1896 United States House of Representatives elections

Elections to the United States House of Representatives were held in 1896 for members of the 55th Congress, coinciding with the election of President William McKinley.

1896 United States House of Representatives elections

November 3, 1896[Note 1]
All 357 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives 179 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party Third party   Leader Thomas Brackett Reed Joseph Weldon Bailey John Calhoun Bell Party Republican Democratic Populist Leader's seat Maine 1st Texas 4th Colorado 2nd Last election 254 seats 93 seats 9 seats Seats won 206[1] 124[1] 22[1] Seat change 48 31 13 Popular vote 6,655,919 5,594,384 935,636 Percentage 48.77% 40.99% 6.86% Swing 0.50% 3.27% 4.16%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Party Silver Republican Silver Independent Last election New Party 1 0 Seats won 3[1] 1[1] 1[lower-alpha 1] Seat change 3 1 Popular vote 139,132 6,429 72,945 Percentage 1.02% 0.05% 0.53% Swing Pre-creation 0.01% 0.20%
Speaker before election Thomas Reed Republican Elected Speaker Thomas Reed Republican

In spite of McKinley's victory over William Jennings Bryan, both the Democratic and Populist parties gained seats from McKinley's Republican Party. This is most likely a reaction to the extraordinary Republican gains in 1894, in which many normally Democratic districts switched parties due to the severity of and fallout from the Panic of 1893. Many Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern regions that were dominated by Catholic and working-class voters, switched to Republican in 1894, but returned to the Democratic Party during this election cycle. The Populist Party also made huge gains as Republicans were ousted in Western states. Despite this, the Republicans did maintain a strong majority in the House. Also, several Western Republicans split with the party in 1896, forming the tiny Silver Republican Party faction, which advocated a silver standard.

This election marked the zenith of the Populist Party, which would go on to lose most of its seats in the 1898 elections and thereafter slowly fade from prominence.

Special elections

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

• Virginia's 5th congressional district

Election summaries

↓

124	22	5	206
Democratic	Pop	I	Republican

State	Type	Total seats	Democratic		Populist		Silver		Silver Republican		Independent Republican		Republican
			Seats	Change	Seats	Change	Seats	Change	Seats	Change	Seats	Change	Seats	Change
Alabama	District	9	7	2	1	1	0		0		0		1	1
Arkansas	District	6	6		0		0		0		0		0
California	District	7	2	1	2	2	0		0		0		3	3
Colorado	District	2	0		1		0		1	1	0		0	1
Connecticut	District	4	0		0		0		0		0		4
Delaware	At-large	1	1	1	0		0		0		0		0	1
Florida	District	2	2		0		0		0		0		0
Georgia	District	11	11		0		0		0		0		0
Idaho	At-large	1	0		1	1	0		0		0		0	1
Illinois	District	22	5	3	0		0		0		0		17	3
Indiana	District	13	4	4	0		0		0		0		9	4
Iowa	District	11	0		0		0		0		0		11
Kansas	District +at-large	8	0		6	5	0		0		0		2	5
Kentucky	District	11	7	1	0		0		0		0		4	1
Louisiana	District	6	6		0		0		0		0		0
Maine[lower-alpha 2]	District	4	0		0		0		0		0		4
Maryland	District	6	0	3	0		0		0		0		6	3
Massachusetts	District	13	1		0		0		0		0		12
Michigan	District	12	2	2	0		0		0		0		10	2
Minnesota	District	7	0		0		0		0		0		7
Mississippi	District	7	7		0		0		0		0		0
Missouri	District	15	12	7	0		0		0		0		3	7
Montana	At-large	1	0		0		0		1	1	0		0	1
Nebraska	District	6	0		4	3	0		0		0		2	3
Nevada	At-large	1	0		0		1		0		0		0
New Hampshire	District	2	0		0		0		0		0		2
New Jersey	District	8	0		0		0		0		0		8
New York	District	34	5	1	0		0		0		0		29	1
North Carolina	District	9	1	1	5	1	0		0		0		3
North Dakota	At-large	1	0		0		0		0		0		1
Ohio	District	21	6	4	0		0		0		0		15	4
Oregon[lower-alpha 2]	District	2	0		0		0		0		0		2
Pennsylvania	District +2 at-large	30	3	1	0		0		0		1	1	26	2
Rhode Island	District	2	0		0		0		0		0		2
South Carolina	District	7	7	1	0		0		0		0		0	1
South Dakota	At-large	2	0		2	2	0		0		0		0	2
Tennessee	District	10	8	2	0		0		0		0		2	2
Texas	District	13	12		0		0		0		0		1
Utah	At-large	1	1	1	0		0		0		0		0	1
Vermont[lower-alpha 2]	District	2	0		0		0		0		0		2
Virginia	District	10	6	2	0		0		0		0		4	2
Washington[lower-alpha 3]	At-large	2	1	1	0		0		1	1	0		0	2
West Virginia	District	4	0		0		1		3	3	0		0
Wisconsin	District	10	0		0		0		0		0		10
Wyoming	At-large	1	1	1	0		0		0		0		0	1
Total		357	124 34.7%	31	22 6.2%	13	1 0.3%	0	3 0.8%		1 0.3%	1	206 57.7%	48

