The 1862–63 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between June 2, 1862, and November 3, 1863, during the American Civil War and President Abraham Lincoln's first term. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 38th United States Congress convened on December 7, 1863. The congressional reapportionment based on the 1860 United States census was performed assuming the seceded states were still in the union, increasing the number of congressional districts to 241. West Virginia was given three seats from Virginia after the former broke away from the latter to rejoin the union as a separate state. The seceded states remained unrepresented and left 58 vacancies. Republicans lost 22 seats and the majority, while Democrats gained 28.
The Civil War to date had been only weakly successful for the Union, but had wrought major, disruptive change in the size and reach of the Federal Government, which before the war had been small and little seen beyond post offices, customs houses in ports, and scattered military posts. The Republican Party was also relatively new, yet had led the Union down a radical path of rapid industrialization and destructive total war.
Voters turned on the administration over its failure to deliver a swift victory over the Confederate rebellion (at times verging on military incompetence), along with rising inflation and new taxes to pay for the war effort, the suspension of habeas corpus, and the introduction of conscription.
Expressing a typical sentiment, the Cincinnati Gazette had editorialized that voters "are depressed by the interminable nature of this war, as so far conducted, and by the rapid exhaustion of the national resources without progress."[3] Short of a majority, Republicans retained control with the support of the Unconditional Union Party. In September 1862, President Lincoln had warned the South that he planned by executive order, and as a war measure, to liberate all slaves in rebelling states as of January 1, 1863. The popularity of emancipation varied by region. It was more popular in New England and areas near the Great Lakes, and less popular in cities with large immigrant populations and in the southern portion of the North.
While Democrats hailed the elections as a repudiation of emancipation, the results did not alter Lincoln's plan or hamper prosecution of the war.[4] In Lincoln's home district of Springfield, Illinois, John T. Stuart, a Democrat and one of Lincoln's former law partners, defeated the Republican incumbent. A fear of an influx of freed slaves competing for jobs and depressing wages, and a desire by white voters to prevent black suffrage, helped drive this result and others.[5]
The sitting House Speaker, Galusha Grow of Pennsylvania, also lost re-election, but he would return to the House 30 years later in 1894. A Speaker of the House would not lose re-election again until 1994.
The eight Representatives remaining from Tennessee and Virginia in the 37th Congress were absent from the 38th Congress. Other seceded states remained unrepresented, leaving 58 vacancies[6] Upon admission, West Virginia was allotted three Representatives [7] and during the second session one seat was added for the new state of Nevada.[8]
Reapportionment transpired according to the 1860 census, under the 1850 Apportionment Act[9] providing a total of 233 seats. A later Act added eight seats,[10] increasing the total to 241.
There were seven special elections during the 37th Congress, and two during the 38th Congress.
Alabama elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.
Arkansas elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.
Note: From statehood to 1866, California's representatives were elected state-wide at-large, with the top two vote-getters winning election from 1849 to 1858. In 1860, when California gained a seat, the top three vote-getters were elected.
California elected its members September 2, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened.
Connecticut elected its members April 6, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened. The democratic party lost a seat while the Republicans gained one.
See non-voting delegates, below.
Delaware elected its sole member November 1, 1862.
See non-voting delegates, below.
Florida elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.
Georgia elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.
See non-voting delegates, below.
Illinois elected its members November 4, 1862.
Indiana elected its members October 14, 1862.
Iowa elected its members October 14, 1862.
Kansas elected its member November 4, 1862.
Kentucky elected its members August 3, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened.
Although Louisiana had withdrawn from the Union during the Civil War, elections were held on December 3, 1862, for the two congressional districts in portions of the state under Union control.[11] The seats had been vacant since the end of the 36th Congress; however, Flanders and Hahn were not seated until February 17, 1863,[12] 15 days before the end of their term.[13]
Maine elected its members September 8, 1862.
Maryland elected its members November 3, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened.
Massachusetts elected its members November 1, 1862.
Michigan elected its members November 4, 1862.
Minnesota elected its members November 4, 1862.
Mississippi elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.
Missouri elected its members November 4, 1862.
See non-voting delegates, below.
See non-voting delegates, below.
New Hampshire elected its members March 10, 1863.
See non-voting delegates, below.
New Jersey elected its members November 4, 1862.
New York elected its members November 4, 1862. The state lost two seats in reapportionment, going from 33 members to 31.
North Carolina elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.
Ohio elected its members October 14, 1862.
Oregon elected its members June 2, 1862.
Pennsylvania elected its members October 14, 1862.
Rhode Island elected its members April 1, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened.
South Carolina elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.
Tennessee elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.
Texas elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War.
See non-voting delegates, below.
Vermont elected its members September 1, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened.
Virginia elected its members May 28, 1863, but they were all disqualified.
See non-voting delegates, below.
West Virginia elected three representatives on October 22, 1863, after becoming a state on June 20, 1863, but before the Congress convened. It was made up of three districts that previously belonged to Virginia, all of which were vacant before the elections. They were seated on December 7, 1863.
Wisconsin elected six U.S. Representatives on Election Day, 4 November 1862; Democrats gained three seats.
Three seats were newly apportioned. One incumbent was redistricted and won re-election in his new district, but died on 19 November. Two special elections were held 30 December 1862, to replace him for both the remainder of his old term and his new term.[29]