1812–13 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1812Ã¢ÂÂ13 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 3, 1812, and April 30, 1813. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 13th United States Congress convened on May 24, 1813. They coincided with James Madison being re-elected president.

With the addition of the new state of Louisiana's at-large seat, along with the 39-seat gain as a result of the congressional reapportionment based on the 1810 United States census, the size of the House increased to 182 seats. Most relative population growth was in the West.

After America's entry into the War of 1812 against Britain, the Democratic-Republican and Federalist parties maintained pro-war and anti-war positions, respectively. Democratic-Republican representatives supported by voters in agrarian regions and Southern and Western states promoted war, asserting that Britain had violated American sovereignty and that despite Britain's strength, war was a manageable risk. Federalists and their supporters in New England and more densely populated Eastern districts opposed the war, citing likely damage to American trade and infrastructure.

This election saw significant voter support shift to the declining Federalists for the last time, almost entirely in New England, New York, and New Jersey. Despite this shift, Federalists did not approach national political recovery, House control, or meaningful policy influence.

Election summaries

Following the 1810 census, the House was reapportioned, adding 39 new seats.

Special elections

There were special elections in 1812 and 1813 to the 12th United States Congress and 13th United States Congress.

Special elections are sorted by date then district.

12th Congress

|- ! | Howell Cobb | | Democratic- Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent resigned before October 1812 to accept a captain's commission in the U.S. Army. New member elected October 5, 1812 and seated November 27, 1812. Democratic-Republican hold. Winner also elected to the next term; see below. | nowrap |

13th Congress

|- | | Election successfully challenged. Democratic-Republican gain. | Isaac Williams Jr. (Democratic-Republican)

Connecticut

Connecticut elected its members September 21, 1812. Its apportionment was unchanged after the 1810 census.

Delaware

Delaware gained a seat after the 1810 census, and chose to elect both seats on a general ticket. The ten years between 1813 and 1823 were the only time when Delaware was represented by more than one Representative, and is one of only three states (the other two being Alaska and Wyoming) that have never been divided into districts.

Delaware elected its members October 6, 1812.

Georgia

Georgia gained two seats after the 1810 census.

Georgia elected its members October 5, 1812.

|- | Howell Cobb | | Democratic-Republican | 1806 | | Incumbent resigned before October 1812 to accept a captain's commission in the U.S. Army. Democratic-Republican hold. Successor elected the same day to finish the current term; see above.

Illinois Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Indiana Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Kentucky

Kentucky gained four seats after the 1810 census.

Georgia elected its members August 3, 1812.

Louisiana

Louisiana held its election for the 13th Congress September 28Ã¢ÂÂ30, 1812, at the same time as the election for the 12th Congress, with nearly-identical results.

12th Congress

|- ! | colspan=3 | None (new state) | | New district, seat created. New member elected September 28Ã¢ÂÂ30, 1812 and seated December 23, 1812. Democratic-Republican gain. Winner elected on the same ballot to the next term; see below. | nowrap |

13th Congress

|- ! | colspan=3 | None (new state) | | New district, seat created. New member elected September 28Ã¢ÂÂ30, 1812. Democratic-Republican gain. Successor elected the same day to finish the current term; see above. | nowrap |

Maryland

Maryland's apportionment was unchanged. It elected its members October 12, 1812.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts gained three seats after the 1810 census, all of which were added to the District of Maine. Its elections were held November 5, 1812, but since Massachusetts law required a majority for election, which was not met in the , a second ballot was held there January 6, 1813.

Mississippi Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Missouri Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire gained one seat after the 1810 census. Its elections were held August 31, 1812.

New Jersey

New Jersey kept its delegation at six seats but changed from electing its Representatives on a statewide general ticket to using three plural districts of two seats each. These districts were used only for the 1812 election, and the state returned to using a single at-large district in 1814. This was only the second time that New Jersey used districts (the first being in 1798).

There was a statewide at-large election held in November 1812, that was invalidated:

New York

Ten seats were added after the 1810 census, bringing New York's representation to 27, the largest of any state at the time. New York would remain the state with the most members until surpassed by California in the 1970 census. There were two separate House of Representatives elections in 1812. The first was held in April 1812 for an un-reapportioned 17 representatives. This election was subsequently declared void and a new election was held on December 15Ã¢ÂÂ17, 1812, in which only three incumbents ran and two of whom were re-elected. New York thereby lost 4 Democratic-Republicans and gained 14 Federalists.

North Carolina

North Carolina gained one representative as a result of the census of 1810. Its elections were held April 30, 1813, after the term began but before Congress's first meeting.

Ohio

The 1810 census revealed dramatic population growth in Ohio since 1800, resulting in its representation increasing from a single Representative to six, resulting in the State being broken up into 6 districts, abolishing the . Jeremiah Morrow (Democratic-Republican), who had served since Ohio achieved statehood in 1803, retired to run for U.S. Senator, so that all six seats were open. Its elections were held October 13, 1812.

There was a special election in the , held due to the death of Representative-elect John S. Edward before Congress met. That election was won by Reasin Beall.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania gained five seats in the House of Representatives as a result of the census of 1810, which awarded it a total of 23 seats. Pennsylvania was re-districted into 15 districts, one with 4 seats, five with 2, and the remaining nine with 1 seat each. There were seven open seats for this election, five resulting from the increase in apportionment, and two resulting from the retirement of incumbents. Its elections were held October 13, 1812.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island's apportionment was unchanged. Its elections were held August 25, 1812.

South Carolina

South Carolina gained one representative as a result of the 1810 census, increasing from 8 seats to 9. Its elections were held October 12Ã¢ÂÂ13, 1812.

Tennessee

Tennessee's representation increased from 3 seats to 6 as a result of the 1810 census.

Its elections were held April 1Ã¢ÂÂ2, 1813, after the term began but before Congress's first meeting.

|- ! | colspan=3 | None (new district) | | New seat. Democratic-Republican gain. The difference between the top two candidates was a single vote. William Kelly unsuccessfully contested the election.

| nowrap |

Vermont

Vermont gained two seats after the 1810 census. Rather than re-district, however, Vermont replaced its districts with a single at-large district. It would continue to use an at-large district in 1814, 1816, and 1818, then one more time in 1822 (with 5 seats).

Its elections were held September 1, 1812.

Virginia

Virginia gained one seat after the 1810 census, bringing its representation in the House of Representatives to 23 seats, the largest number Virginia would ever have. Virginia went from having the most representatives to having the second-most tied with Pennsylvania. New York, with its 27 seats, surpassed Virginia and remained the most populous state until the late 1960s.

Its elections were held in April 1813, after the term began but before Congress's first meeting.

Non-voting delegates

Four territories had delegates in the 13th Congress: Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, and Missouri. Illinois Territory and Missouri Territory elected their delegates in 1812 for both the end of the 12th and the start of the 13th Congresses.

|- ! | colspan=3 | None (new district) | | Illinois Territory had been created in 1809, but was not awarded a delegate until 1812. New delegate elected. Democratic-Republican gain. New delegate seated December 3, 1812. | nowrap |

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links

Office of the Historian (Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)

1812–13 United States House of Representatives elections

Election summaries

Special elections

12th Congress

13th Congress

Connecticut

Delaware

Georgia

Illinois Territory

Indiana Territory

Kentucky

Louisiana

12th Congress

13th Congress

Maryland

Massachusetts

Mississippi Territory

Missouri Territory

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Vermont

Virginia

Non-voting delegates

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links