1816–17 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1816–17 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between April 30, 1816, and August 14, 1817. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 15th United States Congress convened on December 1, 1817. The size of the House increased to 184 after Indiana and Mississippi achieved statehood.

The Democratic-Republican Party entered the election with a large majority, yet made sizable gains, helping trigger the virtually nonpartisan Era of Good Feelings under new President James Monroe, elected in 1816.

Two major events combined to help eliminate the declining Federalist Party from meaningful contention. First, the War of 1812 had concluded in 1815 with a feeling of national pride and relief, with the small American military fighting the much more powerful British forces to a draw punctuated by General Andrew Jackson's dramatic victory at the Battle of New Orleans. Federalists had opposed the risky but ultimately successful war, with some New England Federalists advocating radical measures at the Hartford Convention. Second, the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in present-day Indonesia, itself the most powerful in recorded history and following other major eruptions, temporarily disrupted global climate. The effects severely damaged the agricultural economy of New England, where Federalist support was strongest, causing privation, popular discontent, and mass emigration westward.

Election summaries Mississippi was admitted as a state in 1817 during the 15th Congress, adding one seat.

+ ↓ 144 40 Democratic-Republican Federalist

State Type Date Totalseats Democratic-Republican Federalist Seats Change Seats Change New York Districts April 30 – May 2, 1816 27 22 1 5 1 Louisiana At-large July 1–3, 1816 1 1 0 Kentucky Districts August 5, 1816 10 10 0 New Hampshire At-large August 26, 1816 6 6 6 0 6 Rhode Island At-large August 27, 1816 2 0 2 Vermont At-large September 3, 1816 6 6 6 0 6 Connecticut At-large September 16, 1816 7 0 7 Maryland Districts October 6, 1816 9 5 1 4 1 Delaware At-large October 7, 1816 2 1 1 1 1 Georgia At-large 6 6 0 Ohio Districts October 8, 1816 6 5 1 1 1 Pennsylvania Districts 23 19 1 4 1 South Carolina Districts October 14–15, 1816 9 9 1 0 1 Massachusetts Districts November 4, 1816 20 9 7 11 7 New Jersey At-large November 4–5, 1816 6 6 0 Late elections (after the March 4, 1817 beginning of the term) Virginia Districts April 1817 23 20 1 3 1 Indiana At-large August 4, 1817 1 1 0 Mississippi At-large August 4–5, 1817 1 1 1 0 Tennessee Districts August 7–8, 1817 6 6 0 North Carolina Districts August 14, 1817 13 11 2 Total 184 144 25 40 24

Special elections

There were special elections in 1816 and 1817 to the 14th United States Congress and 15th United States Congress.

Special elections are sorted by date then district.

14th Congress

! | Nathaniel Macon | | Democratic-Republican | 1791 | | Incumbent resigned December 15, 1815 when elected U.S. Senator.New member elected January 22, 1816 and seated February 7, 1816.Democratic-Republican hold.Winner was later re-elected to the next term; see below. | nowrap |

! | Enos T. Throop | | Democratic-Republican | 1814 | | Incumbent resigned June 4, 1816 after losing re-election.New member elected August 27–29, 1816 and seated December 3, 1816.Democratic-Republican hold.Winner was not elected to the next term; see below. | nowrap |

! (Seat B) | William Pinkney | | Democratic-Republican | 17901791 1814 | | Incumbent resigned April 18, 1816 to become Minister to Russia.New member elected September 3, 1816 and seated December 2, 1816.Democratic-Republican hold.Winner was later re-elected to the next term; see below. | nowrap |

! | John McLean | | Democratic-Republican | 1812 | | Incumbent resigned in April 1816 after being appointed to the Supreme Court of Ohio.New member elected October 8, 1816 and seated December 2, 1816.Democratic-Republican hold.Winner also elected to the next term; see below. | nowrap |

! | Thomas Burnside | | Democratic-Republican | 1815 | | Incumbent resigned in April 1816 to accept judicial appointment.New member elected October 8, 1816 and seated December 3, 1816.Democratic-Republican hold.Winner also elected to the next term; see below. | nowrap |

! | William Mayrant | | Democratic-Republican | 1814 | | Incumbent resigned October 21, 1816, having just lost re-election.New member elected November 25 & 26, 1816 and seated January 2, 1817.Democratic-Republican hold.Winner also won the general election; see below. | nowrap |

15th Congress

Connecticut

Connecticut elected its members September 16, 1816.

Delaware

Delaware elected its members October 7, 1816.

Georgia

Georgia elected its members October 7, 1816.

Illinois Territory See Non-voting delegates, below.

Indiana

Indiana elected its member August 4, 1817, having just elected him just the year before to the new seat.

14th Congress

Congress passed enabling legislation permitting the Indiana Territory to write a constitution in 1816. Delegates to the constitutional convention met in Corydon, Indiana, from June 10 to June 29, after which the first state elections took place in August. Congress formally approved the Constitution of Indiana on December 11, nine days after Indiana's representative was seated by the United States House of Representatives.

15th Congress

Kentucky

Kentucky elected its members August 5, 1816.

Louisiana

1816–17 United States House of Representatives elections

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