The 1952 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the United States House of Representatives to elect members to serve in the 83rd United States Congress. They were held for the most part on November 4, 1952, while Maine held theirs on September 8. This was the first election after the congressional reapportionment based on the 1950 census. It also coincided with the election of President Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower's Republican Party gained 22 seats from the Democratic Party, gaining a majority of the House.
Despite the Republican victory, the Democrats won the popular vote by almost 250,000 votes (0.4%) due to their overwhelming margins in the Solid South. As a result, this marked one of only two times in the 20th century in which the Republicans won a House majority without winning the popular vote, with the other time being in 1996; it was also one of four times where either party did so in the 20th century, with the other three instances occurring in 1914, 1942, and 1996. However, of these four, this election was the only one, and the only such election in US House history as of 2026, where the party that won the popular vote but not the House majority also suffered a net loss in seats.
Though the Democrats continued their winning streak in the Solid South, this election did see the first Republican elected to the House from North Carolina since 1928, and the first Republicans elected from Virginia since 1930. As of 2026, this is the last election in which both major parties increased their share of the popular vote simultaneously, largely due to the disintegration of the American Labor Party and other third parties.
The dismal approval rating of the outgoing president Harry Truman was one reason why his party lost its House majority. Also, continued uneasiness about the Korean War was an important factor. Joseph Martin (R-Massachusetts) became Speaker of the House, exchanging places with Sam Rayburn (D-Texas), who became the new Minority Leader.
This was the last time Republicans won control of the House of Representatives until 1994, despite the GOP controlling the presidency for the majority of the next four decades. Democrats outperformed in downballot elections, especially in the South, which had started to drift towards Republican presidential candidates. , this is the last time the House changed partisan control during a presidential election, and the last time both houses did so simultaneously.
Overall results
{| style="width:70%; text-align:center;"
|+ ↓
|- style="color:white;"
| style="background:red; width:50.80%;" | 221
| style="background:gray; width:0.23%;" | 1
| style="background:blue; width:48.97%;" | 213
|-
| <span style="color:red;">Republican</span>
| <span style="color:gray;">I</span>
| <span style="color:blue;">Democratic</span>
|}
{| class=wikitable
|- valign=bottom
! colspan=2 | Party
! Total<br/>seats
! Seat<br/>change
! Seat<br/>percentage
! Vote<br/>percentage
! Popular<br/>vote
|-
|
| Democratic Party
| align=right | 213
| align=right | 22
| align=right | 49.0%
| align=right | 49.8%
| align=right | 28,642,537
|-
|
| Republican Party
| align=right | 221
| align=right | 22
| align=right | 50.8%
| align=right | 49.3%
| align=right | 28,393,794
|-
|
| Progressive Party
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | 0.3%
| align=right | 145,171
|-
|
| Liberal Party
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | 0.2%
| align=right | 113,631
|-
|
| Independents
| align=right | 1
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.2%
| align=right | 0.2%
| align=right | 111,780
|-
|
| American Labor Party
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | 0.2%
| align=right | 95,597
|-
|
| Prohibition Party
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | 0.1%
| align=right | 38,664
|-
|
| People's Choice Party
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | <0.1%
| align=right | 8,853
|-
|
| Socialist Party
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | <0.1%
| align=right | 4,892
|-
|
| Increase Jobless Pay Party
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | <0.1%
| align=right | 3,432
|-
|
| People's Rights Party
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | <0.1%
| align=right | 2,434
|-
|
| Socialist Workers Party
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | <0.1%
| align=right | 1,750
|-
|
| Square Deal Party
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | <0.1%
| align=right | 548
|-
|
| Independent Citizens Committee
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | <0.1%
| align=right | 247
|-
|
| Socialist Labor Party
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | <0.1%
| align=right | 177
|-
|
| Others
| align=right | 0
| align=right |
| align=right | 0.0%
| align=right | <0.1%
| align=right | 7,233
|-
! colspan=2 | Totals
! align=right | 435
! align=right |
! align=right | 100.0%
! align=right | 100.0%
| align=right | 57,570,740
|-
|align="left" colspan=9|Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk
|}
thumb|400px|Results shaded by winners share of vote
{|
|- valign=top
|
[[Image:83 us house membership.png|thumb|400px|
{| align=center
! colspan=2 align=center | House seats by party holding majority in state
|-
|
|
|-
|
|
|-
|
|
|}]]
|
[[Image:83 us house changes.png|thumb|400px|
{| align=center
! colspan=2 align=center | Change in seats
|-
|
|
|-
|
|
|-
|
|
|-
| colspan=2 align=center |
|}]]
|}
Special elections
Four special elections were held to finish terms in the 82nd United States Congress, which would end January 3, 1953.
{| class=wikitable
|-
! rowspan=2 | District
! colspan=3 | Incumbent
! colspan=2 | This race
|-
! Representative
! Party
! First elected
! Results
! Candidates
|-
!
| T. Vincent Quinn
| | Democratic
| 1948
| | Incumbent resigned December 30, 1951.<br/>New member <!--elected-->elected February 19, 1952.<br/>Republican gain.<br/>Winner lost re-election in November.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| William T. Byrne
| | Democratic
| 1944
| | Incumbent died January 27, 1952.<br/>New member <!--elected-->elected April 1, 1952.<br/>Democratic hold.<br/>Winner won re-election in November.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John A. Whitaker
| | Democratic
| 1948
| | Incumbent died December 15, 1951.<br/>New member <!--elected-->elected August 2, 1952.<br/>Democratic hold.<br/>Winner won re-election in November.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Tom Pickett
| | Democratic
| 1944
| | Incumbent resigned June 30, 1952.<br/>New member <!--elected-->elected September 23, 1952.<br/>Democratic hold.<br/>Winner won re-election in November.
| nowrap |
|}
Alabama
<!---->
{| class=wikitable
|- valign=bottom
! District
! Incumbent
! Party
! First<br/>elected
! Result
! Candidates
|-
!
| Frank W. Boykin
| | Democratic
| 1935
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| George M. Grant
| | Democratic
| 1938
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| George W. Andrews
| | Democratic
| 1944
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Kenneth A. Roberts
| | Democratic
| 1950
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Albert Rains
| | Democratic
| 1944
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Edward deGraffenried
| | Democratic
| 1948
| | Incumbent lost renomination.<br/>Democratic hold.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Carl Elliott
| | Democratic
| 1948
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Robert E. Jones Jr.
| | Democratic
| 1947
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Laurie C. Battle
| | Democratic
| 1946
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|}
Arizona
<!---->
{| class=wikitable
|- valign=bottom
! District
! Incumbent
! Party
! First<br/>elected
! Result
! Candidates
|-
!
| John R. Murdock
| | Democratic
| 1936
| | Incumbent lost re-election.<br/>Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Harold Patten
| | Democratic
| 1948
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|}
Arkansas
<!---->
Arkansas lost one seat in reapportionment leaving it with 6; the existing 4th district along the western edge of the state lost some of its territory to the 3rd district in the northwest, and the rest was merged with the 7th district in the south, with minor changes to other districts.
{| class=wikitable
|- valign=bottom
! District
! Incumbent
! Party
! First<br/>elected
! Result
! Candidates
|-
!
| Ezekiel C. Gathings
| | Democratic
| 1938
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Wilbur Mills
| | Democratic
| 1938
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| James William Trimble
| | Democratic
| 1944
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
! rowspan=2 |
| Boyd Anderson Tackett
| | Democratic
| 1948
| | Incumbent retired to run for Governor of Arkansas.<br/>Democratic loss.
| rowspan=2 |
|-
| Oren Harris<br/>
| | Democratic
| 1940
| Incumbent re-elected.
|-
!
| Brooks Hays
| | Democratic
| 1942
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| William F. Norrell
| | Democratic
| 1938
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|}
California
Seven new seats were added in reapportionment, increasing the delegation from 23 to 30 seats. Two of the new seats were won by Democrats, and five by Republicans. One Republican and one Democratic incumbents lost re-election, and a retiring Democrat was replaced by a Republican. Overall, therefore, Democrats gained one seat and Republicans gained 7.
