 1839, after the March 4, 1839 start of the term but before the House convened in December 1839.

|- ! | Richard Fletcher | | Whig | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected, but declined to serve, leading to a special election. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Richard Fletcher (Whig) 63.1%
  • Bradford Sumner (Democratic) 36.2%

|- ! | Stephen C. Phillips | | Whig | 1834 (special) | | Incumbent resigned September 28, 1838 to become Mayor of Salem. Whig hold. Successor also elected the same day to finish the current term. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Leverett Saltonstall (Whig) 59.26%
  • Robert Rantoul Jr. (Democratic) 32.33%
  • Joseph S. Cabot (Democratic) 8.51%

|- ! | Caleb Cushing | | Whig | 1834 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Caleb Cushing (Whig) 61.1%
  • Gayton P. Osgood (Democratic) 35.0%

|- ! | William Parmenter | | Democratic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected late on the fourth ballot. | nowrap | {{collapsible list|title=First ballot (November 12, 1838)|

  • William Parmenter (Democratic) 49.24%
  • Nathan Brooks (Whig) 48.24%
  • James T. Woodbury (Democratic) 1.27%
  • Amos Farnsworth (Anti-Slavery) 1.25%}}
  • William Parmenter (Democratic) 47.23%
  • Nathan Brooks (Whig) 45.59%
  • Levi Farwell (Unknown) 3.18%
  • James T. Woodbury (Democratic) 2.22%
  • Amos Farnsworth (Anti-Slavery) 1.79%}}
  • William Parmenter (Democratic) 49.92%
  • Nathan Brooks (Whig) 42.24%
  • Levi Farwell (Unknown) 4.1%
  • James T. Woodbury (Democratic) 1.83%}} Fourth ballot (April 1, 1839) {{Plainlist|
  • William Parmenter (Democratic) 51.38%
  • Nathan Brooks (Whig) 45.81%
  • James T. Woodbury (Democratic) 1.83%

|- ! | Levi Lincoln Jr. | | Whig | 1834 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Levi Lincoln Jr. (Whig) 55.2%
  • Isaac Davis (Democratic) 34.1%
  • Charles Allen (Unknown) 10.3%

|- ! | George Grennell Jr. | | Whig | 1834 | | Incumbent retired. Whig hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • James C. Alvord (Whig) 61.8%
  • Thomas Nims (Democratic) 28.6%
  • Osmyn Baker (Whig) 9.1%

|- ! | George N. Briggs | | Whig | 1830 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • George N. Briggs (Whig) 54.58%
  • Henry W. Bishop (Democratic) 45.42%

|- ! | William Calhoun | | Whig | 1834 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • William Calhoun (Whig) 59.4%
  • William W. Thompson (Democratic) 40.3%

|- ! | William S. Hastings | | Whig | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • William S. Hastings (Whig) 56.6%
  • Alexander H. Everett (Democratic) 43.2%

|- ! | Nathaniel B. Borden | | Democratic | 1835 | | Incumbent lost re-election as a Whig. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Henry Williams (Democratic) 51.90%
  • Nathaniel B. Borden (Whig) 45.84%
  • William Baylies (Whig) 2.26%

|- ! | John Reed Jr. | | Whig | 1812 1816 (lost) 1820 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • John Reed Jr. (Whig) 56.4%
  • Henry Crocker (Democratic) 43.3%

|- ! | John Quincy Adams | | Whig | 1830 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • John Quincy Adams (Whig) 59.23%
  • William M. Jackson (Democratic) 40.77%

|}

Michigan

|- ! | Isaac E. Crary | | 1835 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • Isaac E. Crary (Democratic) 50.3%
  • Hezekiah Wells (Whig) 49.7%

|}

Mississippi

Main article: 1839 United States House of Representatives election in Mississippi

A special election was held in Mississippi on July 17–18, 1837. Its winners were Democrats John F. H. Claiborne and Samuel J. Gholson. The first session of the 25th Congress was a special session beginning on September 4, 1837, extending to October 16. In November, Mississippi held the regular election. Seargent Smith Prentiss, a Vicksburg lawyer and Whig, unexpectedly launched a vigorous, partisan campaign. He and fellow Whig Thomas J. Word won in an upset. Claiborne and Gholson then argued that the July result entitled them to serve full terms. With the Whig Party newly organizing, the closely divided House, in which Anti-Masons, Nullifiers, and the Independent tended to align more with Whigs and to oppose Democrats, agreed to hear Prentiss. He spoke for nine hours over three days, packing the gallery, drawing Senators, and earning a national reputation for oratory and public admiration from leading Whigs including Senators Clay and Webster. The Elections Committee then required a third election. Scheduled for April 1838, it confirmed the November result. Both Whigs were seated in May late in the second session, also serving for the third session.

|- ! rowspan=2 | (2 seats) | Seargent S. Prentiss | | Whig | 1837 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic gain.

  • Albert G. Brown (Democratic) 27.17%
  • Jacob Thompson (Democratic) 26.89%
  • Adam L. Benjamin (Whig) 23.68%
  • Reuben Davis (Whig) 22.26% |- | Thomas J. Word | | Whig | 1837 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic gain.

|}

Missouri

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

|- ! | Thomas B. Jackson | | Democratic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Thomas B. Jackson (Democratic) 56.46%
  • Nathaniel Miller (Whig) 43.54%{{cite web |title=Image 20 of The politician's register; containing the result of the elections which have taken place during the years 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, for president, members of Congress, and state officers

|- ! | James De La Montanya | | Democratic | 1836 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • James De La Montanya (Democratic) 54.48%
  • John S. Gurnee (Whig) 45.52%{{cite web |title=Image 20 of The politician's register; containing the result of the elections which have taken place during the years 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, for president, members of Congress, and state officers

|- ! rowspan=4 | Plural district with 4 seats | Ogden Hoffman | | Whig | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected.

  • Ogden Hoffman (Whig) 51.54%
  • Moses H. Grinnell (Whig) 51.51%
  • Edward Curtis (Whig) 51.24%
  • James Monroe (Whig) 51.23%
  • John McKeon (Democratic) 48.31%
  • Isaac L. Varian (Democratic) 48.10%
  • Churchill C. Cambreleng (Democratic) 48.10%
  • Ely Moore (Democratic) 47.20%{{cite web |title=Image 20 of The politician's register; containing the result of the elections which have taken place during the years 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, for president, members of Congress, and state officers

|- | John McKeon | | Democratic | 1834 | | Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain.

|- | Ely Moore | | Democratic | 1834 | | Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain.

|- | Gideon Lee | | Democratic | 1835 | | Incumbent retired. Whig Gain.

|- ! | Gouverneur Kemble | | Democratic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Gouverneur Kemble (Democratic) 54.26%
  • Joshua W. Bowron (Whig) 45.74%{{cite web |title=Image 20 of The politician's register; containing the result of the elections which have taken place during the years 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, for president, members of Congress, and state officers

|- ! | Obadiah Titus | | Democratic | 1836 | | Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Charles Johnston (Whig) 53.11%
  • Obadiah Titus (Democratic) 46.89%{{cite web |title=Image 20 of The politician's register; containing the result of the elections which have taken place during the years 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, for president, members of Congress, and state officers

|- ! | Nathaniel Jones | | Democratic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Gouverneur Kemble (Democratic) 51.26%
  • Thomas McKissock (Whig) 48.74%{{cite web |title=Image 20 of The politician's register; containing the result of the elections which have taken place during the years 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, for president, members of Congress, and state officers

|- ! | John C. Brodhead | | Democratic | 1836 | | Incumbent retired. Whig gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Rufus Palen (Whig) 54.16%
  • Anthony Hasbrouck (Democratic) 45.84%{{cite web |title=Image 20 of The politician's register; containing the result of the elections which have taken place during the years 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, for president, members of Congress, and state officers |}

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Main article: 1838 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania

|- ! | Lemuel Paynter | | Democratic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Lemuel Paynter (Democratic) 55.1%
  • Joel B. Sutherland (Whig) 44.9%

|- ! rowspan=2 | Plural district with 2 seats | John Sergeant | | Whig | 1816 1836 | Incumbent re-elected.

