The 1988 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the United States House of Representatives on November 8, 1988, to elect members to serve in the 101st United States Congress. They coincided with the election of George H. W. Bush as president. Although Bush won with a strong majority, his Republican Party lost a net of two seats to the Democratic Party, slightly increasing the Democratic majority in the House. It was the first time since 1960 that an incoming president's party lost seats in the House.
Overall results
409 incumbent members sought reelection, but one was defeated in a primary and six were defeated in the general election for a total of 402 incumbents winning. This was the highest number and percentage of incumbents who won reelection between 1954 and 1992.
The Republicans did not field a candidate in one-fourth of the seats in the Southern United States. This is the last congressional election in which Republicans won a House seat in Hawaii for a full term and the last time they won a seat in Vermont.
Source: Election Statistics â Office of the Clerk
Retirements
Democrats
- : Buddy MacKay retired to run for U.S. Senate.
- : Dan Mica retired to run for U.S. Senate.
- : Kenneth J. Gray retired.
- : Edward Boland retired.
- : Wayne Dowdy retired to run for U.S. Senate.
- : Peter W. Rodino retired.
- : Samuel S. Stratton retired.
- : Ed Jones retired.
- : Don Bonker retired run for U.S. Senate.
- : Mike Lowry retired run for U.S. Senate.
Republicans
- : Robert Badham retired.
- : Dan Lungren retired to become California State Treasurer.
- : Connie Mack III retired to run for U.S. Senate.
- : Trent Lott retired to run for U.S. Senate.
- : Gene Taylor retired.
- : Hal Daub retired to run for U.S. Senate.
- : Judd Gregg retired to run for governor of New Hampshire.
- : Manuel Lujan Jr. retired.
- : George C. Wortley retired.
- : Del Latta retired.
- : Beau Boulter retired to run for U.S. Senate.
- : Jim Jeffords retired to run for U.S. Senate.
Resignations and deaths
Democrats
- : Bill Boner resigned October 5, 1987, to become Mayor of Nashville.
- : Dan Daniel died January 24, 1988.
- : James J. Howard died March 25, 1988.
- : Mario Biaggi resigned August 5, 1988.
Republicans
- : Buddy Roemer resigned March 3, 1988, to become Governor of Louisiana.
- : John Duncan Sr. died June 21, 1988.
Incumbents defeated
In primary elections
Republicans
- : Ernie Konnyu lost renomination to Tom Campbell, who won the general election.
In general elections
Democrats
Two Democrats lost re-election to Republicans
- : Bill Chappell lost re-election to Craig James.
- : Fernand St Germain lost re-election to Ronald Machtley.
Republicans
Four Republicans lost re-election to Democrats
- : Pat Swindall lost re-election to Craig James.
- : Jack Davis lost re-election to George E. Sangmeister.
- : Joe DioGuardi lost re-election to Nita Lowey.
- : Mac Sweeney lost re-election to Greg Laughlin.
Open seats that changed parties
Republican seats won by Democrats
Two Republican seats were won by Democrats:
- : won by Peter Hoagland.
- : won by Bill Sarpalius.
Democratic seats won by Republicans
One Democratic seat was won by a Republican:
- : won by Cliff Stearns.
Open seats that parties held
Democratic seats held by Democrats
Democrats held twelve of their open seats
- : Won by Harry Johnston
- : Won by Glenn Poshard
- : Won by Richard Neal
- : Won by Michael Parker
- : Won by Frank Pallone
- : Won by Donald M. Payne
- : Won by Elliot Engel
- : Won by Michael McNulty
- : Won by John S. Tanner
- : Won by Jolene Unsoeld
- : Won by Jim McDermott
- : Won by Eni Faleomavaega
Republican seats held by Republicans
Republicans held thirteen of their open seats
- : Won by Tom Campbell
- : Won by Christopher Cox
- : Won by Dana Rohrabacher
- : Won by Porter Goss
- : Won by Larkin I. Smith
- : Won by Mel Hancock
- : Won by Chuck Douglas
- : Won by Steven Schiff
- : Won by James T. Walsh
- : Won by Bill Paxon
- : Won by Paul Gillmor
- : Won by Jimmy Duncan, who also won the district's special election, see below
- : Won by Peter Plympton Smith
Special elections
Ordered by election date, then by state/district.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Source:
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Non-voting delegates
|- ! American Samoa at-large | FofÃ
 Iosefa Fiti Sunia | | 1980 | | Incumbent resigned September 6, 1988.<br/>New delegate elected.<br/>Democratic hold. | nowrap | |- ! District of Columbia at-large | Walter Fauntroy | | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |- ! Guam at-large | Ben Blaz | | 1986 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |- ! Puerto Rico at-large | Jaime Fuster | | Popular Democratic/<br/>Democratic | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |- ! U.S. Virgin Islands at-large | Ron de Lugo | | 1972<br/>1978 <small>(retired)</small><br/>1980 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
See also
Notes
External links
References
Works cited