House seats Democratic   34.73% Populist   6.16% Silver   0.28% Silver Republican   0.84% Ind. Republican   0.28% Republican   57.70%

[[File:55 us house membership.png|thumb|500px| House seats by party holding plurality in state ("Republican" includes Silver, Silver Republican, and Independent Republican)   80+ to 100% Democratic   80+ to 100% Populist   80+ to 100% Republican   60+ to 80% Democratic   60+ to 80% Populist   60+ to 80% Republican   Up to 60% Democratic   Up to 60% Populist   Up to 60% Republican ]]

[[File:55 us house changes.png|thumb|500px| Net gain in party representation ("Republican" includes Silver, Silver Republican, and Independent Republican)   6+ Democratic gain     6+ Republican gain   3-5 Democratic gain   3-5 Populist gain   3-5 Republican gain   1-2 Democratic gain   1-2 Populist gain   1-2 Republican gain   no net change ]]

Early election dates

Three states, with 8 seats between them, held elections early in 1896:

• June 1 Oregon
• September 1 Vermont
• September 14 Maine

Alabama

See also: List of United States Representatives from Alabama

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Alabama 1	Richard Henry Clarke	Democratic	1888	Incumbent retired to un for Governor of Alabama. New member elected. Democratic hold.	√ George W. Taylor (politician) (Democratic) 70.50% Frank H. Threatt (Republican) 25.38% Emory C. Stearnes (Populist) 3.84%
Alabama 2	Jesse F. Stallings	Democratic	1892	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Jesse F. Stallings (Democratic) 55.94% Thomas H. Clarke (National Democratic[lower-alpha 4]) 25.63% John C. Fonville (Populist) 18.43%
Alabama 3	George Paul Harrison Jr.	Democratic	1894	Retired Democratic hold.	√ Henry De Lamar Clayton Jr. (Democratic) 52.61% George L. Comer (National Democratic[lower-alpha 4]) 25.94% Emmet C. Jackson (Populist) 21.45%
Alabama 4	William F. Aldrich	Republican	1894	Incumbent re-elected after initial results indicated loss to Plowman.	√ William F. Aldrich (Republican) 49.75% Thomas S. Plowman (Democratic) 45.59% Edmund H. Dryer (National Democratic[lower-alpha 4]) 4.66%
Alabama 5	Albert Taylor Goodwyn	Populist	1894	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.	√ Willis Brewer (Democratic) 60.85% Albert Taylor Goodwyn (Populist) 39.15%
Alabama 6	John H. Bankhead	Democratic	1886	Incumbent re-elected.	√ John H. Bankhead (Democratic) 55.07% A. S. Van de Graff (National Democratic[lower-alpha 4]) 27.05% George S. Youngblood (Populist) 17.88%
Alabama 7	Milford W. Howard	Populist	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Milford W. Howard (Populist) 35.79% William I. Bullock (Democratic) 32.66% James J. Curtis (Republican) 28.91% George H. Parker (National Democratic[lower-alpha 4]) 2.64%
Alabama 8	Joseph Wheeler	Democratic	1884	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Joseph Wheeler (Democratic) 56.66% Oscar W. Hundley (Republican) 42.13% W. W. Callahan (National Democratic[lower-alpha 4]) 1.21%
Alabama 9	Truman H. Aldrich	Republican	1894	Retired Democratic gain.	√ Oscar Underwood (Democratic) 62.98% Grattan B. Crowe (Republican) 26.21% Archibald Lawson (National Democratic[lower-alpha 4]) 10.81%

California

Main article: 1896 United States House of Representatives elections in California

