1884 United States House of Representatives elections

House elections for the 49th U.S. Congress

1884 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1882 November 4, 1884[a] 1886 →
All 325 seats in the United States House of Representatives163 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader John G. Carlisle Thomas Brackett Reed Party Democratic Republican Leader's seat Kentucky 6th Maine 1st Last election 196 seats 117 seats Seats won 182[1][b] 141[1][b] Seat change 14 24 Popular vote 4,954,599 4,665,184 Percentage 50.05% 47.13% Swing 1.15% 5.52%   Third party Fourth party   Party Greenback Independent Last election 2 seats 5 seats[c] Seats won 1[1][b] 1[d] Seat change 1 4 Popular vote 105,668 78,972 Percentage 1.07% 0.80% Swing 1.99% 2.68%
Elections results from the 1884 elections
Speaker before election John G. Carlisle Democratic Elected Speaker John G. Carlisle Democratic

Elections to the United States House of Representatives were held in 1884 for Representatives in the 49th Congress. These election coincided with the election of President Grover Cleveland.

In spite of Cleveland's victory, the opposition Republican Party gained back some of the seats lost in 1882, but the Democratic Party retained a majority in the House. Republicans were able to make these slight gains by connecting their pro-business and industry message with progress. The Democrats were also hindered by the Panic of 1884, but were not greatly affected by it since the depression ended quickly.

Election summaries

↓

183	1	141
Democratic	[e]	Republican

State	Type	Total seats	Democratic		Republican		Others
			Seats	Change	Seats	Change	Seats	Change
Alabama	District	8	8		0		0
Arkansas	District[f]	5	5		0		0
California	District[f]	6	1	5	5	5	0
Colorado	At-large	1	0		1		0
Connecticut	District	4	2	1	2	1	0
Delaware	At-large	1	1		0		0
Florida	District	2	2	1	0	1	0
Georgia	District[f]	10	10		0		0
Illinois	District	20	10	1	10	1	0
Indiana	District	13	9		4		0
Iowa	District	11	3	1	7	1	1[g]
Kansas	District[f]	7	0		7		0
Kentucky	District	11	10	1	1	1	0
Louisiana	District	6	5		1		0
Maine[h]	District[i]	4	0		4		0
Maryland	District	6	5	1	1	1	0
Massachusetts	District	12	2	1	10	1	0
Michigan	District	11	7	1	4	1	0
Minnesota	District	5	0		5		0
Mississippi	District	7	7	2	0	1	0	1[j]
Missouri	District	14	12	2	2	2	0
Nebraska	District	3	0		3		0
Nevada	At-large	1	0	1	1	1	0
New Hampshire	District	2	0		2		0
New Jersey	District	7	3		4		0
New York	District[f]	34	17[d]	4	17	4	0
North Carolina	District[f]	9	8	1	1	1	0
Ohio[h]	District	21	11	2	10	2	0
Oregon[h]	At-large	1	0		1		0
Pennsylvania	District + at-large	28	8	4	20	5	0	1[g]
Rhode Island	District	2	0		2		0
South Carolina	District	7	6		1		0
Tennessee	District	10	7	1	3	1	0
Texas	District	11	11	1	0		0	1[j]
Vermont[h]	District	2	0		2		0
Virginia	District[f]	10	8	2	2	2	0	4[k]
West Virginia	District	4	3		1		0
Wisconsin	District	9	2	4	7	4	0
Total		325	183[1][d] 56.3%	12	141[1] 43.4%	19	1[1] 0.6%	7

Popular vote Democratic   50.05% Republican   47.13% Greenback   1.07% Independent   0.80% Others   0.95%

House seats Democratic   56.00% Republican   43.38% Greenback   0.31% Independent   0.31%

House seats by party holding plurality in state   80+% Democratic   80+% Republican   60+ to 80% Democratic   60+ to 80% Republican   Up to 60% Democratic   Up to 60% Republican

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 Republican gain   no net change

Early election dates

In 1884, four states, with 28 seats among them, held elections early:

• June 2 Oregon
• September 2 Vermont
• September 13 Maine
• October 14 Ohio

Special elections

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
South Carolina 7	Edmund W. M. Mackey	Republican	1880	Incumbent died January 27, 1884. New member elected March 18, 1884. Republican hold.	Y Robert Smalls (Republican) 100% Unopposed[2]
Iowa 7
South Carolina 4	John H. Evins	Democratic	1876	Incumbent died October 20, 1884. New member elected November 12, 1884. Democratic hold. Successor had not been a candidate for the next term, see below.	Y John Bratton (Democratic) 100% Unopposed[3]
Kansas 2

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Two new districts were created for the seats gained in the 1882 reapportionment, eliminating the at-large district that had been created for them.

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
California 1	Barclay Henley Redistricted from the 2nd district	Democratic	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Barclay Henley (Democratic) 49.7% Thomas L. Carothers (Republican) 49.3% C. C. Bateman (Prohibitionist) 1%
California 2	Charles A. Sumner Redistricted from the at-large district	Democratic	1882	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain	Y James A. Louttit (Republican) 49.4% Charles A. Sumner (Democratic) 49.1% Joshua B. Webster (Prohibitionist) 1.5%
California 3	John R. Glascock Redistricted from the at-large district	Democratic	1882	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain	Y Joseph McKenna (Republican) 55.8% John R. Glascock (Democratic) 42.3% Joshua B. Wills (Prohibitionist) 1% A. B. Burns (Populist) 0.9%
California 4	William Rosecrans Redistricted from the 1st district	Democratic	1880	Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain	Y William W. Morrow (Republican) 58.8% R. P. Hastings (Democratic) 40.7% H. S. Fitch (Populist) 0.5% George Babcock (Prohibitionist) 0.0%
California 5	Pleasant B. Tully Redistricted from the 4th district	Democratic	1882	Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain	Y Charles N. Felton (Republican) 48.8% Frank J. Sullivan (Democratic) 48.4% C. Henderson (Prohibitionist) 1.4% A. E. Redstone (Independent) 1.4%
California 6	None (District created)			New seat Republican gain	Y Henry H. Markham (Republican) 49.1% R. F. Del Valle (Democratic) 47.9% Will D. Gould (Prohibitionist) 2.3% Isaac Kinley (Populist) 0.7%

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Florida 1	Robert H. M. Davidson	Democratic	1876	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Robert H. M. Davidson (Democratic) 55.1% Eugene O. Locke (Republican) 44.9%
Florida 2	Horatio Bisbee Jr.	Republican	1880	Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain	Y Charles Dougherty (Democratic) 51.8% Horatio Bisbee Jr. (Republican) 47.6% Josiah T. Walls (Independent Republican) 0.6%

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Mississippi 1	Henry L. Muldrow	Democratic	1876	Incumbent retired to become First Assistant Secretary of the Interior. New member elected. Democratic hold.	Y John M. Allen (Democratic) 81.70% Green C. Chandler (Republican) 18.30%[4]
Mississippi 2	James R. Chalmers	Independent	1882[l]	Incumbent lost re-election as a Republican. New member elected. Democratic gain.	Y James B. Morgan (Democratic) 57.51% James R. Chalmers (Republican) 41.22% Daniel Johnson (Republican) 1.27%[5]
Mississippi 3	Elza Jeffords	Republican	1882	Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic gain.	Y Thomas C. Catchings (Democratic) 69.55% A. G. Pearce (Republican) 30.45%[6]
Mississippi 4	Hernando Money	Democratic	1874	Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.	Y Frederick G. Barry (Democratic) 69.76% W. D. Frazee (Republican) 30.24%[7]
Mississippi 5	Otho R. Singleton	Democratic	1874	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Otho R. Singleton (Democratic) 76.51% J. Q. Smith (Republican) 23.50%[8]
Mississippi 6	Henry S. Van Eaton	Democratic	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Henry S. Van Eaton (Democratic) 60.80% John R. Lynch (Republican) 39.20%[9]
Mississippi 7	Ethelbert Barksdale	Democratic	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Ethelbert Barksdale (Democratic) 66.62% T. B. Yellowley (Republican) 33.30%[10]

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
South Carolina 1	Samuel Dibble	Democratic	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Samuel Dibble (Democratic) 73.5% W. N. Taft (Republican) 26.5%
South Carolina 2	George D. Tillman	Democratic	1878	Incumbent re-elected.	Y George D. Tillman (Democratic) 84.4% E. J. Dickerson (Republican) 14.2% Others 1.4%
South Carolina 3	D. Wyatt Aiken	Democratic	1876	Incumbent re-elected.	Y D. Wyatt Aiken (Democratic) 93.5% John R. Tolbert (Republican) 6.5%
South Carolina 4	John H. Evins	Democratic	1876	Incumbent died October 20, 1884. New member elected. Democratic hold. Winner was not elected to finish the current term.	Y William H. Perry (Democratic) 99.4% Others 0.6%
South Carolina 5	John J. Hemphill	Democratic	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	Y John J. Hemphill (Democratic) 74.5% C. C. Macoy (Republican) 21.8% Others 3.7%
South Carolina 6	George W. Dargan	Democratic	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	Y George W. Dargan (Democratic) 74.0% Edmund H. Deas (Republican) 23.3% Others 2.7%
South Carolina 7	Robert Smalls	Republican	1884 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Robert Smalls (Republican) 63.6% William Elliott (Democratic) 34.6% Others 1.8%