  • George W. Toland (Whig) 69.4%
  • John Sergeant (Whig) 69.2%
  • Joseph R. Evans (Democratic) 30.7%
  • Samuel Brasnears (Democratic) 30.7%

|- | George W. Toland | | Whig | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected.

|- ! | Charles Naylor | | Whig | 1837 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Charles Naylor (Whig) 53.1%
  • Charles J. Ingersoll (Democratic) 46.9%

|- ! rowspan=3 | Plural district with 3 seats | Edward Davies | | Anti-Masonic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected.

  • John Edwards (Anti-Masonic) 57.2%
  • Edward Davies (Anti-Masonic) 57.0%
  • Francis James (Anti-Masonic) 57.0%
  • Joshua Evans Jr. (Democratic) 43.0%
  • Reah Frazer (Democratic) 43.0%
  • Samuel Leiper (Democratic) 42.8%

|- | Edward Darlington | | Anti-Masonic | 1832 | | Incumbent retired. Anti-Masonic hold.

|- | David Potts Jr. | | Anti-Masonic | 1830 | | Incumbent retired. Anti-Masonic hold.

|- ! | Jacob Fry Jr. | | Democratic | 1834 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Joseph Fornance (Democratic) 54.9%
  • Joseph Royer (Whig) 45.1%

|- ! | Mathias Morris | | Whig | 1834 | | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • John Davis (Democratic) 51.9%
  • Mathias Morris (Whig) 48.1%

|- ! | David D. Wagener | | Democratic | 1832 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • David D. Wagener (Democratic) 63.7%
  • Peter S. Michler (Whig) 36.3%

|- ! | Edward B. Hubley | | Democratic | 1834 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Peter Newhard (Democratic) 54.5%
  • Walter C. Livingston (Whig) 45.5%

|- ! | George Keim | | Democratic | 1838 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • George Keim (Democratic) 69.3%
  • Daniel M. Bieber (Whig) 30.7%

|- ! | Luther Reily | | Democratic | 1836 | | Incumbent retired. Whig gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • William Simonton (Whig) 59.1%
  • William Reily (Democratic) 40.9%

|- ! | Henry Logan | | Democratic | 1834 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • James Gerry (Democratic) 56.6%
  • Charles A. Barnitz (Whig) 43.4%

|- ! | Daniel Sheffer | | Democratic | 1836 | | Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • James Cooper (Whig) 55.9%
  • Daniel Sheffer (Democratic) 44.1%

|- ! | Charles McClure | | Democratic | 1836 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • William S. Ramsey (Democratic) 57.3%
  • Frederick Watts (Whig) 42.7%

|- ! | William W. Potter | | Democratic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • William W. Potter (Democratic) 50.9%
  • William Irvin (Whig) 49.1%

|- ! | David Petrikin | | Democratic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • David Petrikin (Democratic) 53.5%
  • David Hurley (Whig) 46.5%

|- ! | Robert H. Hammond | | Democratic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Robert H. Hammond (Democratic) 56.6%
  • James Morrill (Whig) 43.4%

|- ! | Samuel W. Morris | | Democratic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Samuel W. Morris (Democratic) 54.2%
  • William Willard (Whig) 45.8%

|- ! | Charles Ogle | | Anti-Masonic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Charles Ogle (Anti-Masonic) 55.9%
  • Job Mann (Democratic) 44.1%

|- ! | John Klingensmith Jr. | | Democratic | 1832 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Albert G. Marchand (Democratic) 60.9%
  • Joseph Markle (Whig) 39.1%

|- ! | Andrew Buchanan | | Democratic | 1832 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Enos Hook (Democratic) 62.4%
  • Fideleo Hughes (Whig) 37.6%

|- ! | Thomas M. T. McKennan | | Anti-Masonic | 1830 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Isaac Leet (Democratic) 50.1%
  • Joseph Lawrence (Whig) 49.9%

|- ! | Richard Biddle | | Anti-Masonic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Richard Biddle (Anti-Masonic) 58.1%
  • James Power (Democratic) 41.9%

|- ! | William Beatty | | Democratic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • William Beatty (Democratic) 61.5%
  • George W. Smith (Whig) 38.5%

|- ! | Thomas Henry | | Anti-Masonic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Thomas Henry (Anti-Masonic) 54.7%
  • James D. White (Democratic) 45.3%

|- ! | Arnold Plumer | | Democratic | 1836 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • John Galbraith (Democratic) 51.2%
  • David Dick (Whig) 48.8%

|}

In the , Charles Naylor's election was unsuccessfully contested by Charles J. Ingersoll.

