1808 and 1809 United States House of Representatives elections


Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 11th Congress were held at various dates in different states between April 1808 and May 1809 as James Madison was elected President.
Despite Madison's victory, voters in districts whose economies were driven by shipping or manufacturing rather than agriculture shifted to the Federalist Party mainly due to the unpopularity of the Embargo Act of 1807 and fears that Democratic-Republican Party policies could trigger a naval war with France or Britain. The politically dominant Democratic-Republicans won their smallest majority since the pivotal, realigning election of 1800.

Election summaries

Special elections

There were special elections in 1808 and 1809 during the 10th United States Congress and 11th United States Congress.
Elections are sorted here by date then district.

10th Congress

11th Congress

Connecticut

Delaware

Georgia

Kentucky

Maryland

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

Between the 1806 and 1808 elections, New York went through a redistricting that reduced the number of districts to 15 by creating two plural districts with two seats each. This brought the state's 17-seat delegation from a 15-2 ratio favoring Democratic-Republicans to a nearly-even 9-8 split in their favor.

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Vermont

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates

James WitherellDemocratic-Republican1806Incumbent resigned May 1, 1808.
New member elected.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Successor was also elected the same day to finish the current term, [|see above].

James ElliotFederalist1802Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Federalist hold.

James FiskDemocratic-Republican1802Lost re-election.
New member elected.
Federalist gain.

Martin ChittendenFederalist1802Incumbent re-elected.

Virginia

Non-voting delegates

Three territories sent non-voting delegates to the 11th Congress.
In Indiana Territory, Thomas Randolph unsuccessfully contested the election of Jennings. This was the first election for Delegate in Indiana Territory to be decided by popular vote rather than by the legislature. Mississippi Territory also elected its delegate by popular vote. Orleans Territory retained legislative election of its delegate.