1842 and 1843 United States House of Representatives elections


Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 28th Congress were held during President John Tyler's term at various dates in different states between August 1842 and February 1844.
The Whig Party spectacularly lost the seemingly comfortable majority won in 1840. Whig President William Henry Harrison had died within a month of taking office. His successor President John Tyler was only nominally a Whig and had not been properly validated for alignment to Whig policy. Effectively an independent, Tyler was disliked by politicians and unpopular with voters of both parties, leaving the Whigs unexpectedly leaderless and embarrassed by visibly persistent political disarray. Despite the improving economy, rural voters favored Democrats, again rejecting Whig economic nationalism. Whigs won only 73 seats. Democrats won a majority with 148 seats. In Rhode Island, the Law and Order Party, formed in response to the Dorr Rebellion, won two seats.

Election summaries

Apportionment was based on the Census of 1840 and was unusual in that the number of House seats was decreased, from 242 to 223. The apportionment bill of 1840 mandated that all Representatives be elected from single-Representative contiguous districts, abolishing plural districts and at-large districts. Four states that did not comply with this new law delayed redistricting.

Special elections

In 1842, there were two special elections in. Incumbent Robert C. Winthrop resigned May 25, 1842 due to the death of his wife. A June election was held in which Nathan Appleton was elected. Appleton resigned, however, September 28, 1842 and Winthrop was re-elected back to the seat November 29, 1842.
There was also a December 7, 1843 special election in in which Joseph Grinnell was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the June 15, 1843 death of Barker Burnell.

Maryland

Maryland's elections to the next Congress were held February 14, 1844. See 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland.