Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
1794–95 United States House of Representatives elections
House elections for the 4th U.S. Congress From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
The 1794–95 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 25, 1794 (New Hampshire), and September 5, 1795 (Kentucky). Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 4th United States Congress convened on December 7, 1795. They were held during President George Washington's second term. Elections were held for all 105 seats, representing 15 states.
In the first election for the House of Representatives with organized political parties, the Democratic-Republican Party, which opposed the incumbent Washington Administration, defeated the pro-administration Federalist Party. The outgoing speaker, Frederick Muhlenberg, had supported the pro-administration forces during his first two terms, but was elected by a coalition made up mainly of anti-administration members in 1793, and by 1795 he was seen as more favorable to the Democratic-Republicans. Despite the Democratic-Republican majority, however, Muhlenberg was not re-elected, and was succeeded by Federalist Jonathan Dayton.[3]
Remove ads
Election summary
Summarize
Perspective
During this period, each state fixed its own date for a congressional general election. Elections took place both in the even-numbered year before and in the odd-numbered year when a Congress convened. In some states, the congressional delegation was not elected until after the legal start of the Congress (on the 4th day of March in the odd-numbered year).

59 | 47 |
Democratic-Republican | Federalist |
Remove ads
Special elections
Summarize
Perspective
There were special and late elections to the 3rd and 4th Congresses in 1794 and 1795.
3rd Congress
4th Congress
Remove ads
Connecticut
Remove ads
Delaware
Only two candidates are recorded for Delaware's congressional election in 1794, suggesting that the voting procedure in place for the first three Congresses for two candidates had been changed.
Remove ads
Georgia
Remove ads
Kentucky
Remove ads
Maryland
Remove ads
Massachusetts
Summarize
Perspective
Massachusetts redistricted between the 3rd and 4th Congress, dividing itself into 14 districts. The 12th-14th districts were in the District of Maine (the modern State of Maine). A majority was required for election. Additional ballots were required in five districts due to the majority requirement not being met on the first ballot.
Remove ads
New Hampshire
Summarize
Perspective
Under New Hampshire's electoral laws, a majority of voters (12.5% of votes) was required for election. Only three candidates achieved a majority, and so a run-off election was held for the fourth seat.
New Jersey
Remove ads
New York
Summarize
Perspective
New York's districts were not numbered at the time, but were later numbered retroactively.
Remove ads
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Summarize
Perspective
Pennsylvania once again divided itself into districts instead of electing representatives at-large, as it had for the 3rd Congress. The state divided intself into 12 districts, one of which (the 4th) had two seats. Pennsylvania would continue to use one or more plural districts until 1842.
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Summarize
Perspective
Electoral data are only available for the 1st and 5th district of South Carolina's 6 districts at the time of the elections of 1794.
Representative-elect Barnwell of the 2nd district declined to serve. A special election was held to fill the resulting vacancy, electing Wade Hampton (Democratic-Republican).
Southwest Territory
See Non-voting delegates, below.
Vermont
Summarize
Perspective
Vermont law required a majority for election to Congress, with a second election to be held if the first did not return a majority. Run-off elections were required in both districts.
Virginia
Non-voting delegates
3rd Congress
4th Congress
See also
Notes
- Federalist Jonathan Dayton was elected Speaker of the House, despite being from the smaller party.
- Date of election.[4]
- A petition by various citizens of Massachusetts contested the election. The Committee on Elections ruled in the winner's favor and added "that the attempt to deprive him of his seat was rather the act of malevolence than a desire to promote the public good." On January 25, 1797, these words were stricken out and expressions of compliment to the member were substituted, and the report was agreed to.[1]
- The original returns showed Morris in 2nd place and Richards in a close 3rd place, but Richards disputed it. Morris died July 10, 1795, before the House could act. The Elections Committee ruled in favor of Richards on January 18, 1796.
References
Bibliography
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads