The 1808âÂÂ09 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between April 26, 1808, and May 5, 1809. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 11th United States Congress convened on May 22, 1809. They coincided with James Madison being elected as president. Elections were held for all 142 seats, representing 17 states.
Despite Madison's victory, voters in districts whose economies were driven by shipping or manufacturing rather than agriculture shifted to the Federalist Party mainly due to the unpopularity of the Embargo Act of 1807 and fears that Democratic-Republican Party policies could trigger a naval war with France or Britain. The politically dominant Democratic-Republicans won their smallest majority since the pivotal, realigning election of 1800.
There were special elections in 1808 and 1809 during the 10th United States Congress and 11th United States Congress.
Elections are sorted here by date then district.
|- ! | John Culpepper | | Federalist | 1806 | | Seat declared vacant January 2, 1808, due to a contest on account of alleged irregularities.<br />Incumbent re-elected February 1, 1808 and re-seated February 23, 1808.<br />Incumbent later lost re-election; see below. | nowrap |
|- ! | Ezra Darby | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1804 | | Incumbent died January 27, 1808.<br />New member elected March 8âÂÂ9, 1808 and seated April 1, 1808.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.<br />Winner later elected to the next term; see below. | nowrap |
|- ! | David Thomas | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1800 | | Incumbent resigned February 5, 1808, to become New York State Treasurer.<br />New member elected April 26âÂÂ28, 1808 and seated November 7, 1808.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.<br />Winner also lost election to the next term in the redistricted ; see below. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Jacob Crowninshield | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1802 | | Incumbent died April 15, 1808.<br />New member elected May 4, 1808 and seated December 20, 1808.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.<br />Winner later retired instead of running for the next term; see below. | nowrap |
|- ! | Nehemiah Knight | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1802 | | Incumbent died June 13, 1808.<br />New member elected August 30, 1808 and seated November 11, 1808.<br />Federalist gain.<br />Winner also elected to the next term; see below. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | James Witherell | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent resigned May 1, 1808, to become judge of the Supreme Court of Michigan Territory.<br />New member elected September 6, 1808 and seated November 8, 1808.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.<br />Winner also elected to the next term; see below. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Claiborne | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1805 | | Incumbent died October 9, 1808.<br />New member elected September 8, 1808 and seated November 7, 1808.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.<br />Winner later elected to the next term; see below. | nowrap |
|- ! | Benjamin Parke | | Federalist | 1805 | | Incumbent resigned March 1, 1808.<br />New delegate elected October 22, 1808.<br />Democratic-Republican gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | Joseph Clay | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1802 | | Incumbent resigned March 28, 1808.<br />New member elected October 11, 1808 and seated November 16, 1808.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.<br />Winner also elected to the next term; see below. | nowrap |
|- ! | Benjamin Say | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1808 | | Incumbent resigned June 1809.<br />New member elected October 10, 1809 and seated November 27, 1809.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! | Wilson C. Nicholas | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1807 | | Incumbent resigned November 27, 1809.<br />New member elected December 1809 and seated January 17, 1810.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! rowspan=7 | <br /> | Epaphroditus Champion | | Federalist | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | rowspan=7 nowrap | :
|- | Samuel W. Dana | | Federalist | 1796 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- | John Davenport | | Federalist | 1798 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- | Jonathan O. Moseley | | Federalist | 1804 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- | Timothy Pitkin | | Federalist | 1805 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- | Lewis B. Sturges | | Federalist | 1805 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- | Benjamin Tallmadge | | Federalist | 1801 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- ! | Nicholas Van Dyke | | Federalist | 1807 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Federalist hold. | nowrap |
|- ! rowspan=4 | <br /> | William W. Bibb | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | rowspan=4 nowrap | :
|- | George M. Troup | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- | Howell Cobb | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- | Dennis Smelt | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected.
