United States House of Representatives elections, 1894
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All 356[Note 2] seats in the U.S. House of Representatives 179 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections to the United States House of Representatives 1894 comprised a significant realigning election — a major Republican landslide that set the stage for the decisive election of 1896. The elections of members of the United States House of Representatives in 1894 came in the middle of President Grover Cleveland's second term. The nation was in its deepest economic depression ever following the Panic of 1893, so economic issues were at the forefront. In the spring, a major coal strike damaged the economy of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. It was accompanied by violence; the miners lost and many moved toward the Populist party. Immediately after the coal strike concluded, Eugene V. Debs led a nationwide railroad strike, called the Pullman Strike. It shut down the nation's transportation system west of Detroit for weeks, until President Cleveland's use of federal troops ended the strike. Debs went to prison (for disobeying a court order). Illinois's Governor John Peter Altgeld, a Democrat, broke bitterly with Cleveland.
The fragmented and disoriented Democratic Party was crushed everywhere outside the South, losing more than half its seats to the Republican Party. Even in the South, the Democrats lost seats to Republican-Populist electoral fusion in Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.[2][3] The Democrats ultimately lost 127 seats in the election while the Republicans gained 130 seats (after the resolution of several contested elections). This is the largest swing in the history of the House of Representatives, and also makes the 1894 election the single largest midterm election victory in the entire history of the United States. (A political party would not suffer triple-digit losses again until 1932.)
The main issues revolved around the severe economic depression, which the Republicans blamed on the conservative Bourbon Democrats led by Cleveland. Cleveland supporters lost heavily, weakening their hold on the party and setting the stage for an 1896 takeover by the silverist wing of the party. The Populist Party ran candidates in the South and Midwest, but generally lost ground, outside Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas where state-level fusion with the Republicans was successful despite Populist and Republican antagonism at the national level. The Democrats tried to raise a religious issue, claiming the GOP was in cahoots with the American Protective Association. The allegations seem to have fallen flat as Catholics moved toward the GOP.[4]
Election summaries
254 | 1 | 9 | 93 |
Republican | S | P | Democratic |
State | Type | Total seats |
Republican | Democratic | Populist | Silver | ||||
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Seats | Change | Seats | Change | Seats | Change | Seats | Change | |||
Alabama | District | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | ||||
Arkansas | District | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||||
California | District | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Colorado | District | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
Connecticut | District | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Delaware | At-large | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Florida | District | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Georgia | District | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Idaho | At-large | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Illinois | District[Note 6] | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Indiana | District | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Iowa | District | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Kansas | District +at-large |
8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
Kentucky | District | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Louisiana | District | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Maine[Note 7] | District | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Maryland | District | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Massachusetts | District | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Michigan | District | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Minnesota | District | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Mississippi | District | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Missouri | District | 15 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Montana | At-large | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Nebraska | District | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
Nevada | At-large | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||
New Hampshire | District | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
New Jersey | District | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
New York | District | 34 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||||
North Carolina | District | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | ||||
North Dakota | At-large | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Ohio | District | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Oregon[Note 7] | District | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Pennsylvania | District +2 at-large |
30 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Rhode Island | District | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
South Carolina | District | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||||
South Dakota | At-large | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Tennessee | District | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Texas | District | 13 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Vermont[Note 7] | District | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Virginia | District | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Washington | At-large | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
West Virginia | District | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Wisconsin | District | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Wyoming | At-large | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Total[Note 2] | 356 | 253[1] 71.1% |
93[1] 26.1% |
9[1] 2.5% |
1[1] 0.3% |
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Early election dates
In 1894, three states, with 8 seats among them, held elections early:
Special elections
Sorted first by election date, then by state and district.
