1916 United States House of Representatives elections

Elections to the United States House of Representatives in 1916 were held for members of the 65th Congress, coinciding with the re-election of President Woodrow Wilson.

1916 United States House of Representatives elections
November 7, 1916[lower-alpha 1]
All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
218 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader James Mann Champ Clark
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since March 4, 1911 March 4, 1909
Leader's seat Illinois 2nd Missouri 9th
Last election 196 seats 230 seats
Seats won 215 214[lower-alpha 2]
Seat change 19 16
Popular vote 8,052,247 7,641,274
Percentage 48.59% 46.11%
Swing 5.47% 3.68%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Progressive Socialist
Last election 6 seats 1 seat
Seats won 3 1
Seat change 3
Popular vote 131,103[lower-alpha 3] 604,304
Percentage 0.79% 3.65%
Swing 7.22% 0.93%
  Fifth party Sixth party
 
Party Prohibition Independent
Last election 1 seat 1 seat
Seats won 1 1 [lower-alpha 4]
Seat change
Popular vote 248,451 65,586
Percentage 1.50% 0.40%
Swing 0.20% 0.16%
Speaker before election

Champ Clark
Democratic

 Elected Speaker

Champ Clark
Democratic

Wilson eked out a narrow re-election, but his Democratic Party lost seats to the Republican Party. Wilson's hybrid approach, which injected a progressive element into Democratic policies, had proved to be dissatisfying to much of the nation. International affairs also became important in the traditionally non-interventionist United States, as voters attempted to determine which party would be best served to keep the nation from entering The Great War.

Republicans actually won a plurality of seats in the 1916 election. Even so, when the 65th Congress convened in April 1917, the Democrats narrowly maintained control of the House, forming an alliance with third-party (Progressive and Socialist) members. Not since the 34th Congress (1855–57) had the party with the most seats not been part of the ruling government. This Congress is the last example to date of a type of coalition holding power in the House, rather than a single party winning a majority of seats.

Jeannette Rankin, a Republican from Montana, became the first woman ever elected to congress.

Special elections
See also: List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives and 1917 United States House of Representatives elections

There were special elections in 1916 to the 64th United States Congress.

Special elections are sorted by date then district.

District Incumbent This election
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
West Virginia 2 William G. Brown Jr. Democratic 1910 Incumbent died March 9, 1916.
New member elected May 9, 1916.
Republican gain.
Successor was later re-elected, see below.
  • Y George M. Bowers (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
California 10 William Stephens Progressive 1910 Incumbent resigned July 22, 1916 to become Lieutenant Governor of California.
New member elected November 7, 1916.
Progressive hold.
Successor was not elected to the next term, see below.
  • Y Henry Stanley Benedict (Progressive) 62.82%
  • Joy Clark (Independent) 23.59%
  • Henry Clay Needham (Prohibition) 4.32%
  • George Clark (Unknown) 3.54%
  • James H. Ryckman (Socialist) 3.01%
  • Rufus V. Bowden (Democratic) 1.83%
  • John C. Wray (Unknown) 0.89%
Mississippi 5

Election summaries
↓
214 5 216
Democratic [lower-alpha 5] Republican
State Type Total
seats		 Democratic Progressive Republican Others
Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change
Alabama District[lower-alpha 6] 10 10 0 0 0
Arizona At-large 1 1 0 0 0
Arkansas District 7 7 0 0 0
California District 11 4 1 1 1 5 1 1[lower-alpha 7] 1
Colorado District 4 3 0 1 0
Connecticut District 5 1 1 0 4 1 0
Delaware At-large 1 1 1 0 0 1 0
Florida District 4 4 0 0 0
Georgia District 12 12 0 0 0
Idaho At-large 2 0 0 2 0
Illinois District
+2 at-large		 27 6 4 0 1 21 5 0
Indiana District 13 4 7 0 9 7 0
Iowa District 11 0 1 0 11 1 0
Kansas District 8 5 1 0 3 1 0
Kentucky District 11 9 0 2 0
Louisiana District 8 7 1 1 1 0 0
Maine[lower-alpha 8] District 4 0 1 0 4 1 0
Maryland District 6 4 1 0 2 1 0
Massachusetts District 16 4 0 12 0
Michigan District 13 1 1 0 12 1 0
Minnesota District 10 1 0 9 0
Mississippi District 8 8 0 0 0
Missouri District 16 14 0 2 0
Montana At-large 2 1 1 0 1 1 0
Nebraska District 6 3 0 3 0
Nevada At-large 1 0 0 1 0
New Hampshire District 2 0 2 0 2 2 0
New Jersey District 12 3 1 0 9 1 0
New Mexico At-large 1 1 1 0 0 1 0
New York District 43 16 3 0 1 26 4 1[lower-alpha 9]
North Carolina District 10 10 1 0 0 1 0
North Dakota District 3 0 0 3 0
Ohio District 22 13 4 0 9 4 0
Oklahoma District 8 6 1 0 2 1 0
Oregon District 3 0 0 3 0
Pennsylvania District
+4 at-large		 36 6 1 1 29 1 0
Rhode Island District 3 1 0 2 0
South Carolina District 7 7 0 0 0
South Dakota District 3 1 0 2 0
Tennessee District 10 8 0 2 0
Texas District
+2 at-large		 18 18 0 0 0
Utah District 2 2 1 0 0 1 0
Vermont District 2 0 0 2 0
Virginia District 10 9 0 1 0
Washington District 5 1 1 0 2 4 1 0
West Virginia District[lower-alpha 6] 6 2 1 0 4 1 0
Wisconsin District 11 0 3 0 11 3 0
Wyoming At-large 1 0 0 1 0
Total 435 214
49.2%		 16 3
0.7%		 2 216[lower-alpha 10]
49.7%		 19 2[lower-alpha 11]
0.5%		 1
House seats
Democratic
 