See also: List of United States Representatives from California

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
California 1	John All Barham	Republican	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ John All Barham (Republican) 49.66% Fletcher A. Cutler (Democratic) 45.48% George W. Montieth (Populist) 4.17% B. F. Taylor (Prohibition) 0.69%
California 2	Grove L. Johnson	Republican	1894	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.	√ Marion De Vries (Democratic) 55.51% Grove L. Johnson (Republican) 42.28% F. E. Coulter (Prohibition) 2.21%
California 3	Samuel G. Hilborn	Republican	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Samuel G. Hilborn (Republican) 54.02% Warren B. English (Democratic) 44.03% John H. Eustice (Socialist Labor) 1.06% William Shafer (Prohibition) 0.89%
California 4	James G. Maguire	Democratic	1892	Incumbent re-elected.	√ James G. Maguire (Democratic) 60.98% Thomas B. O'Brien (Republican) 34.97% E. T. Kingsley (Socialist Labor) 3.10% Joseph Rowell (Prohibition) 0.96%
California 5	Eugene F. Loud	Republican	1890	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Eugene F. Loud (Republican) 48.58% Joseph P. Kelly (Democratic) 26.35% A. B. Kinne (Populist) 22.16% Henry Daniels (Socialist Labor) 1.90% T. H. Lawson (Prohibition) 1.01%
California 6	James McLachlan	Republican	1892	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Populist gain.	√ Charles A. Barlow (Populist) 48.91% James McLachlan (Republican) 47.57% Henry Clay Needham (Prohibition) 2.42% Job Harriman (Socialist Labor) 1.10%
California 7	William W. Bowers	Republican	1890	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Populist gain.	√ Curtis H. Castle (Populist) 46.72% William W. Bowers (Republican) 46.12% William H. Carlson (Independent) 5.21% James W. Webb (Prohibition) 1.95%

Florida

Main article: 1896 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Florida 1	Stephen M. Sparkman	Democratic	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Stephen M. Sparkman (Democratic) 77.5% E. K. Nichols (Republican) 14.6% J. Asakiah Williams (Populist) 6.8% J. C. Green (Pr.) 1.1%
Florida 2	Charles Merian Cooper	Democratic	1892	Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.	√ Robert Wyche Davis (Democratic) 61.9% Joseph N. Stripling (Republican) 28.6% Daniel G. Ambler (National Democratic[lower-alpha 4]) 5.0% William R. Peterson (Populist) 3.7% M. E. Spencer (Prohibition) 0.8%

Maine

See also: List of United States Representatives from Maine

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Maine 1	Thomas Brackett Reed	Republican	1876	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Thomas Brackett Reed (Republican) 66.90% Edward W. Staples (Democratic) 30.42% Aaron Clark (Prohibition) 2.09% James E. Campion (Populist) 0.59%
Maine 2	Nelson Dingley Jr.	Republican	1880	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Nelson Dingley Jr. (Republican) 69.21% Arwood Levensaler (Democratic) 26.01% Charles E. Allen (Populist) 3.38% Edward W. Ogier (Prohibition) 1.41%
Maine 3	Seth L. Milliken	Republican	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Seth L. Milliken (Republican) 68.20% Melvin S. Holway (Democratic) 26.18% Bradford F. Lancaster (Populist) 3.82% William S. Thompson (Prohibition) 1.80%
Maine 4	Charles A. Boutelle	Republican	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Charles A. Boutelle (Republican) 65.96% Andrew J. Chase (Democratic) 28.39% George M. Park (Prohibition) 2.89% Oliver D. Chapman (Populist) 2.76%

