1916 United States House of Representatives elections were elections for the United States House of Representatives to elect members to serve in the 65th United States Congress. They were held for the most part on November 7, 1916, while Maine held theirs on September 11. They coincided with the re-election of President Woodrow Wilson.
Wilson eked out a narrow re-election, but his Democratic Party lost seats to the Republican Party. Wilson's hybrid approach, which injected a progressive element into Democratic policies, had proved to be dissatisfying to much of the nation. International affairs also became important in the traditionally non-interventionist United States, as voters attempted to determine which party would be best served to keep the nation from entering the Great War.
Republicans won a plurality of seats in the 1916 election. However, when the 65th Congress convened in April 1917, the Democrats narrowly maintained control of the House, forming an alliance with third-party (Progressive and Socialist) members. Not since the 34th Congress (1855–1857) had the party with the most seats not been part of the ruling government. This Congress is the last example to date of a type of coalition holding power in the House, rather than a single party winning a majority of seats. This was also the last time that no party in the house held an overall majority.
Jeannette Rankin, a Republican from Montana, became the first woman ever elected to congress.
Election summaries
{| style="width:70%; text-align:center"
|+ ↓
|- style="color:white"
| style="background:; width:49.20%" | 214
| style="background:; width:0.69%" | 5
| style="background:; width:49.66%" | 216
|-
| <span style="color:blue" >Democratic</span>
|
| <span style="color:red" >Republican</span>
|}
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|- valign=bottom
! rowspan=2|State
! rowspan=2|Type
! rowspan=2|Total<br/>seats
! colspan=2 | Democratic
! colspan=2 | Progressive
! colspan=2 | Republican
! colspan=2 | Others
|-
! | Seats
! | Change
! | Seats
! | Change
! | Seats
! | Change
! Seats
! Change
|-
! Alabama
| District
| 10
| | 10
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Arizona
| At-large
| 1
| | 1
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Arkansas
| District
| 7
| | 7
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| 0
|
|-
! California
| District
| 11
| | 4
| | 1
| | 1
| | 1
| | 5
| | 1
| | 1
| | 1
|-
! Colorado
| District
| 4
| | 3
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 1
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Connecticut
| District
| 5
| | 1
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 4
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Delaware
| At-large
| 1
| | 1
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Florida
| District
| 4
| | 4
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Georgia
| District
| 12
| | 12
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Idaho
| At-large
| 2
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 2
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Illinois
| District<br/>+2 at-large
| 27
| | 6
| | 4
| | 0
| | 1
| | 21
| | 5
| 0
|
|-
! Indiana
| District
| 13
| | 4
| | 7
| | 0
| |
| | 9
| | 7
| 0
|
|-
! Iowa
| District
| 11
| | 0
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 11
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Kansas
| District
| 8
| | 5
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 3
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Kentucky
| District
| 11
| | 9
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 2
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Louisiana
| District
| 8
| | 7
| | 1
| | 1
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Maine
| District
| 4
| | 0
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 4
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Maryland
| District
| 6
| | 4
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 2
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Massachusetts
| District
| 16
| | 4
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 12
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Michigan
| District
| 13
| | 1
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 12
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Minnesota
| District
| 10
| | 1
| |
| | 0
| | 1
| | 9
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Mississippi
| District
| 8
| | 8
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Missouri
| District
| 16
| | 14
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 2
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Montana
| At-large
| 2
| | 1
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 1
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Nebraska
| District
| 6
| | 3
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 3
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Nevada
| At-large
| 1
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 1
| |
| 0
|
|-
! New Hampshire
| District
| 2
| | 0
| | 2
| | 0
| |
| | 2
| | 2
| 0
|
|-
! New Jersey
| District
| 12
| | 3
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 9
