1886 United States House of Representatives elections


Elections to the United States House of Representatives were held in 1886 for Representatives to the 50th Congress, taking place in the middle of President Grover Cleveland's first term.
As in many midterm elections, Cleveland's Democratic Party lost seats to the opposition Republican Party, although a narrow majority was retained. Many of these Republican pickups were in the industrializing Midwest states, where the debate over tariffs, which were advocated by Republicans to protect domestic industry but opposed by Democrats to allow for free agricultural trade, led to political change. The small Labor Party, supported by industrial workers, gained one seat each in Virginia and Wisconsin, while the Greenback Party maintained its one seat in Iowa. John Nichols was also elected as an Independent to North Carolina's 4th congressional district.

Election summaries

There were 2 Labor Party and 1 Independent members elected, and 1 Greenback Party member re-elected in Iowa. The previous election saw just the Greenback elected.

Special elections

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Lewis BeachDemocratic1880Incumbent died August 10, 1886.
New member elected November 2, 1886.
Democratic hold.
Successor also elected the same day to the next term, [|see below].

Early election dates

In 1886, three states, with 7 seats among them, held elections early:
DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Barclay HenleyDemocratic1882Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold
James A. LouttitRepublican1884Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
Joseph McKennaRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
William W. MorrowRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
Charles N. FeltonRepublican1884Incumbent re-elected.
Henry MarkhamRepublican1884Incumbent retired.
Republican hold

Florida

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Robert H. M. DavidsonDemocratic1876Incumbent re-elected.
Charles DoughertyDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.

New York

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Lewis BeachDemocratic1880Incumbent died August 10, 1886.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Successor also elected the same day to finish the current term.

South Carolina

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Samuel DibbleDemocratic1882Incumbent re-elected.
George D. TillmanDemocratic1878Incumbent re-elected.
D. Wyatt AikenDemocratic1876Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
William H. PerryDemocratic1884Incumbent re-elected.
John J. HemphillDemocratic1882Incumbent re-elected.
George W. DarganDemocratic1882Incumbent re-elected.
Robert SmallsRepublican1884 Incumbent lost re-election.
Democratic gain.

Non-voting members

Montana Territory