1918 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1918 United States House of Representatives elections were elections for the United States House of Representatives to elect members to serve in the 66th United States Congress. They were held for the most part on November 5, 1918, while Maine held theirs on September 9. They occurred in the middle of President Woodrow Wilson's second term.

With the country in World War I (contrary to previous promises by Wilson), and Wilson's personal popularity ebbing, the Republicans gained 25 seats and took over control of the House from Wilson's Democrats. Internal divide among Democratic leadership over aspects related to payment of the war also decreased the unity of the party, which had been the organization's strength during the decade. The Progressive Party also disappeared, with its former members generally becoming Democrats. Minnesota's Farmer–Labor Party, a descendant of populism, also gained its very first seat.

Frederick H. Gillett (R-Massachusetts) became Speaker, and previous speaker Champ Clark (D-Missouri) became Minority Leader.

Background

Woodrow Wilson was elected to the presidency in the 1912 presidential election and his victory in the 1916 election made him the first Democratic president to win reelection since Andrew Jackson had in the 1832 election.

Wilson's wheat policies aided in the Democratic defeat. The Food and Fuel Control Act allowed for the cost of wheat to be set at a price control limit of $2.20 per bushel while other products like cotton were not. Wilson later vetoed an attempt by the Republicans to increase the limit to $2.40 per bushel. Republicans were more likely to gain seats in areas with higher amounts of wheat acreage with the Republicans gaining twenty-two seats in the ten highest wheat producing states while the Democrats only gained two seats.

Wilson was also unable to aid the Democratic candidates before the election due to his preparations for involvement in the Paris Peace Conference.

Overall results

Party Totalseats Change Seatpercentage Republican Party 240 25 55.2% Democratic Party 192 22 44.2% Farmer–Labor Party 1 1 0.2% Prohibition Party 1 0.2% Totals 4351 Unopposed

1 One vacancy, Victor L. Berger, a member of the Socialist Party of America, whom the House refused to seat.

Election summaries + ↓ 192 3 240Democratic Republican

State Type Totalseats Republican Democratic Progressive Others Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change Alabama Districts 10 0 10 0 0 Arizona At-large 1 0 1 0 0 Arkansas Districts 7 0 7 0 0 California Districts 11 6 1 4 0 1 1 Colorado Districts 4 3 2 1 2 0 0 Connecticut Districts 5 4 1 0 0 Delaware At-large 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 Florida Districts 4 0 4 0 0 Georgia Districts 12 0 12 0 0 Idaho District 2 2 0 0 0 Illinois District+2 at-large 27 22 1 5 1 0 0 Indiana Districts 13 13 4 0 4 0 0 Iowa Districts 11 11 0 0 0 Kansas Districts 8 7 4 1 4 0 0 Kentucky Districts 11 3 1 8 1 0 0 Louisiana Districts 8 0 8 1 0 1 0 Maine Districts 4 4 0 0 0 Maryland Districts 6 3 1 3 1 0 0 Massachusetts Districts 16 12 4 0 0 Michigan Districts 13 12 1 0 0 Minnesota Districts 10 8 1 1 0 1 1 Mississippi Districts 8 0 8 0 0 Missouri Districts 16 5 3 11 3 0 0 Montana District 2 1 1 0 0 Nebraska Districts 6 6 3 0 3 0 0 Nevada At-large 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 New Hampshire Districts 2 2 0 0 0 New Jersey Districts 12 7 2 5 2 0 0 New Mexico At-large 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 New York Districts 43 24 2 19 3 0 0 1 North Carolina Districts 10 0 10 0 0 North Dakota Districts 3 3 0 0 0 Ohio Districts 22 14 5 8 5 0 0 Oklahoma Districts 8 1 1 7 1 0 0 Oregon Districts 3 3 0 0 0 Pennsylvania District+4 at-large 36 30 1 6 0 1 0 Rhode Island Districts 3 3 1 0 1 0 0 South Carolina Districts 7 0 7 0 0 South Dakota Districts 3 2 1 0 0 Tennessee Districts 10 2 8 0 0 Texas District 18 0 18 0 0 Utah Districts 2 0 2 0 0 Vermont Districts 2 2 0 0 0 Virginia Districts 10 1 9 0 0 Washington Districts 5 5 1 0 1 0 0 West Virginia District 6 5 1 1 1 0 0 Wisconsin Districts 11 10 1 0 0 1 1 Wyoming At-large 1 1 0 0 0 Total 435 239 23 193 21 0 3 3 1

Special elections

Sorted by election date, then by state/district. District Incumbent This race Member Party First elected Results Candidates John J. Fitzgerald Democratic 1898 Incumbent resigned December 31, 1917.Successor was elected March 5, 1918.Democratic hold. Daniel J. Griffin Democratic 1912 Incumbent resigned December 31, 1917, after being elected Sheriff of Kings County, New York.Successor was elected March 5, 1918.Democratic hold. George M. Hulbert Democratic 1914 Incumbent resigned January 1, 1918, to become Commissioner of Docks and director of the Port of New York.Successor was elected March 5, 1918.Democratic hold. Henry Bruckner Democratic 1912 Incumbent resigned December 31, 1917.Successor was elected March 5, 1918.Democratic hold. Charles Martin Democratic 1916 Incumbent resigned October 28, 1917.Successor was elected April 2, 1918.Democratic hold. William A. Jones Democratic 1890 Incumbent died April 17, 1918.Successor was elected July 2, 1918.Democratic hold. Fred Talbott Democratic 18781884 18921894 1902 Incumbent died October 5, 1918.Successor was elected November 5, 1918.Democratic hold. Jacob E. Meeker Republican 1914 Incumbent died October 16, 1918.New member elected November 5, 1918.Republican hold.Winner was not elected to the next term; see below.Republican hold. John H. Capstick Republican 1914 Incumbent died March 17, 1918.Successor was elected November 5, 1918.Republican hold. Ellsworth Raymond Bathrick Democratic 1916 Incumbent died December 23, 1917.New member elected November 5, 1918.Democratic hold.Winner was elected to the next term; see below.Democratic hold. James H. Davidson Republican 18961912 1916 Incumbent died August 6, 1918.Successor was elected November 5, 1918.Republican hold. Irvine Lenroot Republican 1908 Incumbent resigned April 17, 1918, after being elected to the U.S. Senate.Successor was elected November 5, 1918.Republican hold.

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

This was the first election in which Idaho was divided into districts, formerly it had had a single at-large district with two seats.

Illinois

1918 United States House of Representatives elections

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