 49.20%
Progressive
 
 0.69%
Prohibition
 
 0.23%
Republican
 
 49.66%
Socialist
 
 0.23%

The Democrats retained control of the House by forming a coalition with the three Progressive members and the single Socialist member, combining to form a razor-thin majority of 218 Representatives.

[[File:65 us house membership.png|thumb|450px|
House seats by party holding plurality in state
  80.1-100% Democratic
  80.1-100% Republican
  60.1-80% Democratic
  60.1-80% Republican
  Up to 60% Democratic
  Up to 60% Republican
]]		 [[File:65 us house changes.png|thumb|450px|
Net gain in party representation
  6+ Democratic gain
  
  6+ Republican gain
  3-5 Democratic gain
  
  3-5 Republican gain
  1-2 Democratic gain
  1-2 Progressive gain
  1-2 Republican gain
  no net change
]]

Early election date

Maine held its election early, on September 11, 1916. There had previously been multiple states with earlier elections, but between 1914 and 1958, Maine was alone in holding early elections.

California
Main article: 1916 United States House of Representatives elections in California
See also: List of United States Representatives from California
District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
California 1 William Kent Independent 1910 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Y Clarence F. Lea (Democratic) 48.8%
  • Edward H. Hart (Republican) 42.8%
  • Mary M. Morgan (Socialist) 5.5%
  • Jay Scott Ryder (Prohibition) 2.9%
California 2 John E. Raker Democratic 1910 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y John E. Raker (Democratic) 71%
  • James T. Matlock (Republican) 29%
California 3 Charles F. Curry Republican 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Charles F. Curry (Republican) 66.7%
  • O. W. Kennedy (Democratic) 23.4%
  • Ben Cooper (Socialist) 6.2%
  • Edwin F. Van Vlear (Prohibition) 3.7%
California 4 Julius Kahn Republican 1898 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Julius Kahn (Republican) 77.2%
  • J. M. Fernald (Democratic) 15.7%
  • Allen K. Gifford (Socialist) 5.6%
  • Henry W. Hutchinson (Prohibition) 1.5%
California 5 John I. Nolan Republican 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
California 6 John A. Elston Progressive 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y John A. Elston (Progressive) 64.6%
  • H. Avery Whitney (Democratic) 22.6%
  • Luella Twining (Socialist) 8.7%
  • Harlow E. Wolcott (Prohibition) 4.1%
California 7 Denver S. Church Democratic 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Denver S. Church (Democratic) 51%
  • W. W. Phillips (Republican) 36.4%
  • Harry M. McKee (Socialist) 7.2%
  • J. F. Butler (Prohibition) 5.3%
California 8 Everis A. Hayes Republican 1904 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Everis A. Hayes (Republican) 68.6%
  • George S. Walker (Progressive / Democratic fusion) 23.8%
  • Cora Pattleton Wilson (Socialist) 7.5%
California 9 Charles H. Randall Prohibition 1914 Incumbent re-elected.
California 10 Vacant William Stephens (Progressive) had resigned July 22, 1916 to become Lieutenant Governor of California.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Successor was not elected to finish the term.
  • Y Henry Z. Osborne (Republican) 49.5%
  • Rufus V. Bowden (Democratic) 25.7%
  • Henry S. Benedict (Progressive) 11.1%
  • James H. Ryckman (Socialist) 7%
  • Henry Clay Needham (Prohibition) 6.8%
California 11 William Kettner Democratic 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y William Kettner (Democratic) 44.5%
  • Robert C. Harbison (Republican) 35.7%
  • James S. Edwards (Prohibition) 15.6%
  • Marcus W. Robbins (Socialist) 4.1%