See Non-voting delegates, below.
|- ! | Matthew Lyon | | Democratic-Republican | 1797<br />1803 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Boyle | | Democratic-Republican | 1803 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Rowan | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! | Richard M. Johnson | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Benjamin Howard | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Joseph Desha | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Campbell | | Federalist | 1801 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Archibald Van Horne | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Philip Barton Key | | Federalist | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Roger Nelson | | Democratic-Republican | 1804 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! rowspan=2 | <br /> | Nicholas R. Moore | | Democratic-Republican | 1803 | Incumbent re-elected. | rowspan=2 nowrap |
|- | William McCreery | | Democratic-Republican | 1803 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.
|- ! | John Montgomery | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Edward Lloyd | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! | Charles Goldsborough | | Federalist | 1804 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Josiah Quincy | | Federalist | 1804 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Joseph Story | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1808 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Edward St. Loe Livermore | | Federalist | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Joseph Bradley Varnum | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1794 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | William Ely | | Federalist | 1804 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Samuel Taggart | | Federalist | 1803 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Joseph Barker | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1804 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Two ballots were held, but the second was invalidated.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.<br /> | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Isaiah L. Green | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1804 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Josiah Dean | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Lost re-election<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Jabez Upham | | Federalist | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | William Stedman | | Federalist | 1803 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Ezekiel Bacon | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1807 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Ebenezer Seaver | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1803 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Richard Cutts | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1801 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Daniel Ilsley | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1804 | | Lost re-election<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Orchard Cook | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1804 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | John Chandler | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1804 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
See Non-voting delegates, below.
|- ! rowspan=5 | <br /> | Peter Carleton | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap rowspan=5 | :
|- | Daniel M. Durell | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Federalist gain.
|- | Francis Gardner | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Federalist gain.
|- | Jedediah K. Smith | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Federalist gain.
|- | Clement Storer | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Federalist gain.
|- ! rowspan=6 | <br /> | Adam Boyd | | Democratic-Republican | 1808 | Incumbent re-elected. | rowspan=6 nowrap | :
|- | Thomas Newbold | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- | William Helms | | Democratic-Republican | 1800 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- | John Lambert | | Democratic-Republican | 1804 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.
|- | Henry Southard | | Democratic-Republican | 1800 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- | James Sloan | | Democratic-Republican | 1803 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.
Between the 1806 and 1808 elections, New York went through a redistricting that reduced the number of districts to 15 by creating two plural districts with two seats each. This brought the state's 17-seat delegation from a 15-2 ratio favoring Democratic-Republicans to a nearly-even 9âÂÂ8 split in their favor.
|- ! | Samuel Riker | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! rowspan=2 | <br /> | Gurdon S. Mumford<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1804 | Incumbent re-elected but declined the seat. | rowspan=2 nowrap |
|- | George Clinton Jr.<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1805 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.
|- ! rowspan=2 | | John Blake Jr.<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1804 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | rowspan=2 nowrap | |- | Philip Van Cortlandt<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1793 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican loss.
|- ! | Daniel C. Verplanck<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1803 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | Barent Gardenier<br /> | | Federalist | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! rowspan=3 | <br /> | James I. Van Alen<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Federalist gain. | rowspan=3 nowrap |
|- | Josiah Masters<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1804 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Federalist gain.
|- | Nathan Wilson<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1808 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican loss.
|- ! | Killian Van Rensselaer<br /> | | Federalist | 1800 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Thompson<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Peter Swart<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | colspan=3 | None (new district) | | New seat.<br />Democratic-Republican gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | colspan=3 | None (new district) | | New seat.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Russell<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! rowspan=2 | | William Kirkpatrick<br /> | | D-R Quid | 1806 | | Incumbent retired.<br />D-R Quid loss. | rowspan=2 nowrap | |- | Reuben Humphrey<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.
|- ! | John Harris<br /> | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | colspan=3 | None (new district) | | New seat.<br />Democratic-Republican gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | Lemuel Sawyer | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Willis Alston | | Democratic-Republican | 1798 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Thomas Blount | | Democratic-Republican | 1793<br />1802 <br />1804 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! | William Blackledge | | Democratic-Republican | 1803 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | Thomas Kenan | | Democratic-Republican | 1805 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Nathaniel Macon | | Democratic-Republican | 1791 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Culpepper | | Federalist | 1806<br />1808 <br />1808<br /> | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Federalist hold. | nowrap |
|- ! | Richard Stanford | | Democratic-Republican | 1796 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Marmaduke Williams | | Democratic-Republican | 1803 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! | Evan S. Alexander | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | James Holland | | Democratic-Republican | 1800 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Meshack Franklin | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Jeremiah Morrow | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1803 | | Incumbent re-elected as a Quid.<br />D-R Quid gain. | nowrap |
See Non-voting delegates, below.
|- ! rowspan=3 | <br /> | Benjamin Say | | Democratic-Republican | 1808 | Incumbent re-elected. | rowspan=3 nowrap |
|- | John Porter | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- | Jacob Richards | | Democratic-Republican | 1802 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.