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! New Mexico
| At-large
| 1
| | 1
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! New York
| District
| 43
| | 16
| | 3
| | 0
| | 1
| | 26
| | 4
| | 1
| |
|-
! North Carolina
| District
| 10
| | 10
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! North Dakota
| District
| 3
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 3
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Ohio
| District
| 22
| | 13
| | 4
| | 0
| |
| | 9
| | 4
| 0
|
|-
! Oklahoma
| District
| 8
| | 6
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 2
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Oregon
| District
| 3
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 3
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Pennsylvania
| District<br/>+4 at-large
| 36
| | 6
| |
| | 1
| | 1
| | 29
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Rhode Island
| District
| 3
| | 1
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 2
| |
| 0
|
|-
! South Carolina
| District
| 7
| | 7
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| 0
|
|-
! South Dakota
| District
| 3
| | 1
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 2
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Tennessee
| District
| 10
| | 8
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 2
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Texas
| District<br/>+2 at-large
| 18
| | 18
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Utah
| District
| 2
| | 2
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Vermont
| District
| 2
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 2
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Virginia
| District
| 10
| | 9
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 1
| |
| 0
|
|-
! Washington
| District
| 5
| | 1
| | 1
| | 0
| | 2
| | 4
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! West Virginia
| District
| 6
| | 2
| | 1
| | 0
| |
| | 4
| | 1
| 0
|
|-
! Wisconsin
| District
| 11
| | 0
| | 3
| | 0
| |
| | 11
| | 3
| 0
|
|-
! Wyoming
| At-large
| 1
| | 0
| |
| | 0
| |
| | 1
| |
| 0
|
|-
| align=center colspan=2 | Total
| 435
| | 214<br/>
| | 16
| | 3<br/>
| | 2
| | 216<br/>
| | 19
| 2<br/>
| 1
|}
The Democrats retained control of the House by forming a coalition with the three Progressive members and the single Socialist member, combining to form a razor-thin majority of 218 Representatives.
{|
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| [[File:65 us house membership.png|thumb|450px|
{| width=100%
! colspan=2 align=center | House seats by party holding plurality in state
|-
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|
|} ]]
| [[File:65 us house changes.png|thumb|450px|
{| width100%
! colspan=3 align=center | Net gain in party representation
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
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|-
| colspan=3 align=center |
|} ]]
|}
Early election date
Maine held its election early, on September 11, 1916. There had previously been multiple states with earlier elections, but between 1914 and 1958, Maine was alone in holding early elections.
Special elections
There were special elections in 1916 to the 64th United States Congress.
Special elections are sorted by date then district.
|-
!
| Samuel A. Witherspoon
| | Democratic
| 1910
| | Incumbent died November 24, 1915.<br/>New member elected January 4, 1916.<br/>Democratic hold.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| William G. Brown Jr.
| | Democratic
| 1910
| | Incumbent died March 9, 1916.<br/>New member <!--elected-->elected May 9, 1916.<br/>Republican gain.<br/>Winner was later re-elected; see below.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| William Stephens
| | Progressive
| 1910
| | Incumbent resigned July 22, 1916 to become Lieutenant Governor of California.<br/>New member elected November 7, 1916.<br/> Progressive hold.<br/>Winner was not elected to the next term; see below.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| James Hay
| | Democratic
| 1896
| | Incumbent resigned October 1, 1916 to become Judge of the United States Court of Claims.<br/>New member elected November 7, 1916.<br/>Democratic hold.<br/>Winner was also elected to the next term; see below.
| nowrap |
|}
Alabama
|-
!
| Oscar L. Gray
| | Democratic
| 1914
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| S. Hubert Dent Jr.
| | Democratic
| 1908
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Henry B. Steagall
| | Democratic
| 1914
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Fred L. Blackmon
| | Democratic
| 1910
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| J. Thomas Heflin
| | Democratic
| 1904
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| William B. Oliver
| | Democratic
| 1914
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John L. Burnett
| | Democratic
| 1898
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Edward B. Almon
| | Democratic
| 1914
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| George Huddleston
| | Democratic
| 1914
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| colspan=3 | None
| | New seat.<br>Democratic gain.
| nowrap |
|}
Arizona
|-
!
