Elections were held on November 3, 1868, electing the members of the 41st United States Congress. The election took place during the Reconstruction Era, and many Southerners were disfranchised. However, Congress's various Reconstruction Acts required the various states of Southern United States to allow male Black Americans to vote, and their voting power was significant to the election results.
In the presidential election, Republican General Ulysses S. Grant defeated Democratic former governor Horatio Seymour of New York. Incumbent President Andrew Johnson sought the 1868 Democratic nomination, but Seymour took the nomination after twenty-two ballots.
Democrats gained several seats in the House elections, but Republicans continued to maintain a commanding majority. In the Senate elections, Republicans and Democrats both won seats, but Republicans maintained a huge majority in the chamber.
See also 1868 United States presidential election 1868–69 United States House of Representatives elections 1868–69 United States Senate elections
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