There were three special elections in Pennsylvania during the 26th Congress. The first was in the caused by the death of William W. Potter (Democratic) on October 28, 1839. This vacancy was filled by George McCulloch (Democratic). The second was in the caused by the resignation of Richard Biddle. This vacancy was filled by Henry M. Brackenridge (Whig). The third was in the caused by the death of William S. Ramsey (Democratic) on October 17, 1840. Ramsey had also been re-elected to the 27th Congress and so an additional special election was held the following May to fill the vacancy in the 27th Congress.

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Elections held late, on August 1, 1839.

|- ! | William B. Carter | | Whig | 1835 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • William B. Carter (Whig) 58.95%
  • Joseph Powell (Democratic) 41.05%

|- ! | Abraham McClellan | | Democratic | 1837 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Abraham McClellan (Democratic) 63.32%
  • John A. McKennry (Whig) 36.68%

|- ! | Joseph L. Williams | | Whig | 1837 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Joseph L. Williams (Whig) 100%

|- ! | William Stone | | Whig | 1837 (special) | |Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Julius W. Blackwell (Democratic) 57.51%
  • William Stone (Whig) 42.50%

|- ! | Hopkins L. Turney | | Democratic | 1837 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Hopkins L. Turney (Democratic) 65.55%
  • Anthony Dibrell (Whig) 34.45%

|- ! | William B. Campbell | | Whig | 1837 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • William B. Campbell (Whig) 60.48%
  • William Trousdale (Democratic) 39.52%

|- ! | John Bell | | Whig | 1827 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • John Bell (Whig) 59.38%
  • Robert M. Burton (Democratic) 40.63%

|- ! | Abram P. Maury | | Whig | 1835 | |Incumbent retired. Whig hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Meredith P. Gentry (Whig) 54.18%
  • William G. Childress (Democratic) 45.82%

|- ! | James K. Polk | | Democratic | 1825 | |Incumbent retired to run for Governor. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Harvey M. Watterson (Democratic) 58.91%
  • Daniel L. Barenger (Whig) 41.09%

|- ! | Ebenezer J. Shields | | Whig | 1835 | | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Aaron V. Brown (Democratic) 57.77%
  • Ebenezer J. Shields (Whig) 42.23%

|- ! | Richard Cheatham | | Whig | 1837 | |Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Cave Johnson (Democratic) 57.91%
  • Richard Cheatham (Whig) 42.09%

|- ! | John W. Crockett | | Whig | 1837 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • John W. Crockett (Whig) 55.49%
  • Stephen C. Davatt (Democratic) 44.51%

|- ! | Christopher H. Williams | | Whig | 1837 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • Christopher H. Williams (Whig) 54.19%
  • William C. Dunlap (Democratic) 45.81%

|}

Vermont

|- ! | Hiland Hall | | Whig | 1833 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Hiland Hall (Whig) 60.1%
  • John Roberts (Democratic) 38.4%

|- ! | William Slade | | Whig | 1831 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • William Slade (Whig) 69.2%
  • Charles Linsley (Democratic) 30.1%

|- ! | Horace Everett | | Whig | 1828 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Horace Everett (Whig) 56.8%
  • Alden Partridge (Democratic) 42.1%

|- ! | Heman Allen | | Whig | 1832 (late) | | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. | nowrap | {{collapsible list|title=First ballot| | John Smith (Democratic) 49.6% | Heman Allen (Whig) 45.3% | William P. Briggs (Unknown) 4.3% Second ballot{{Plainlist|

