1840 and 1841 United States House of Representatives elections


Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 27th Congress were held at various dates in different states from July 1840 to November 1841.
In a Whig wave, voters gave the Whig Party a House majority for the first time. Most Americans experienced the Panic of 1837 as a severe economic downturn. Its perceived mishandling by Democratic President Martin Van Buren fueled new support for alternative economic policies favored by Whigs of which voters had previously been skeptical. Collapse of the Anti-Masonic Party in the late 1830s also drove some third-party incumbents into the Whig Party. Newly elected members included Robert M. T. Hunter, Independent of Virginia, and Zadoc Casey, Independent Democrat of Illinois.

Election summaries

The previous election had two minor parties, the Anti-Masonic Party with 6 seats and the Conservative Party with 2 seats, both of which disappeared in this election.
The 1st session of the 27th Congress began May 31, 1841, before Mississippi had elected Representatives, leaving that State unrepresented until the 2nd session.

Special elections

26th Congress

Francis GrangerWhig1838Incumbent resigned March 5, 1841 to become U.S. Postmaster General.
New member elected May 13, 1841.
Whig hold.
Successor seated May 21, 1841.
John GreigWhig1841 Incumbent resigned September 25, 1841.
New member elected.
Whig hold.
Successor seated November 27, 1841.