| William Kent
| | Independent
| 1910
| | Incumbent retired.<br/>Democratic gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John E. Raker
| | Democratic
| 1910
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Charles F. Curry
| | Republican
| 1912
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Julius Kahn
| | Republican
| 1898
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John I. Nolan
| | Republican
| 1912
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John A. Elston
| | Progressive
| 1912
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Denver S. Church
| | Democratic
| 1912
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Everis A. Hayes
| | Republican
| 1904
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Charles H. Randall
| | Prohibition
| 1914
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| colspan=3 | Vacant
| | William Stephens (P) resigned July 22, 1916 to become Lieutenant Governor of California.<br/>Republican gain.<br/>Successor was not elected to finish the term.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| William Kettner
| | Democratic
| 1912
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|}
Colorado
|-
!
| Benjamin C. Hilliard
| | Democratic
| 1914
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Charles B. Timberlake
| | Republican
| 1914
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Edward Keating
| | Democratic
| 1912
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Edward T. Taylor
| | Democratic
| 1908
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|}
Connecticut
|-
!
|P. Davis Oakey
| |Republican
|1914
| |Incumbent lost re-election.<br />Democratic gain.
| nowrap="" |
|-
!
|Richard P. Freeman
| |Republican
|1914
|Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap="" |
|-
!
|John Q. Tilson
| |Republican
|1914
|Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap="" |
|-
!
|Ebenezer J. Hill
| |Republican
|1914
|Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap="" |
|-
!
|James P. Glynn
| |Republican
|1914
|Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap="" |
|}
Delaware
|-
!
| Sydney Anderson
| | Republican
| 1910
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Franklin Ellsworth
| | Republican
| 1914
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Charles R. Davis
| | Republican
| 1902
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Carl Van Dyke
| | Democratic
| 1914
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| George R. Smith
| | Republican
| 1912
| |Incumbent lost renomination.<br>Republican hold.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Charles A. Lindbergh
| | Republican
| 1906
| |Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator.<br>Republican hold.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Andrew Volstead
| | Republican
| 1902
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Clarence B. Miller
| | Republican
| 1908
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Halvor Steenerson
| | Republican
| 1902
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Thomas D. Schall
| | Progressive
| 1914
| | Incumbent re-elected, then joined Republicans.<br />Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|}
Mississippi
|-
!
| Hubert D. Stephens
| | Democratic
| 1910
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Benjamin G. Humphreys II
| | Democratic
| 1902
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Thomas U. Sisson
| | Democratic
| 1908
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| William W. Venable
| | Democratic
| 1916 <small>(special)</small>
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Pat Harrison
| | Democratic
| 1910
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Percy Quin
| | Democratic
| 1912
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| James Collier
| | Democratic
| 1908
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|}
Missouri
North Dakota
|-
!
| Henry A. Cooper
| | Republican
| 1892
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Michael E. Burke
| | Democratic
| 1910
| | Incumbent lost re-election.<br>Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John M. Nelson
| | Republican
| 1906
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| William J. Cary
| | Republican
| 1906
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| William H. Stafford
| | Republican
| 1912
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Michael Reilly
| | Democratic
| 1912
| | Incumbent lost re-election.<br>Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John J. Esch
| | Republican
| 1898
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Edward E. Browne
| | Republican
| 1912
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Thomas F. Konop
| | Democratic
| 1910
| | Incumbent lost re-election.<br>Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| James A. Frear
| | Republican
| 1912
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Irvine Lenroot
| | Republican
| 1908
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|}
Wyoming
|-
| | Election successfully contested.<br>Incumbent re-seated January 7, 1919.<br>Republican hold.
| nowrap |
|}
Hawaii Territory
|}
Philippines
|-
| Manuel Earnshaw
| | Nonpartisan
| 1912
| | Incumbent retired.<br>Nonpartisan hold.
|}
See also
- 1916 United States elections
- 1916 United States presidential election
- 1916 United States Senate elections
- 64th United States Congress
- 65th United States Congress
Notes
References
Bibliography
External links
- Office of the Historian (Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)