Kansas
See also: List of United States Representatives from Kansas and 1914 United States Senate election in Kansas
District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Kansas 1 Daniel R. Anthony Jr. Republican 1907 (Special) Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Daniel R. Anthony Jr. (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
Kansas 2 Joseph Taggart Democratic 1911 (Special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Kansas 3 Philip P. Campbell Republican 1902 Incumbent re-elected.
Kansas 4 Dudley Doolittle Democratic 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
Kansas 5 Guy T. Helvering Democratic 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
Kansas 6 John R. Connelly Democratic 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
Kansas 7 Jouett Shouse Democratic 1914 Incumbent re-elected.
Kansas 8 William A. Ayres Republican 1914 Incumbent re-elected.

Montana
See also: List of United States Representatives from Montana

This was the last time Montana used an at-large district until its representation was reduced to one in 1992. This was also the first time a woman was elected to Congress.

District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
Montana at-large
2 seats on a general ticket		 John M. Evans Democratic 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y John M. Evans (Democratic) 26.7%
  • Y Jeannette Rankin (Republican) 24.3%
  • Harry B. Mitchell (Democratic) 22.3%
  • George W. Farr (Republican) 21.2%
  • John McGuffey (Socialist) 2.8%
  • Albert F. Meissner (Socialist) 2.7%
Tom Stout Democratic 1912 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

North Dakota
See also: List of United States Representatives from North Dakota
District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
North Dakota 1 Henry Thomas Helgesen Republican 1910 Incumbent re-elected.
North Dakota 2 George M. Young Republican 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y George M. Young (Republican) 71.7%
  • Hugh McDonald (Democratic) 24.6%
  • Samuel O. Olson (Socialist) 3.7%
North Dakota 3 Patrick Daniel Norton Republican 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Patrick Daniel Norton (Republican) 65.2%
  • Charles Simon (Democratic) 26.5%
  • Anton Klemmens (Socialist) 8.3%

South Carolina
Main article: 1916 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina
See also: List of United States Representatives from South Carolina
District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
South Carolina 1 Richard S. Whaley Democratic 1913 (Special) Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 2 James F. Byrnes Democratic 1910 Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 3 Wyatt Aiken Democratic 1902 Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
South Carolina 4 Samuel J. Nicholls Democratic 1915 (Special) Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 5 David E. Finley Democratic 1898 Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 6 J. Willard Ragsdale Democratic 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 7 Asbury F. Lever Democratic 1901 (Special) Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Asbury F. Lever (Democratic) 93.5%
  • I. S. Leevy (Republican) 6.5%

South Dakota
See also: List of United States Representatives from South Dakota
District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
South Dakota 1 Charles H. Dillon Republican 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Charles H. Dillon (Republican) 58.1%
  • O.D. Anderson (Democratic) 40.2%
  • H.W. Fenner (Socialist) 1.7%
South Dakota 2 Royal C. Johnson Republican 1914 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Royal C. Johnson (Republican) 60.1%
  • J.J. Batterton (Democratic) 34.7%
  • E. Francis Atwood (Socialist) 3.4%
  • R. Clendening (Prohibition) 1.8%
South Dakota 3 Harry L. Gandy Democratic 1914 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Y Harry L. Gandy (Democratic) 55.6%
  • John G. Bartine (Republican) 40.9%
  • B.M. Mulcahy (Socialist) 3.4%

Non-voting delegates

Alaska Territory
See also: List of United States Representatives from Alaska
District Incumbent This race
Representative Party First elected Results Candidates
Alaska Territory at-large James Wickersham Republican 1908 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Wickersham would later successfully contest the election and was seated January 7, 1919.

See also

Notes
    1. Maine held early elections on September 11, 1916.
    2. Democrats maintained control of the U.S. House after the 1916 elections by forming a 218-member coalition with the three Progressive members and the one Socialist member.
    3. This includes votes for those who ran primarily on the Washington Party Ballot Line.
    4. Alvan Tufts Fuller would run as an Independent in 9th District of Massachusetts, defeating long-time Republican Congressman Ernest Roberts. Fuller had rejoined the Republican Party earlier in the year, and would caucus with the Republican Party upon being sworn into the House.
    5. Progressives won 3 seats, and there was 1 Prohibitionist and 1 Socialist.
    6. At-large seat eliminated in redistricting.
    7. Prohibition
    8. Elections held early.
    9. Socialist
    10. Includes 1 Independent Republican.
    11. 1 Socialist and 1 Prohibition.

    References
    1. "Our Campaigns - AK Territorial Delegate Race - Nov 07, 1916". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved January 15, 2020.

    Bibliography
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