{| class=wikitable
|- valign=bottom
! District
! Incumbent
! Party
! First<br/>elected
! Result
! Candidates
|-
!
| Hubert B. Scudder
| | Republican
| 1948
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Clair Engle
| | Democratic
| 1943
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| colspan=3 | None (new district)
| | New seat.<br/>Democratic gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Franck R. Havenner
| | Democratic
| 1936/1944
| | Incumbent lost re-election.<br/>Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John F. Shelley
| | Democratic
| 1949
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| colspan=3 | None (new district)
| | New seat.<br/>Democratic gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John J. Allen Jr.
| | Republican
| 1946
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| George P. Miller<br/>
| | Democratic
| 1944
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| colspan=3 | None (new district)
| | New seat.<br/>Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Jack Z. Anderson<br/>
| | Republican
| 1938
| | Incumbent retired.<br/>Republican hold.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| J. Leroy Johnson<br/>
| | Republican
| 1942
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Allan O. Hunter<br/>
| | Republican
| 1950
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Ernest K. Bramblett<br/>
| | Republican
| 1946
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Thomas H. Werdel<br/>
| | Republican
| 1948
| | Incumbent lost re-election.<br/>Democratic gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Gordon L. McDonough
| | Republican
| 1944
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Donald L. Jackson
| | Republican
| 1946
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Cecil R. King
| | Democratic
| 1942
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| colspan=3 | None (new district)
| | New seat.<br/>Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Chet Holifield
| | Democratic
| 1942
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John Carl Hinshaw
| | Republican
| 1938
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| colspan=3 | None (new district)
| | New seat.<br/>Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| colspan=3 | None (new district)
| | New seat.<br/>Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Clyde Doyle<br/>
| | Democratic
| 1948
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Norris Poulson<br/>
| | Republican
| 1932/1946
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Patrick J. Hillings<br/>
| | Republican
| 1950
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Sam Yorty<br/>
| | Democratic
| 1950
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Harry R. Sheppard<br/>
| | Democratic
| 1936
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| colspan=3 | None (new district)
| | New seat.<br/>Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John Phillips<br/>
| | Republican
| 1942
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Clinton D. McKinnon<br/>
| | Democratic
| 1948
| | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator.<br/>Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|}
Colorado
<!---->
{| class=wikitable
|- valign=bottom
! District
! Incumbent
! Party
! First<br/>elected
! Result
! Candidates
|-
!
| Byron G. Rogers
| | Democratic
| 1950
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| William S. Hill
| | Republican
| 1940
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John Chenoweth
| | Republican
| 1950
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Wayne N. Aspinall
| | Democratic
| 1948
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|}
Connecticut
<!---->
{| class=wikitable
|- valign=bottom
! District
! Incumbent
! Party
! First<br/>elected
! Result
! Candidates
|-
!
| Abraham Ribicoff
| | Democratic
| 1948
| | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator.<br/>Democratic hold.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Horace Seely-Brown Jr.
| | Republican
| 1950
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| John A. McGuire
| | Democratic
| 1948
| | Incumbent lost re-election.<br/>Republican gain.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Albert P. Morano
| | Republican
| 1950
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| James T. Patterson
| | Republican
| 1946
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|-
!
| Antoni Sadlak
| | Republican
| 1946
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|}
Delaware
<!---->
{| class=wikitable
|- valign=bottom
! District
! Incumbent
! Party
! First<br/>elected
! Result
! Candidates
|-
!
| J. Caleb Boggs
| | Republican
| 1946
| | Incumbent retired to run for Governor of Delaware.<br/>Republican hold.
| nowrap |
|}
Florida
<!---->
Florida was redistricted from 6 districts to 8, splitting the area around Sarasota out from the Tampa-St. Petersburg based 1st district, and splitting Gainesville out from the Jacksonville-based 2nd district.
|}
Hawaii Territory
<!---->
{| class=wikitable
|-
! rowspan=2 | District
! colspan=3 | Incumbent
! colspan=2 | This race
|-
! Representative
! Party
! First elected
! Results
! Candidates
|-
!
| Joseph Farrington
| | Republican
| 1942
| Incumbent re-elected.
| nowrap |
|}
See also
- 1952 United States elections
- 1952 United States Senate elections
- 1952 United States presidential election
- 82nd United States Congress
- 83rd United States Congress