April 24, 1804 - August 5, 1805 1806 → 114 28 Start date 1804 | 103 seats 39 seats 11 11 | |
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Winner Nathaniel Macon | ||
Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 9th Congress were held at various dates in each state between April 24, 1804 (in New York) and August 5, 1805 (in Tennessee). The Congress first met on December 2, 1805. The elections occurred at the same time as President Thomas Jefferson's re-election.
Contents
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Non voting delegates
- References
Under Jefferson's popular administration, his party continued to gain seats in the House. Territorial acquisitions from the Louisiana Purchase and economic expansion gave voters a positive view of the Democratic-Republicans, whose majority, already commanding in the 8th Congress, now surpassed three-quarters of the total membership. Following this election, Federalists were able to secure few seats outside of New England and party legitimacy deteriorated as political thought turned away from Federalist ideals perceived to be elitist and anti-democratic.
Connecticut
Griswold and Goddard resigned before the start of the 9th Congress and were replaced by Timothy Pitkin (F) and Lewis B. Sturges (F). In August, 1806, John C. Smith (F) resigned and was replaced by Theodore Dwight (F)
Delaware
James A. Bayard (F) resigned before the start of the 9th Congress having been elected to the Senate. A special election was held to replace him, which elected James M. Broom (F)
Georgia
Initially, Cowles Mead (DR) was declared the winner of the 4th seat. The votes from Camden, Liberty and Tatnal counties were not received in time and were originally not counted. When it was later decided to count them as valid, it resulted in Thomas Spalding (DR) overtaking Cowles Mead for the fourth and final seat by 39 votes. Spalding was then given the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in place of Mead.
There were two subsequent vacancies. The first was caused by Joseph Bryan (DR) resigning in 1806. A special election was held to replace him which elected Dennis Smelt (DR). The second was caused by Thomas Spalding (DR) resigning later that same year. He was replaced by William W. Bibb (DR).
Maryland
A vacancy occurred in the 7th district when Joseph H. Nicholson (DR) resigned March 1, 1806. A special election was held which elected Edward Lloyd (DR) in his place.
Massachusetts
The majority requirement was met in all 17 districts in the 1804 elections
New Jersey
The Federalist ticket was announced only a week before the election, with no active campaigning
New York
New York held elections for the 9th Congress on April 24–26, 1804. For this year and the next election year, the 2nd and 3rd districts had combined returns, effectively a plural district with 2 seats, though still numbered as separate districts. At the time, District 2 consisted of only part of New York County, while District 3 consisted of the remainder of New York County plus Kings and Richmond Counties. By consolidating the two, it ensured that New York County would be combined into a single district.
A special election to fill the vacancy in the 1st district in the 8th Congress was held at the same time as the election for the 9th Congress. Unusually, a single election was held for both the seat in the 9th Congress and the remainder of the 8th Congress, with the individual receiving the highest number of votes being elected to the 9th Congress and the individual with the second-highest number of votes being elected to the remainder of the 8th Congress.
Daniel D. Tompkins (DR) of the 2nd/3rd district was appointed on July 2, 1804 to the New York Supreme Court. A special election was held in September, 1804 to replace him, electing Gurdon S. Mumford (DR).
Samuel L. Mitchill (DR), also of the 2nd/3rd district, resigned November 22, 1804 after being elected to the Senate, and a special election was held to replace him, elecing George Clinton, Jr. (DR).
North Carolina
In the 5th district, James Gillespie (DR) died on January 5, 1805, before the start of the 10th Congress, a special election was held for his replacement which elected Thomas Kenan (DR)
In the 10th district, Nathaniel Alexander (DR) resigned upon being elected Governor of North Carolina and was replaced in a special election by Evan S. Alexander (DR)
Pennsylvania
John Lucas (DR), re-elected to the 11th district, resigned before the start of the 9th Congress. A special election was held for his replacement, electing Samuel Smith (DR).
On July 23, 1805, before the first meeting of the 9th Congress, John A. Hanna (DR) of the 4th district died. A special election was held to fill the vacancy, electing Robert Whitehill (DR).
Finally, on February 14, 1806, Michael Leib (DR) of the 1st district resigned and was replaced in a special election by John Porter (DR)
South Carolina
In the 8th district, John B. Earle (DR) Resigned before the 9th Congress met, replaced in a special election by Elias Earle (DR)
Levi Casey of the 6th district died February 7, 1807. His seat remained vacant for the remainder of the 9th Congress.
Tennessee
Beginning with the 9th Congress, Tennessee was divided into 3 districts.
Vermont
Vermont law at this time required a majority for election, which frequently mandated runoff elections. The 2nd, and 3rd districts both required second elections in this election cycle, and the 3rd district required a third election.
Virginia
In the 13th district, Christopher H. Clark (DR) resigned on July 1, 1806 and was replaced by William A. Burwell
Non-voting delegates
There were three territories with non-voting delegates in the 9th Congress, one of which (the Orleans Territory) did not send its first representative until 1806. The delegates were elected by the territorial legislatures, votes here are the number of members of the territorial legislatures voting for each candidate.
In the Mississippi Territory, the territorial legislature was locked. The first vote given above was on the 7th ballot, after which point the territorial legislature adjourned, the second vote was at a later session of the territorial legislature.