Wilson eked out a narrow re-election, but his Democratic Party lost seats to the Republican Party. Wilson's hybrid approach, which injected a progressive element into Democratic policies, had proved to be dissatisfying to much of the nation. International affairs also became important in the traditionally non-interventionist United States, as voters attempted to determine which party would be best served to keep the nation from entering the Great War.
Republicans won a plurality of seats in the 1916 election. However, when the 65th Congress convened in April 1917, the Democrats narrowly maintained control of the House, forming an alliance with third-party (Progressive and Socialist) members. Not since the 34th Congress (1855–1857) had the party with the most seats not been part of the ruling government. This Congress is the last example to date of a type of coalition holding power in the House, rather than a single party winning a majority of seats. This was also the last time that no party in the house held an overall majority.
Jeannette Rankin, a Republican from Montana, became the first woman ever elected to congress.
The Democrats retained control of the House by forming a coalition with the three Progressive members and the single Socialist member, combining to form a razor-thin majority of 218 Representatives.
House seats by party holding plurality in state
80.1-100% Democratic
80.1-100% Republican
60.1-80% Democratic
60.1-80% Republican
Up to 60% Democratic
Up to 60% Republican
Net gain in party representation
6+ Democratic gain
6+ Republican gain
3-5 Democratic gain
3-5 Republican gain
1-2 Democratic gain
1-2 Progressive gain
1-2 Republican gain
no net change
Early election date
Maine held its election early, on September 11, 1916. There had previously been multiple states with earlier elections, but between 1914 and 1958, Maine was alone in holding early elections.
Incumbent resigned October 1, 1916 to become Judge of the United States Court of Claims. New member elected November 7, 1916. Democratic hold. Winner was also elected to the next term; see below.
This was the last time Montana used an at-large district until its representation was reduced to one in 1992. This was also the first time a woman was elected to Congress.
^Maine held early elections on September 11, 1916.
^ Thomas D. Schall would run as a Progressive in the 10th district of Minnesota, defeating Republican opponent Lowell E. Jepson. Schall had joined the Republican Party after he was re-elected, and would caucus with the Republicans upon being sworn into the House.
^ Democrats maintained control of the U.S. House after the 1916 elections by forming a 218-member coalition with the three Progressive members and the one Socialist member.
^ This includes votes for those who ran primarily on the Washington Party Ballot Line.
^ Alvan Tufts Fuller would run as an Independent in the 9th district of Massachusetts, defeating long-time Republican Congressman Ernest Roberts. Fuller had rejoined the Republican Party earlier in the year, and would caucus with the Republicans upon being sworn into the House.
^ Progressives won 3 seats, and there was 1 Prohibitionist and 1 Socialist.
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