Tennessee

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Tennessee 1	Augustus H. Pettibone	Republican	1880	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Augustus H. Pettibone (Republican) 54.40% O. C. King (Democratic) 45.60%[11]
Tennessee 2	Leonidas C. Houk	Republican	1878	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Leonidas C. Houk (Republican) 68.32% W. L. Ledgerwood (Democratic) 31.68%[12]
Tennessee 3	George G. Dibrell	Democratic	1874	Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold.	Y John R. Neal (Democratic) 50.12% Henry C. Evans (Republican) 49.88%[13]
Tennessee 4	Benton McMillin	Democratic	1878	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Benton McMillin (Democratic) 83.26% Walton Smith (Republican) 16.74%[14]
Tennessee 5	Richard Warner	Democratic	1880	Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Democratic hold.	Y James D. Richardson (Democratic) 58.46% James A. Warder (Republican) 31.43% Matt Martin (Independent Democratic) 8.28% J. R. Beasley (Independent Greenback) 1.83%[15]
Tennessee 6	Andrew J. Caldwell	Democratic	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Andrew J. Caldwell (Democratic) 58.19% J. W. Baker (Republican) 34.26%[16]
Tennessee 7	John G. Ballentine	Democratic	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	Y John G. Ballentine (Democratic) 55.66% D. B. Cliff (Republican) 44.34%[17]
Tennessee 8	John M. Taylor	Democratic	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	Y John M. Taylor (Democratic) 52.58% James T. Warren (Republican) 47.43%[18]
Tennessee 9	Rice A. Pierce	Democratic	1882	Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Democratic hold.	Y Presley T. Glass (Democratic) 55.02% Emerson Etheridge (Republican) 44.98%[19]
Tennessee 10	H. Casey Young	Democratic	1882	Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain.	Y Zachary Taylor (Republican) 51.00% James M. Harris (Democratic) 46.99%[20]

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

West Virginia

District	Incumbent			This race
	Member	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
West Virginia 1	Nathan Goff Jr.	Republican	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Nathan Goff Jr. (Republican) 50.29% John Brannon (Democratic) 49.71%[21]
West Virginia 2	William L. Wilson	Democratic	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	Y William L. Wilson (Democratic) 52.18% Francis M. Reynolds (Republican) 47.82%[22]
West Virginia 3	Charles P. Snyder	Democratic	1883 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Charles P. Snyder (Democratic) 53.71% James W. Davis (Republican) 46.30%[23]
West Virginia 4	Eustace Gibson	Democratic	1882	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Eustace Gibson (Democratic) 50.23% A. R. Barber (Greenback) 49.77%[24]

Wisconsin

Non-voting delegates

Idaho Territory

District	Incumbent			This race
	Representative	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Idaho Territory at-large	Theodore F. Singiser	Republican	1882	Incumbent lost re-election. New delegate elected. Democratic gain.	Y John Hailey (Democratic) 52.80% Theodore F. Singiser (Republican) 46.40% W. S. Taylor (Independent) 0.73%[25]

Montana Territory

District	Incumbent			This race
	Representative	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Montana Territory at-large	Martin Maginnis	Democratic	1872	Incumbent retired. New delegate elected. Democratic hold.	Y Joseph K. Toole (Democratic) 50.39% Hiram Knowles (Republican) 49.61%[26]

Wyoming Territory

District	Incumbent			This race
	Representative	Party	First elected	Results	Candidates
Wyoming Territory at-large	Morton E. Post	Democratic	1880	Incumbent retired. New delegate elected. Republican gain.	Y Joseph M. Carey (Republican) 56.40% William H. Holliday (Democratic) 43.60%[27]

See also

• 1884 United States elections
  • 1884 United States presidential election
  • 1884 and 1885 United States Senate elections
• 48th United States Congress
• 49th United States Congress

Notes

1. Four states held early elections between June 2 and October 14.
2. Dubin (p. 271) counts 182 Democrats, 142 Republicans, and 1 Greenback at the start of the 49th United States Congress.
3. Included 2 Independent Democrats and 1 Independent Republican.
4. Includes 1 Independent Democrat, Truman A. Merriman of NY-11.
5. There was 1 Greenback member.
6. At-large seats eliminated in redistricting.
7. Greenback Party
8. Elections held early.
9. Changed from at-large.
10. Independent in previous election.
11. Readjuster Party
12. Initial victor was Van. H. Manning, but election was overturned in 1884.

References

1. Martis, pp. 138–139.
2. "SC - District 07 Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
3. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=491861
4. "MS - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
5. "MS - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
6. "MS - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
7. "MS - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
8. "MS - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
9. "MS - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
10. "MS - District 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
11. "TN - District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
12. "TN - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
13. "TN - District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
14. "TN - District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
15. "TN - District 05". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
16. "TN - District 06". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
17. "TN - District 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
18. "TN - District 08". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
19. "TN - District 09". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
20. "TN - District 10". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
21. "WV District 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
22. "WV District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
23. "WV District 03". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
24. "WV District 04". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
25. "ID Territorial Delegate". www.ourcampaigns.com.
26. "Our Campaigns - MT Territorial Delegate Race - Nov 04, 1884". www.ourcampaigns.com.
27. "WY Territorial Delegate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 11 April 2021.

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)