The 1856–57 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 4, 1856, and November 4, 1857. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives. 236 representatives were elected in 31 states and the pending new state of Minnesota before the first session of the 35th United States Congress convened on December 7, 1857.
The elections briefly returned a semblance of normalcy to the Democratic Party, restoring its House majority alongside the election of Democratic President James Buchanan. However, superficial victory masked severe, ultimately irretrievable divisions over slavery. Voters next would return a Democratic House majority only in 1874.
Party realignments continued. In 1856, the Whig Party disbanded, the Know Nothing movement declined, and its vehicle, the American Party, began to collapse. Many Northern Whig, American, and other Opposition Party Representatives joined the new, rapidly consolidating Republican Party, which contested the Presidency in 1856. Though the Republican Party did not yet demand abolition, its attitude toward slavery was stridently negative. It was an openly sectional Northern party which opposed fugitive slave laws and slavery in the territories. For the first time, the party offered a mainstream platform to outspoken abolitionists.
In March 1857, after almost all Northern states had voted, the Supreme Court issued its infamous Dred Scott decision, amplifying tensions and hardening voter divisions. Remaining elections were concentrated in the South. Southern voters widely drove the American Party from office, rallying to the Democrats in firm opposition to the Republicans.
In October 1857, the pending new state of Minnesota elected its first Representatives, to be seated by the 35th Congress. Between the admissions of Vermont in 1791 and Wisconsin in 1848, Congress had admitted new states roughly in pairs: one slave, one free. California was admitted alone as a free state in 1850 only as part of a comprehensive compromise including significant concessions to slave state interests. Admission of Minnesota in May 1858, also alone but with no such deal, helped expose the declining influence of the South, destroying the formerly binding concept that slave and free state power was best kept in balance even in the Senate while solidifying a sense that the West would exclude slavery.
Election summaries
Two seats were added for the new state of Minnesota,[1] which was unrepresented for part of the 1st session.
Incumbent resigned August 25, 1856, to run for governor of Illinois. New member elected November 4, 1856. Winner was not a candidate for the full term; see below.
Incumbent resigned July 18, 1856, amid election challenge. Incumbent re-elected November 4, 1856. Winner was not a candidate for the full term; see below.
Rep.-elect Lyman Trumbull (D) was later elected U.S. senator and took office March 4, 1855. New member elected November 4, 1856. Democratic hold. Winner was not a candidate for the full term; see below.
Minnesota Territory elected three members in advance of Minnesota's 1848 statehood. "Although three men won this election, which was held before Minnesota was actually a state, only two representatives from Minnesota were allowed in the congressional bill creating the state in 1858. George L. Becker lost in the drawing of lots to decide who would present their credentials, therefore he did not serve in Congress."[9]
^Includes votes for those who ran labeled as an "Independent," "Benton Democrat," "Independent Democrat," or "Independent American."
^ abCompared to the 100 Opposition Party members in previous election of 1854.
^In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform date for choosing presidential electors (see: Statutes at Large, 28th Congress, 2nd Session, p. 721). Congressional elections were unaffected by this law, but the date was gradually adopted by the states for congressional elections as well.
^New state. Representatives seated May 11, 1858, during the 1st session.
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