1862–63 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1862–63 United States House of Representatives elections were held between June 2, 1862, and November 3, 1863, to elect the 184 members and eight non-voting delegates of the House of Representatives. The Republican–Union coalition lost seats but retained an overall majority against the backdrop of the American Civil War.

In the first real test of opposition to the Lincoln administration, the Democratic Party made large gains in these and concurrent elections held in 1862 and 1863 but failed to take control of the House. Much of the campaign focussed on emancipation and Lincoln's handling of the war. Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, weeks before critical races in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, (October 14) and New York (November 3). Democrats denounced emancipation as tyrannical and a threat to white supremacy. Democratic election propaganda charged their opponents with bloodlust and religious fanaticism and made frequent appeals to anti-Black racism. While Radical Republicans defended the measure, others felt compelled to distance themselves from the president's policy. In Indiana and Ohio, the Union Party downplayed the slavery issue. The issue was particularly troublesome for Unionists in the border states. Kentucky's Union Democratic Party disavowed the proclamation ahead of congressional elections held in August 1863. In Maryland and Missouri, Unionists welcomed emancipation in principle but divided over questions over gradual versus immediate abolition and the enlistment of Black soldiers.

Other issues impacted the election, including Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus, conscription, and the progress of the war. Inconclusive Union victories at Antietam, Corinth, and Perryville contributed to a perception that the administration's military strategy was ineffective. Democrats charged the administration with subordinating the restoration of the Union to the radical social policy of the abolitionist movement.

During this election, the Republican Party formed a coalition with War Democrats and border state unionists who supported the war effort. In most states, this coalition was known as the Union Party or as the Republican–Union Party. In parts of New England and the Upper Midwest, pro-administration candidates still called themselves Republicans. The Missouri Unionists were known as the Emancipation Party and split between Immediate and Gradual Emancipationists during this election. The Republican–Union coalition became the basis for the National Union Party which contested the next election.

While contemporary observers interpreted the elections as a "severe reproof" of the administration, the results of the elections were inconclusive. Democrats flipped more than 30 seats compared to the last election, while Republican–Unionists suffered serious losses across the Lower North. The strong showing for Union candidates in the border states, however, salvaged the Republican–Unionist majority. Among the defeated Republican–Unionists was the incumbent speaker of the House of Representatives Galusha A. Grow, who lost his Pennsylvania district to a Democratic challenger. This was the last election in which a sitting speaker of the House was defeated for re-election until 1994, when George Nethercutt defeated Tom Foley in Washington's 5th congressional district.

Results Federal + ↓ 73 12 98 Democratic Republican–Union

+ 1862–63 United States House of Representatives elections Parties Seats Popular vote 1860–61 1862–63 ± % Votes % Union Party 12 56 44 30.60 1,134,687 35.40 Republican Party 108 36 72 19.67 412,647 12.87 Immediate Emancipation Party 0 4 4 2.18 25,328 0.79 Emancipation Party 0 1 1 0.55 14,415 0.45 Gradual Emancipation Party 0 1 1 0.55 4,901 0.15 Democratic Party 43 73 30 39.89 1,444,328 45.06 Union Democratic Party 9 8 1 4.37 59,550 1.86 Independent Republican–Unionist 0 1 1 0.55 15,519 0.48 War Democrats 0 1 1 0.55 13,255 0.41 Conservative Union Party 0 1 1 0.55 9,937 0.31 Unconditional Union Democratic Party 0 1 1 0.55 6,936 0.22 People's Party 0 0 0.00 45,285 1.41 Union Party (Kansas) 0 0 0.00 4,666 0.15 Independent Democrats 1 0 1 0.00 4,393 0.14 Peace Democrats 0 0 0.00 2,857 0.09 Independent Union Democrat 0 0 0.00 2,487 0.08 Others 7 0 7 0.00 4,506 0.14 Total 183 183 100.00 3,205,697 100.00

Results by state State Type Date Total seats Democratic Republican–Union Others Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change Seats Change Oregon At-large June 2, 1862 1 0 1 1 1 0 Maine Districts September 8, 1862 5 1 1 1 4 2 0 Indiana Districts October 14, 1862 11 7 3 4 3 0 Iowa Districts 6 4 0 6 4 0 Ohio Districts 19 2 14 6 5 8 0 Pennsylvania Districts 24 1 12 6 12 7 0 Delaware At-large November 1, 1862 1 1 1 0 1 0 Massachusetts Districts 10 1 0 10 0 1 Illinois Mixed November 4, 1862(Election Day) 14 5 9 4 5 1 0 Kansas At-large 1 0 1 0 Michigan Districts 6 2 1 1 5 1 0 Minnesota Districts 2 0 2 0 Missouri Districts 9 2 2 3 6 5 1 New Jersey Districts 5 4 1 1 1 0 New York Districts 31 2 17 7 14 9 0 Wisconsin Districts 6 3 3 3 3 0 Late elections (after the March 4, 1863 beginning of the term) New Hampshire Districts March 10, 1863 3 1 1 2 1 0 Rhode Island Districts April 1, 1863 2 0 2 2 0 2 Connecticut Districts April 6, 1863 4 1 1 3 1 0 Kentucky Districts August 3, 1863 9 1 0 0 9 1 Vermont Districts September 1, 1863 3 0 3 0 California At-large September 2, 1863 3 0 3 0 West Virginia Districts October 22, 1863 3 3 0 3 3 0 Maryland Districts November 3, 1863 5 1 1 1 4 1 0 1 Seceded states not holding elections Alabama Districts None 6 1 Arkansas Districts None 3 1 Florida At-large None 1 Georgia Districts None 7 1 Louisiana Districts None 5 1 Mississippi Districts None 5 North Carolina Districts None 7 1 South Carolina Districts None 4 2 Tennessee Districts None 8 2 3 Texas Districts None 4 2 Virginia Districts None 11 2 4 Total 183 4 74 30 99 22 10 5 58 Vacancies 40.4% 54.1% 5.5%

Maps

Reapportionment Reapportionment took place following the 1860 United States census. The 1862 apportionment act increased the size of the House to 241 seats from 233. Fifty-eight seats were vacant due to secession.

Three seats were transferred from Virginia to West Virginia following the latter's admission on June 20, 1863. One seat was allocated to Nevada upon its admission on October 31, 1864, increasing the size of the House to 242 seats and the number of elected members to 184.

Special elections

Special elections were held in 1862 and 1863 to fill 12 vacancies in the 37th Congress and four vacancies in the 38th Congress.

37th Congress

38th Congress

Alabama

Alabama did not hold elections as a result of secession.

Arkansas

Arkansas held no elections in 1862 or 1863 as a result of secession. Late elections were held in 1864, but the elected members were not seated by the House.

California

California elected its members on September 2, 1863, after the term began but before Congress convened. Voters chose three members on a statewide general ticket to represent the state's at-large congressional district.

Connecticut

Connecticut elected its members April 6, 1863, after the term began but before Congress convened.

Colorado Territory See non-voting delegates, below.

Delaware

Delaware elected its member on November 1, 1862.

Dakota Territory See non-voting delegates, below.

Florida

Florida did not hold elections as a result of secession.

Georgia

Georgia did not hold elections as a result of secession.

! | colspan=3 | Vacant

1862–63 United States House of Representatives elections

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