1878–79 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1878Ã¢ÂÂ79 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between June 3, 1878, and September 3, 1879. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before or after the first session of the 46th United States Congress convened on March 18, 1879. Elections were held for all 293 seats, representing 38 states. This was the last election cycle that at least one state held its regular congressional election in an oddnumbered year.

These elections occurred in the middle of President Rutherford B. Hayes's term. With a sour economy as the nation's pressing issue, both major parties lost seats to the new Greenback Party, which was established to promote the long-term use of paper money as a solution to stop enormous economic fluctuations. The Democratic Party remained the largest party, but lost its majority. However, it allied with several independent politicians and was able to remain in power. This was the fourth and last recorded House election where both major parties lost seats at the same time.

Election summaries

Election dates

In most states, the elections were held November 5, 1878.

In 1845, Congress set a uniform nationwide date for choosing presidential electors. This Act of Congress did not affect election dates for Congress, which remained within the jurisdiction of state governments, but over time, the states moved their congressional elections to this date as well. In this cycle, there were still 7 states with earlier election dates, and 1 with a later election date:

Early elections
June 3, 1878: Oregon
September 3, 1878: Vermont
September 9, 1878: Maine
October 7, 1878: Indiana
October 8, 1878: Iowa, Ohio, West Virginia
Standard election date
November 5, 1878
Late election
September 3, 1879: California

California's elections were the last time a state held congressional general elections after November.

Special elections

Elections are listed by date and district.

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Patterson successfully contested the election and was seated March 4, 1877.

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

In the the difference between the two candidates, in the initial returns, was just 22 votes. Bisbee challenged Hull's election, and was eventually awarded the seat on January 22, 1881.

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

South Carolina was rampant with voter fraud, particularly through the use of tissue ballots, thin ballots hidden in the normal ballot, typically 10 to 20 at a time. The almost statewide exclusion of Republicans as Commissioners of Elections, and the ensuing appointment of nearly all Democratic Managers of Elections, allowed to Democratic Managers to perpetrate this scheme. When the votes were counted and more votes than voters were found, the Managers removed and destroyed the Republican ballots resulting in the complete takeover of the state.

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wisconsin elected eight members of congress on Election Day, November 5, 1878.

Non-voting delegates

|- !