District | Vacator | Reason for Vacancy | Candidates | ||
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Representative | Party | First elected | |||
Virginia 7 | Charles T. O'Ferrall | Democratic | 1884 (Special) | Incumbent resigned December 28, 1893, after being elected Governor of Virginia. New member elected January 30, 1894. Democratic hold. |
√ Smith S. Turner (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
New York 14 | John R. Fellows | Democratic | 1890 | Incumbent resigned December 31, 1893 to become District Attorney of New York City. New member elected January 30, 1894. Republican gain. |
√ Lemuel E. Quigg (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Pennsylvania at-large | William Lilly | Republican | 1892 | Incumbent died December 1, 1893. New member elected February 26, 1894. Republican hold. |
√ Galusha A. Grow (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
South Carolina 1 | William H. Brawley | Democratic | 1890 | Incumbent resigned February 12, 1894 to become judge for the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. New member elected April 12, 1894. Democratic hold. |
√ James F. Izlar (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Maryland 1 | Robert F. Bratton | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent died May 10, 1894. New member elected November 6, 1894. Democratic hold. |
√ W. Laird Henry (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Ohio 3 | George W. Houk | Democratic | 1890 | Incumbent died February 9, 1894. New member elected May 21, 1894. Democratic hold. |
√ Paul J. Sorg (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Wisconsin 7 | George B. Shaw | Republican | 1892 | Incumbent died August 27, 1894. New member elected November 5, 1894. Republican hold. |
√ Michael Griffin (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Alabama 3 | William C. Oates | Democratic | 1880 | Incumbent resigned November 5, 1894, after being elected Governor of Alabama. New member elected November 6, 1894. Democratic hold. |
√ George P. Harrison Jr. (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Kentucky 9 | Thomas H. Paynter | Democratic | 1888 | Incumbent resigned January 5, 1895 having been elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. New member elected November 6, 1894, but didn't take his seat until March 4, 1895. Republican gain. |
√ Samuel J. Pugh (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Maryland 5 | Barnes Compton | Democratic | 1884 1890 (Lost election contest) 1890 |
Incumbent resigned May 15, 1894, to become a naval officer. New member elected November 6, 1894. Republican gain. |
√ Charles E. Coffin (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Arkansas 2 | Clifton R. Breckinridge | Democratic | 1882 | Incumbent resigned August 14, 1894, to become U.S. Minister to Russia. New member elected December 3, 1894. Democratic hold. |
√ John S. Little (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Kentucky 10 | Marcus C. Lisle | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent died July 7, 1894. New member elected December 3, 1894. Democratic hold. |
√ William M. Beckner (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Louisiana 4 | Newton C. Blanchard | Democratic | 1880 | Incumbent resigned March 12, 1894 to become the U.S. Senate. New member elected December 3, 1894. Democratic hold. |
√ Henry W. Ogden (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Ohio 2 | John A. Caldwell | Republican | 1888 | Incumbent resigned April 4, 1894 to become Mayor of Cincinnati. New member elected December 3, 1894. Republican hold. |
√ Jacob H. Bromwell (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
New York 15 | Ashbel P. Fitch | Democratic | 1886 | Incumbent resigned December 26, 1893 to become New York City Comptroller. New member elected December 30, 1894. Democratic hold. |
√ Isidor Straus (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
California
District | Incumbent | Party | First elected |
Result | Candidates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
California 1 | Thomas J. Geary | Democratic | 1890 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
√ John All Barham (Republican) 41.1% Thomas J. Geary (Democratic) 37.0% Roger F. Grigsby (Populist) 19.7% J. R. Gregory (Prohibition) |
California 2 | Anthony Caminetti | Democratic | 1890 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
√ Grove L. Johnson (Republican) 43.0% Anthony Caminetti (Democratic) 35.1% Burdelli Cornell (Populist) 20.0% Elam Briggs (Prohibition) 1.9% |
California 3 | Warren B. English | Democratic | 1892[Note 8] | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
√ Samuel G. Hilborn (Republican) 45.5% Warren B. English (Democratic) 37.8% W. A. Vann (Populist) 14.9% L. B. Scranton (Prohibition) 1.8% |
California 4 | James G. Maguire | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ James G. Maguire (Democratic) 48.3% Thomas Bowles Shannon (Republican) 32.0% B. K. Collier (Populist) 18.4% Joseph Rowell (Prohibition) 1.3% |
California 5 | Eugene F. Loud | Republican | 1890 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Eugene F. Loud (Republican) 36.8% Joseph P. Kelly (Democratic) 23.0% James T. Rogers (Populist) 21.5% James Denman (Prohibition) 18.7% |
California 6 | Marion Cannon | Populist | 1892 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain. |
√ James McLachlan (Republican) 44.3% George S. Patton (Democratic) 27.6% W. C. Bowman (Populist) 23.1% J. E. McComas (Prohibition) 5.0% |
California 7 | William W. Bowers | Republican | 1890 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ William W. Bowers (Republican) 42.9% W. H. Alford (Democratic) 28.2% J. L. Gilbert (Populist) 25.0% W. H. Somers (Prohibition) 3.9% |
Florida
District | Incumbent | Party | First elected |
Result | Candidates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida 1 | Stephen R. Mallory | Democratic | 1890 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold. |
√ Stephen M. Sparkman (Democratic) 85.3% D. L. McKinnon (Populist) 14.7% |
