United States House election, 1896
Encyclopedia
The U.S. House election, 1896 was an election for the United States House of Representatives
in 1896 which coincided with the election of President
William McKinley
.
In spite of McKinley's victory over William Jennings Bryan
, both the Democratic and Populist parties gained seats from McKinley's Republican Party. This is most likely a reaction to the extraordinary Republican gains in 1894, in which many normally Democratic districts switched parties due to the severity of and fallout from the Panic of 1893
. Many Mid-Atlantic
and Midwestern regions that were dominated by Catholic and working-class voters, switched to Republican in 1894, but returned to the Democratic Party during this election cycle. The Populist Party also made huge gains as Republicans were ousted in Western states. Despite this, the Republicans did maintain a strong majority in the House. Also, several Western Republicans split with the party in 1896, joining the tiny Silver Republican Party, which advocated a silver standard.
This election marked the zenith of the Populist Party
, which would go on to lose most of its seats in the 1898 election
and thereafter slowly fade from prominence.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1896 which coincided with the election of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
.
In spite of McKinley's victory over William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...
, both the Democratic and Populist parties gained seats from McKinley's Republican Party. This is most likely a reaction to the extraordinary Republican gains in 1894, in which many normally Democratic districts switched parties due to the severity of and fallout from the Panic of 1893
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States that began in 1893. Similar to the Panic of 1873, this panic was marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures...
. Many Mid-Atlantic
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
and Midwestern regions that were dominated by Catholic and working-class voters, switched to Republican in 1894, but returned to the Democratic Party during this election cycle. The Populist Party also made huge gains as Republicans were ousted in Western states. Despite this, the Republicans did maintain a strong majority in the House. Also, several Western Republicans split with the party in 1896, joining the tiny Silver Republican Party, which advocated a silver standard.
This election marked the zenith of the Populist Party
Populist Party (United States)
The People's Party, also known as the "Populists", was a short-lived political party in the United States established in 1891. It was most important in 1892-96, then rapidly faded away...
, which would go on to lose most of its seats in the 1898 election
United States House election, 1898
The U.S. House election, 1898 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1898 which occurred in the middle of President William McKinley's first term....
and thereafter slowly fade from prominence.
Overall results
| Party | Total seats (change) | Seat percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party | 206 | 48 | 57.7% |
| Democratic Party | 124 | 31 | 34.7% |
| Populist Party | 22 | 13 | 6.1% |
| Silver Republican Party Silver Republican Party The Silver Republican Party was a United States political faction active in the 1890s. It was so named because it split from the Republican Party over the issues of "Free Silver" and bimetallism. The main Republican Party supported the gold standard.... |
3 | 3 | 0.9% |
| Silver Party Silver Party The Silver Party was a political party in the United States, most successful in Nevada, active from 1892-1911. The party supported a platform of bimetallism and "Free Silver."... |
1 | 0.2% | |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | 0.2% |
| Totals | 357 | 100.0% | |
 |
 |
California
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected | Result | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... 1 |
John All Barham John All Barham John All Barham was a U.S. Representative from California.Born on a farm in Cass County, Missouri, Barham moved to California in 1849 with his parents, who settled in Woodland. He attended the common schools and Hesperian College in Woodland, then taught in the public schools, 1864-1876... |
Republican | |
Re-elected | John All Barham John All Barham John All Barham was a U.S. Representative from California.Born on a farm in Cass County, Missouri, Barham moved to California in 1849 with his parents, who settled in Woodland. He attended the common schools and Hesperian College in Woodland, then taught in the public schools, 1864-1876... (R) 49.7% Fletcher A. Cutler (D) 45.5% George W. Montieth (PP) 4.2% B. F. Taylor (Proh.) 0.7% |
| California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... 2 |
Grove L. Johnson Grove L. Johnson Grove Lawrence Johnson was a U.S. Representative from California, father of Hiram Warren Johnson.Born in Syracuse, New York, Johnson attended the common schools.He studied law.He was admitted to the bar April 2, 1862.... |
Republican | |
Lost re-election Democratic gain |
Marion De Vries Marion De Vries Marion De Vries was a United States Representative from California. He was born on a ranch near Woodbridge, San Joaquin County, California. He attended the public schools and was graduated from the San Joaquin Valley College, Woodbridge, California in 1886 and from the law department of the... (D) 55.5% Grove L. Johnson (R) 42.3% F. E. Coulter (Proh.) 2.2% |
| California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... 3 |
Samuel G. Hilborn Samuel G. Hilborn Samuel Greeley Hilborn was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Minot, Androscoggin County, Maine, Hilborn attended the common schools, Hebron Academy, and Gould's Academy, Bethel, Maine, and was graduated from Tufts College, Medford, Massachusetts, in 1859.He studied law and was... |
Republican | |
Lost renomination Republican hold |
Samuel G. Hilborn Samuel G. Hilborn Samuel Greeley Hilborn was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Minot, Androscoggin County, Maine, Hilborn attended the common schools, Hebron Academy, and Gould's Academy, Bethel, Maine, and was graduated from Tufts College, Medford, Massachusetts, in 1859.He studied law and was... (R) 54% Warren B. English (D) 44% John H. Eustice (SL) 1.1% William Shafer (Proh.) 0.9% |
| California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... 4 |
James G. Maguire James G. Maguire James George Maguire was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Maguire moved with his parents to California in February 1854. He attended the public schools of Watsonville in Santa Cruz County and the private academy of Joseph K.... |
Democratic | |
Re-elected | James G. Maguire James G. Maguire James George Maguire was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Maguire moved with his parents to California in February 1854. He attended the public schools of Watsonville in Santa Cruz County and the private academy of Joseph K.... (D) 61% Thomas B. O'Brien (R) 35% E. T. Kingsley (SL) 3.1% Joseph Rowell (Proh.) 1% |
| California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... 5 |
Eugene F. Loud Eugene F. Loud Eugene Francis Loud was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Abington, Massachusetts, Loud went to sea and afterward settled in California.... |
Republican | |
Re-elected | Eugene F. Loud Eugene F. Loud Eugene Francis Loud was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Abington, Massachusetts, Loud went to sea and afterward settled in California.... (R) 59.5% Joseph P. Kelly (D) 32.2% A. H. Kinne (PP) 4.7% Henry Daniels (SL) 2.3% T. H. Lawson (Proh.) 1.2% |
| California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... 6 |
James McLachlan James McLachlan James McLachlan was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Argyllshire, Scotland, McLachlan immigrated to the United States in 1855 with his parents, who settled in Tompkins County, New York.... |
Republican | |
Lost re-election Populist gain |
Charles A. Barlow Charles A. Barlow Charles Averill Barlow was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Barlow attended the common schools. He moved to Ventura, California, in 1875 and to San Luis Obispo County, California, 1889.... (P) 48.9% James McLachlan (R) 47.6% Henry Clay Needham (Proh.) 2.4% Job Harriman (SL) 1.1% |
| California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... 7 |
William W. Bowers William W. Bowers William Wallace Bowers was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Whitestown, New York, Bowers attended the common schools.He moved to Wisconsin in 1854.... |
Republican | |
Lost re-election Populist gain |
Curtis H. Castle Curtis H. Castle Curtis Harvey Castle was a U.S. Representative from California.Born near Galesburg, Illinois, Castle attended the public schools and Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois.... (P) 46.7% William W. Bowers (R) 46.1% William H. Carlson (I) 5.2% James W. Webb (Proh.) 2% |
See also
- 55th United States Congress55th United States Congress-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
- U.S. presidential election, 1896