|- ! rowspan=3 | <br /> | Robert Brown | | Democratic-Republican | 1798 | Incumbent re-elected. | rowspan=3 nowrap |
|- | John Pugh | | Democratic-Republican | 1804 | | Lost re-election<br />Democratic-Republican hold.
|- | William Milnor | | Federalist Quid | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected.
|- ! rowspan=3 | <br /> | Matthias Richards | | D-R Quid | 1806 | | Incumbent re-elected as a Democratic-Republican.<br />Democratic-Republican gain. | rowspan=3 nowrap |
|- | John Hiester | | D-R Quid | 1806 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican gain.
|- | Robert Jenkins | | Federalist Quid | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected as a Federalist.
|- ! rowspan=2 | <br /> | Robert Whitehill | | Democratic-Republican | 1805 | Incumbent re-elected. | rowspan=2 nowrap |
|- | David Bard | | D-R Quid | 1802 | | Incumbent re-elected as a Democratic-Republican.<br />Democratic-Republican gain.
|- ! | Daniel Montgomery | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! | James Kelly | | Federalist | 1804 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Democratic-Republican gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Rea | | Democratic-Republican | 1802 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | William Findley | | Democratic-Republican | 1802 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Smilie | | Democratic-Republican | 1792<br />1794 <br />1798 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | William Hoge | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! | Samuel Smith | | Democratic-Republican | 1805 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! rowspan=2 | <br /> | Nehemiah Knight | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1802 | | Incumbent died June 13, 1808.<br />Federalist gain.<br />Successor (Jackson) also elected the same day to finish the term; see above. | rowspan=2 nowrap | :
|- | Isaac Wilbour | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Federalist gain.
|- ! <br /> | Robert Marion | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1804 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | William Butler Sr. | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1800 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | David R. Williams | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1804 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | John Taylor | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Richard Winn | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1802 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Joseph Calhoun | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1807 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Thomas Moore | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1800 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Lemuel J. Alston | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | John Rhea | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1803 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | George W. Campbell | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1803 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | Jesse Wharton | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1807 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | James Witherell | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent resigned May 1, 1808.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.<br />Successor was also elected the same day to finish the current term; see above. | nowrap |
|- ! <br /> | James Elliot | | Federalist | 1802 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Federalist hold. | nowrap | Second ballot
|- ! <br /> | James Fisk | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1802 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap | Second ballot
|- ! <br /> | Martin Chittenden | | Federalist | 1802 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | John G. Jackson | | Democratic-Republican | 1803 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Morrow | | Democratic-Republican | 1805 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Smith | | Democratic-Republican | 1801 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | David Holmes | | Democratic-Republican | 1797 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | Alexander Wilson | | Democratic-Republican | 1804 | | Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | Abram Trigg | | Democratic-Republican | 1797 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Federalist gain. | nowrap |
|- ! | Joseph Lewis Jr. | | Federalist | 1803 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Walter Jones | | Democratic-Republican | 1803 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Love | | Democratic-Republican | 1807 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Dawson | | Democratic-Republican | 1797 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | James M. Garnett | | Democratic-Republican | 1805 | | Incumbent retired.<br />Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap |
|- ! | Burwell Bassett | | Democratic-Republican | 1805 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | William A. Burwell | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Matthew Clay | | Democratic-Republican | 1797 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Randolph | | D-R Quid | 1799 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | John W. Eppes | | Democratic-Republican | 1803 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Thomas Gholson Jr. | | Democratic-Republican | 1808 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Peterson Goodwyn | | Democratic-Republican | 1803 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Edwin Gray | | D-R Quid | 1799 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Thomas Newton Jr. | | Democratic-Republican | 1799 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Wilson C. Nicholas | | Democratic-Republican | 1807 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | John Clopton | | Democratic-Republican | 1801 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
Three territories sent non-voting delegates to the 11th Congress.
Indiana Territory elected by popular vote for the first time. Mississippi Territory also elected its delegate by popular vote. Orleans Territory retained legislative election of its delegate.
|- ! | Jesse B. Thomas | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1808 | | New member elected November 27, 1809.<br />Democratic-Republican hold.<br />Election was unsuccessfully challenged. | nowrap |
|- ! | George Poindexter | | Democratic-<br />Republican | 1806 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|- ! | Daniel Clark | | None | 1806 | Incumbent lost renomination.<br />New member of an unknown party elected in 1808. | nowrap |