Florida 2 | Charles Merian Cooper | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Charles Merian Cooper (Democratic) 79.8% Montholom Atkinson (Populist) 20.2% |
Ohio
District | Incumbent | Party | First elected |
Result | Candidates[5] |
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Ohio 1 | Bellamy Storer | Republican | 1890 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold. |
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Ohio 2 | Jacob H. Bromwell | Republican | 1894 (s) | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Ohio 3 | Paul J. Sorg | Democratic | 1894 (s) | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Ohio 4 | Fernando C. Layton | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Ohio 5 | Dennis D. Donovan | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Republican gain. |
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Ohio 6 | George W. Hulick | Republican | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Ohio 7 | George W. Wilson | Republican | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Ohio 8 | Luther M. Strong | Republican | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Ohio 9 | Byron F. Ritchie | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
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Ohio 10 | Hezekiah S. Bundy | Republican | 1893 (s) | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold. |
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Ohio 11 | Charles H. Grosvenor | Republican | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Ohio 12 | Joseph H. Outhwaite | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
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Ohio 13 | Darius D. Hare | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain. |
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Ohio 14 | Michael D. Harter | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain. |
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Ohio 15 | H. Clay Van Voorhis | Republican | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Ohio 16 | Albert J. Pearson | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain. |
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Ohio 17 | James A. D. Richards | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
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Ohio 18 | George P. Ikirt | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain. |
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Ohio 19 | Stephen A. Northway | Republican | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Ohio 20 | William J. White | Republican | 1892 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold. |
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Ohio 21 | Tom L. Johnson | Democratic | 1890 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
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South Carolina
District | Incumbent | Party | First elected |
Result | Candidates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
South Carolina 1 | George W. Murray Redistricted from the 7th district |
Republican | 1892 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain. Murray successfully challenged Elliott's election and was awarded the seat on June 4, 1896. |
√ William Elliott (Democratic) 59.1% George W. Murray (Republican) 40.9% |
South Carolina 2 | W. Jasper Talbert | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ W. Jasper Talbert (Democratic) 99.5% Others 0.5% |
South Carolina 3 | Asbury Latimer | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Asbury Latimer (Democratic) 81.3% Robert Moorman (Republican) 13.9% Others 4.8% |
South Carolina 4 | George W. Shell | Democratic | 1890 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold. |
√ Stanyarne Wilson (Democratic) 75.1% Lawson D. Melton (Republican) 24.7% Others 0.2% |
South Carolina 5 | Thomas J. Strait | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Thomas J. Strait (Democratic) 67.6% G. G. Alexander (Republican) 17.0% W. R. Davie (Independent) 12.8% Others 2.6% |
South Carolina 6 | John L. McLaurin | Democratic | 1892 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ John L. McLaurin (Democratic) 76.9% J. P. Wilson (Republican) 23.1% |
South Carolina 7 | None (Open seat due to redistricting) | New member elected. Democratic gain. The election was voided on June 1, 1896 due to electoral fraud. |
√ J. William Stokes (Democratic) 73.0% T. B. Johnson (Republican) 26.3% Others 0.7% |
See also
Notes
- ↑ Three states held early elections between June 4 and September 10.
- 1 2 Includes late elections.
- ↑ Includes two vacancies
- ↑ Includes five vacancies
- 1 2 3 Dubin (p. 312) counts 244 Republicans, 105 Democrats, 7 Populists, and 1 Silver at the opening of the 54th Congress, before the results of several contested elections were overturned in favor of Republican (and a few Populist) candidates. Dubin counts 253 Republicans, 93 Democrats, 9 Populists, and 1 Silver at the start of the 2nd session of the 54th Congress, which closely matches Martis' figure (pp. 148–49). Dubin's figure includes Utah, which held its election in 1895 and is therefore not covered in this article.
- ↑ At-large seats eliminated in redistricting.
- 1 2 3 Elections held early.
- ↑ After contested election.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Martis, pp. 148–49. Martis's figure includes Utah, which held its election in 1895 and is therefore not covered in this article.
- ↑ The New York Times TimesMachine: Senate and House Secured; Republican Control in the Next Congress Assured.
- ↑ "African-Americans and Populism". Archived from the original on June 22, 2006. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
- ↑ Jensen (1971), Chap. 9.
- ↑ Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 656–57.
Bibliography
- Republican Congressional Committee, Republican Campaign Text Book: 1894 (1894).
- Jensen, Richard. The Winning of the Midwest: Social and Political Conflict, 1888–1896 (1971).
- 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.
External links
- Office of the Historian (Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)