1870–71 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1870–71 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between June 6, 1870, and October 6, 1871. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before or after the first session of the 42nd United States Congress convened on March 4, 1871. They occurred in the middle of President Ulysses S. Grant's first term. Elections were held for all 243 seats, representing 37 states.

With Grant's administration rocked by a number of scandals (including a shady deal for gold speculation that led to a crash in the market and several business deals that saw highranking governmental officials gain kickbacks) and Reconstruction winding down, his Republican Party lost seats to the opposition Democratic Party but retained an overall majority. Also, since white-supremacist governments controlled by the Democratic Party were reestablishing themselves in some portions of the Southern United States, the Democrats were able to make huge gains in this election.

Results shaded according to winning candidates share of popular vote

The previous election included 5 Conservatives

In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform nationwide date for choosing Presidential electors. This law did not affect election dates for Congress, which remained within the jurisdiction of State governments, but over time, the States moved their congressional elections to this date as well. In 1870, there remained 12 States that held elections before Election Day, and 4 that held it after at this time:

• Early elections:
  • December 1, 1869: Mississippi (Mississippi was a special case, having held elections for both the 41st Congress upon readmission and for the 42nd Congress on the same day)
  • June 6: Oregon
  • August 4: North Carolina
  • September 6: Vermont
  • September 12: Maine
  • October 11: Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania
  • October 25: West Virginia
  • November 1: South Carolina
• Late elections:
  • March 14, 1871: New Hampshire
  • April 4, 1871: Connecticut
  • August 6, 1871: Montana Territory
  • September 6, 1871: California
  • October 6, 1871: Texas

See Non-voting delegates, below.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Niblack subsequently successfully challenged Walls's election and was seated from Florida's at-large district on January 29, 1873.

Georgia was readmitted to representation by act of July 15, 1870.

• In the 1st district, Joseph W. Clift (R) (first elected in 1868) had not been not permitted to qualify, so the seat was vacant in 1870. William W. Paine (D) won a 1870 special election to finish the current term. Archibald T. MacIntyre (D) was elected to the next term.
• In the 2nd district, Nelson Tift (D) (first elected in 1868) was re-elected in December 1870. The governor disallowed the results and declared Richard H. Whiteley (R) the winner.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Missouri elected its members on November 8, 1870.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Wisconsin elected six members of congress on Election Day, November 8, 1870.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Colorado results by countyChaffee:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%Miller:      50–60%

• 1870 United States elections

  • 1870–71 United States Senate elections

• 41st United States Congress

• 42nd United States Congress

• 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.

• Parrish, William E. (1973). A History of Missouri, Volume 3: 1860 to 1875. Columbia: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 978-0-8262-0108-9.

• "Party Divisions of the House of Representatives* 1789–Present". Office of the Historian, House of United States House of Representatives.

• Office of the Historian (Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)