1850 Iowa's 1st congressional district special election

1850 Iowa's 1st congressional district special election
← 1848 September 24, 1850 1850 →
 
Nominee Daniel F. Miller William Thompson
Party Whig Democratic
Popular vote 5,463 4,801
Percentage 51.40% 45.17%
Representative before election

None

 Elected Representative


Daniel F. Miller
Whig

A special election to the United States House of Representatives for Iowa's 1st congressional district was held September 24, 1850.

The winning candidate would serve briefly in the United States House of Representatives to represent Iowa in the 31st Congress until the General election on October 8, 1850.

Background

In 1848, the Whig Party nominated Miller to run against incumbent Democratic Congressman William Thompson. Thompson was declared the winner by the state's election canvassers, but Miller accused Thompson of absconding with the voting rolls from the election. The U.S. House resolved the contest over two years after it occurred, by deciding that neither Thompson nor Miller was entitled to the seat.[1]

Candidates

Democratic

Nominee

Whig

Nominee

  • Daniel F. Miller, lawyer and former member of Iowa's territorial house of representatives (1840)

Independent

Nominee

General election

1850 Iowa's 1st congressional district special election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Daniel F. Miller 5,463 51.40% +4.10%
Democratic William Thompson 4,801 45.17% −5.13%
Independent Delazon Smith 365 3.43% +3.43%
Majority 662 6.23% +3.23%
Turnout 10,629 100.00%
Whig gain from Democratic

See also

References

  1. ^ United States Congress. "MILLER, Daniel Fry". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  2. ^ "IA - District 1 Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 18, 2021.