Ohio

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates[2] [3]
Ohio 1	Charles Phelps Taft	Republican	1894	retired Republican Hold	√ William B. Shattuc (Republican) 60.8% Thomas J. Donnelly (Democratic) 39.2%
Ohio 2	Jacob H. Bromwell	Republican	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Jacob H. Bromwell (Republican) 59.0% David S. Oliver (Democratic) 41.0%
Ohio 3	Paul J. Sorg	Democratic	1894	retired Democratic Hold	√ John L. Brenner (Democratic) 49.8% Robert M. Nevin (Republican) 49.4% Joel S. Steward (Populist) 0.6% Samuel N. Stubbs (Nat. P.) 0.2%
Ohio 4	Fernando C. Layton	Democratic	1890	retired Democratic Hold	√ George A. Marshall (Democratic) 59.5% John P. Maclean (Republican) 38.6% L.M. Kramer (Populist) 1.1% George W. Mace (Nat. P.) 0.7%
Ohio 5	Francis B. De Witt	Republican	1894	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.	√ David Meekison (Democratic) 56.0% Francis B. De Witt (Republican) 42.5% George N. Rice (Populist) 1.5%
Ohio 6	George W. Hulick	Republican	1892	Lost re-nomination Republican hold.	√ Seth W. Brown (Republican) 53.8% Harry W. Paxton (Democratic) 45.4% Frank S. Delo (Populist) 0.7%
Ohio 7	George W. Wilson	Republican	1892	retired Republican Hold	√ Walter L. Weaver (Republican) 52.5% Francis M. Hunt (Democratic) 46.8% R.S. Thomson (Nat. P.) 0.8%
Ohio 8	Luther M. Strong	Republican	1892	Lost re-nomination Republican hold.	√ Archibald Lybrand (Republican) 53.8% McEldin Dun (Democratic) 46.2%
Ohio 9	James H. Southard	Republican	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ James H. Southard (Republican) 53.5% Stephen Brophy (Democratic) 46.5%
Ohio 10	Lucien J. Fenton	Republican	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Lucien J. Fenton (Republican) 57.9% Timothy S. Hogan (Democratic) 42.1% Scattering <0.1%
Ohio 11	Charles H. Grosvenor	Republican	1892	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Charles H. Grosvenor (Republican) 54.8% William E. Finck Jr. (Democratic) 44.7% Lawrence C. Crippen (Populist) 0.4%
Ohio 12	David K. Watson	Republican	1894	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.	√ John J. Lentz (Democratic) 49.73% David K. Watson (Republican) 49.63% Jacob B. Turner (Populist) 0.40% L.J. Finley (Populist) 0.25%
Ohio 13	Stephen Ross Harris	Republican	1894	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.	√ James A. Norton (Democratic) 54.4% Stephen Ross Harris (Republican) 44.3% John H. Rhodes (Populist) 0.9% John W. Belser (Populist) 0.5%
Ohio 14	Winfield S. Kerr	Republican	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Winfield S. Kerr (Republican) 52.0% John B. Coffinberry (Democratic) 47.6% Robert F. Mosher (Nat'l Party) 0.4%
Ohio 15	H. Clay Van Voorhis	Republican	1892	Incumbent re-elected.	√ H. Clay Van Voorhis (Republican) 52.5% James B. Tannehill (Democratic) 46.2% T.H. Padan (Populist) 0.8% Illion E. Moore (Populist) 0.5%
Ohio 16	Lorenzo Danford	Republican	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Lorenzo Danford (Republican) 53.8% Henry H. McFadden (Democratic) 46.2%
Ohio 17	Addison S. McClure	Republican	1894	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.	√ John A. McDowell (Democratic) 54.7% Addison S. McClure (Republican) 44.3% I.N. Kieffer (Populist) 0.8% Homer E. Cole (Nat. P.) 0.2% Scattering 0.1%
Ohio 18	Robert W. Tayler	Republican	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Robert W. Tayler (Republican) 54.1% Isaac R. Sherwood (Democratic) 45.0% James L. Swan (Populist) 0.9% Scattering <0.1%
Ohio 19	Stephen A. Northway	Republican	1892	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Stephen A. Northway (Republican) 60.3% William T. Sawyer (Democratic) 39.1% Solon C. Thayer (Populist) 0.6% Scattering <0.1%
Ohio 20	Clifton B. Beach	Republican	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Clifton B. Beach (Republican) 52.78% A. T. Van Tassel (Democratic) 46.01% J.J. Harrison (Populist) 0.54% Paul Dinger (Socialist Labor) 0.51% William H. Watkins (Nat. Party) 0.16%
Ohio 21	Theodore E. Burton	Republican	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Theodore E. Burton (Republican) 55.24% L. A. Russell (Democratic) 43.34% Louis B. Tuckerman (Populist) 0.49% Walter Gillet (Socialist Labor) 0.44% E. Jay Pinney (Populist) 0.38% Thomas P. McDonough (Nat. Party) 0.11%

Oregon

See also: List of United States Representatives from Oregon

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Oregon 1	Binger Hermann	Republican	1892	Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold.	√ Thomas H. Tongue (Republican) 40.39% W. S. Vandenberg (Populist) 40.26% Jefferson Myers (Democratic) 16.52% N. C. Christensen (Prohibition) 2.83%
Oregon 2	William R. Ellis	Republican	1892	Incumbent re-elected.	√ William R. Ellis (Republican) 30.38% Martin Quinn (Populist) 29.47% H. H. Northrup (Independent) 21.20% A. S. Bennett (Democratic) 17.09% F. McKercher (Prohibition) 1.87%

South Carolina

Main article: 1896 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
South Carolina 1	George W. Murray	Republican	1892	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain.	√ William Elliott (Democratic) 63.7% George W. Murray (Reorganized Republican) 33.9% W. Cecil Cohen (Republican) 2.4%
South Carolina 2	W. Jasper Talbert	Democratic	1892	Incumbent re-elected.	√ W. Jasper Talbert (Democratic) 92.4% B. P. Chatfield (Republican) 7.3% Others 0.3%
South Carolina 3	Asbury Latimer	Democratic	1892	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Asbury Latimer (Democratic) 92.0% A. C. Merreck (Republican) 6.2% Clarence Gray (Reorganized Republican) 1.8%
South Carolina 4	Stanyarne Wilson	Democratic	1894	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Stanyarne Wilson (Democratic) 92.2% P. S. Suber (Republican) 4.2% D. T. Bounds (Reorganized Republican) 3.6%
South Carolina 5	Thomas J. Strait	Democratic	1892	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Thomas J. Strait (Democratic) 91.0% John F. Jones (Republican) 9.0%
South Carolina 6	John L. McLaurin	Democratic	1892	Incumbent re-elected.	√ John L. McLaurin (Democratic) 87.7% J. E. Wilson (Republican) 7.9% George Henry McKie 4.3% Others 0.1%
South Carolina 7	Previous incumbent J. William Stokes (Democratic)'s election declared void due to electoral fraud.			New member elected. Winner also elected to finish the term. Democratic gain.	√ J. William Stokes (Democratic) 85.6% T. B. Johnson (Republican) 14.2% D. A. Perrin (Independent Republican) 0.2%

South Dakota

See also: List of United States Representatives from South Dakota

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
South Dakota at-large 2 seats on a general ticket	John Pickler	Republican	1889 (New state)	Incumbent retired. New member elected. Populist gain.	√ John Edward Kelley (Populist) 24.9% √ Freeman Knowles (Populist) 24.9% Robert J. Gamble (Republican) 24.8% Coe I. Crawford (Republican) 24.6% K. Lewis (Prohibition) 0.4% M.D. Alexander (Prohibition) 0.4%
	Robert J. Gamble	Republican	1894	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Populist gain.

Vermont

See also: List of United States Representatives from Vermont

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Vermont 1	H. Henry Powers	Republican	1890	Incumbent re-elected.	√ H. Henry Powers (Republican) 76.45% Peter F. McManus (Democratic) 22.49% Andrew S. Bowen (Populist) 1.06%
Vermont 2	William W. Grout	Republican	1884	Incumbent re-elected.	√ William W. Grout (Republican) 80.41% Henry E. Fitzgerald (Democratic) 18.95% Thomas J. Aldrich (Populist) 0.64%

Non-voting delegates

Oklahoma Territory

See also: List of United States Representatives from Oklahoma

District	Incumbent			This race
	Representative	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Oklahoma Territory at-large	Dennis T. Flynn	Republican	1892	Incumbent lost re-election. New delegate elected. Silver gain.	Y James Y. Callahan (Silver) 51.09% Dennis T. Flynn (Republican) 48.91%[4]

See also

• 1896 United States elections
  • 1896 United States presidential election
  • 1896 and 1897 United States Senate elections
• 54th United States Congress
• 55th United States Congress

Notes

1. Three states held early elections between June 1 and September 14.

1. One Independent Republican, Thomas Butler from the 6th District of Pennsylvania.
2. Elections held early.
3. While Dubin (p. 320) indicates the two representatives elected to serve Washington state, J. Hamilton Lewis and William C. Jones, were Populists, most other sources (e.g. Martis, pp. 150–151, etc.) indicate that they were elected as a Democrat and a Silver Republican, respectively.
4. "National Democratic" indicated "Gold Democratic"

References

1. Martis, pp. 150–151.
2. Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 694, 695.
3. Ohio Election Results 1896. Norwalk, Ohio: The Laning Printing Company. 1897. pp. 33–39.
4. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=264137

Bibliography

• 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)