  • John Smith (Democratic) 54.5%
  • Heman Allen (Whig) 42.2%
  • William P. Briggs (Unknown) 2.1%
  • Stephen Royce (Whig) 0.9%

|- ! | Isaac Fletcher | | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Isaac Fletcher (Democratic) 52.8%
  • William Upham (Whig) 46.6%

|}

Virginia

|- ! | Joel Holleman | | 1837 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • Joel Holleman (Democratic) 51.9%
  • Francis Mallory (Whig) 48.1%

|- ! | Francis E. Rives | | 1837 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • Francis E. Rives (Democratic) 57.6%
  • William B. Goodwyn (Whig) 42.4%

|- ! | John Winston Jones | | 1835 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • John Winston Jones (Democratic) 58.5%
  • [FNU] Taylor (Whig) 41.5%

|- ! | George Dromgoole | | 1835 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • George Dromgoole (Democratic) 57.1%
  • Thomas Gholson Jr. (Whig) 42.9%

|- ! | James Bouldin | | 1834 (special) | | Incumbent retired. Whig gain. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • John Hill (Whig) 54.1%
  • Daniel A. Wilson (Democratic) 45.9%

|- ! | Walter Coles | | 1835 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • Walter Coles (Democratic) 51.7%
  • Vincent Witcher (Whig) 48.3%

|- ! | Archibald Stuart | | 1837 | | Incumbent lost re-election. Whig gain. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • William L. Goggin (Whig) 52.6%
  • Archibald Stuart (Democratic) 47.4%

|- ! | Henry A. Wise | | Whig | 1833 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • Henry A. Wise (Whig) 79.6%
  • William C. Jones (Democratic) 20.4%

|- ! | Robert M. T. Hunter | | Whig | 1837 | Incumbent re-elected. | {{Plainlist|

  • Robert M. T. Hunter (Whig) 52.0%
  • Francis Scott (Democratic) 48.0%

|- ! | John Taliaferro | | Whig | 1835 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • John Taliaferro (Whig) 51.4%
  • Robert O. Grayson (Democratic) 48.6%

|- ! | John Robertson | | Whig | 1834 (special) | | Incumbent retired. Whig hold. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • John Botts (Whig) 53.8%
  • William Selden (Democratic) 46.2%

|- ! | James Garland | | 1835 | | Incumbent re-elected as a Conservative. Conservative gain. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • James Garland (Conservative) 66.3%
  • William F. Gordon (Democratic) 33.7%

|- ! | Linn Banks | | 1838 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • Linn Banks (Democratic) 56.1%
  • Daniel F. Slaughter (Whig) 43.9%

|- ! | Charles F. Mercer | | Whig | 1817 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • Charles F. Mercer (Whig) 59.3%
  • William T. T. Mason (Democratic) 40.7%

|- ! | James M. Mason | | 1837 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • William Lucas (Democratic) 50.0%
  • Richard W. Barton (Whig) 50.0%

|- ! | Isaac S. Pennybacker | | 1837 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • Green Berry Samuels (Democratic) 60.3%
  • David Steele (Whig) 39.7%

|- ! | Robert Craig | | 1835 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • Robert Craig (Democratic) 58.7%
  • Samuel M. Moore (Whig) 41.3%

|- ! | George W. Hopkins | | 1835 | | Incumbent re-elected as a Conservative. Conservative gain. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • George W. Hopkins (Conservative) 52.7%
  • John B. George (Whig) 47.3%

|- ! | Andrew Beirne | | 1837 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • Andrew Beirne (Democratic) 61.5%
  • Pierre B. Withered (Whig) 38.5%

|- ! | Joseph Johnson | | 1835 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • Joseph Johnson (Democratic) 46.6%
  • George D. Camden (Whig) 38.7%
  • Wilson K. Shinn (Democratic) 14.8%

|- ! | William S. Morgan | | 1835 | | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | nowrap | {{plainlist |

  • Lewis Steenrod (Democratic) 55.8%
  • Thomas Haymond (Whig) 44.2%

|}

Wisconsin Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Non-voting delegates

25th Congress

|- ! | | New seat. New delegate elected September 10, 1838. Democratic gain. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |

