1864 and 1865 United States House of Representatives elections


Elections to the United States House of Representatives were held in 1864 to elect Representatives to the 39th United States Congress. The election coincided with the presidential election of 1864, in which President Abraham Lincoln was re-elected.
In the midst of the American Civil War, the opposition Democrats were divided between the Copperheads, a group that demanded an immediate negotiated settlement with the Confederate States of America, and the War Democrats, who supported the war. The Democrats lacked a coherent message, and Lincoln's Republican Party gained 50 seats, increasing their majority over the Democrats. The National Union Party lost seven seats, retaining control of 18 seats, all from the border states of Maryland, Tennessee, and Kentucky, as well as West Virginia.

Election summaries

One new seat was added for the new State of Nevada and 8 vacancies were filled by the readmission of Tennessee, the first secessionist state to be readmitted. Three former Confederate States held elections in 1865 that were rejected by Congress.
Of the rejected elections, Florida's and Mississippi's claimants' parties are unknown, while North Carolina elected 4 Union and 3 Conservative Representatives.

California

Note: This was the first election in which California elected representatives from congressional districts.
DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates

Cornelius Cole
.
Republican1863Unknown if incumbent retired or lost renomination.
New member elected.

William Higby
.
Republican1863Incumbent re-elected.

Thomas B. Shannon
.
Republican1863Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.

[|Nevada]

On October 31, 1864, the new state of Nevada elected Republican Henry G. Worthington to finish the term ending March 3, 1865.
Worthington was not renominated for the next term, however, and on November 7, 1865, Republican Delos R. Ashley was elected for the term that had already begun but would not formally meet until December 4, 1865.
DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Henry G. WorthingtonRepublican1864 Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected November 7, 1865.
Republican hold.

Ohio

Ohio's delegation swung wildly from 14–5 Republican to 17-2 Democratic as 10 Democratic incumbents lost renomination or re-election.
DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
George H. PendletonDemocratic1856Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Vice President.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Alexander LongDemocratic1862Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Robert C. SchenckRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.
John F. McKinneyDemocratic1862Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Francis C. Le BlondDemocratic1862Incumbent re-elected.
Chilton A. WhiteDemocratic1860Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Samuel S. CoxDemocratic1862Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
William JohnstonDemocratic1862Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Warren P. NobleDemocratic1860Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
James M. AshleyRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.
Wells A. HutchinsDemocratic1862Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
William E. FinckDemocratic1862Incumbent re-elected.
John O'NeillDemocratic1862Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
George BlissDemocratic1862Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
James R. MorrisDemocratic1862Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Joseph W. WhiteDemocratic1882Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Ephraim R. EckleyRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.
Rufus P. SpaldingRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.
James A. GarfieldRepublican1862Incumbent re-elected.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin elected six members of congress on Election Day, November 8, 1864.

Non-voting members

Colorado Territory

Election date unknown.

Montana Territory

The dates of the elections are speculative, but are presumed to be in 1864 and then 1865.