  • William W. Chapman (Democratic) 33.32%
  • Peter H. Engle (Democratic) 32.51%
  • Benjamin F. Wallace (Whig) 20.42%
  • David Rorer (Democratic) 13.53%}} | Lawrence Taliaferro (Independent) 0.07% | William H. Wallace (Whig) 0.07% | Isaac Leffler (Whig) 0.04% | H. Craighton (Independent) 0.02% | John Foley (Independent) 0.02%

|}

26th Congress

|- ! | Charles Downing | | Democratic | 1836 | Incumbent re-elected on an unknown date. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Charles Downing (Democratic)

|- ! | William W. Chapman | | Democratic | 1838 | Incumbent lost re-election. New delegate elected August 5, 1839, but election was invalidated due to a misdrafting of the a territorial statute, and Congress extended the term of the incumbent delegate to 1840. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • Francis Gehon (Democratic) 843 votes
  • William W. Chapman (Democratic) 24 votes
  • Joseph M. Robinson (Unknown) 13 votes
  • Others 18 votes

|- ! | George Wallace Jones | | Democratic | 1836 | | Incumbent lost re-election. New delegate elected in September 1838. Democratic hold. Incumbent claimed that prior 1836 election had entitled him to serve until March 1839, but the house disagreed and seated the winner January 14, 1839. | nowrap | {{Plainlist|

  • James Duane Doty (Democratic)
  • George Wallace Jones (Democratic)

|}

Notes

References

Bibliography

References

  1. Lalor, John Joseph. (1899). "Cyclopædia of political science, political economy, and of the political history of the United States, by the best American and European writers". New York.
  2. "26th Congress (1839–1841)". Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives.
  3. "Twenty-fifth Congress March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1839". [[Historian of the United States House of Representatives]].
  4. "Our Campaigns - MS - At Large Special Election Race - Apr 24, 1838".
  5. "MA District 2 - Special Election".
  6. "Our Campaigns - MO At-Large Race - Oct 28, 1839".
  7. "Our Campaigns - MA District 1 - Special Election Race - Nov 11, 1839".
  8. "Our Campaigns - MA District 6 - Special Election - 1st Trial Race - Nov 11, 1839".
  9. "MA District 6 - Special Election - 2nd Trial".
  10. (2010). "Guide to U.S. Elections". [[CQ Press]].
  11. "State of Connecticut Elections Database » Search Past Election Results".
  12. "Our Campaigns - ME District 8 Race - Sep 10, 1838".
  13. "MA District 2".
  14. "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 - 1st Trial Race - Nov 12, 1838".
  15. "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 - 2nd Trial Race - Dec 17, 1838".
  16. "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 - 3rd Trial Race - Feb 04, 1839".
  17. "Our Campaigns - MA District 4 - 4th Trial Race - Apr 01, 1839".
  18. "Our Campaigns - MA District 7 Race - Nov 12, 1838".
  19. "Our Campaigns - MA District 10 Race - Nov 12, 1838".
  20. "Our Campaigns - MA District 12 Race - Nov 09, 1840".
  21. (January 11, 2010). "MI - District 01 Race - Nov 06, 1838". Our Campaigns.
  22. "MS - At Large".
  23. "Wilkes University Elections Statistics Project".
  24. "Twenty-Sixth Congress (membership roster) – see footnote 42".
  25. "Twenty-Sixth Congress (membership roster) – see footnotes 43-48".
  26. "TN - District 01".
  27. "TN - District 02".
  28. "TN - District 03".
  29. "TN - District 04".
  30. "TN - District 05".
  31. "TN - District 06".
  32. "TN - District 07".
  33. "TN - District 08".
  34. "TN - District 09".
  35. "TN - District 10".
  36. "TN - District 11".
  37. "TN - District 12".
  38. "TN - District 13".
  39. "VT Elections Database » Vermont Election Results and Statistics".
  40. "Virginia Elections Database » Virginia Election Results and Statistics".
  41. Pelzer, Louis. (1908). "The History and Principles of the Democratic Party of the Territory of Iowa". [[State Historical Society of Iowa]].
  42. Pelzer, Louis. (1907). "The Election of Francis Gehon in 1839". [[State Historical Society of Iowa]].
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