April 29, 1806 - August 4, 1807 1808 → 116 26 Start date 1806 | 114 seats 28 seats 2 2 | |
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Winner Joseph Bradley V | ||
Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 10th Congress were held at various dates in each state between April 29, 1806 (in New York) and August 4, 1807 (in Tennessee) during Thomas Jefferson second term with the new Congress meeting on October 26, 1807.
Contents
- Delaware
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Non voting delegates
- References
The Democratic-Republicans continued to build on their huge supermajority. They were actually able to take over two more seats than they had in the previous Congress, which they controlled by a margin of better than three to one. Commitment to agrarian policy allowed the Democratic-Republicans to dominate rural districts, which represented the bulk of the nation. On the other hand, supporters of the Federalists, even in their traditional base of support in the urban centers of coastal New England, continued to lament the ineffectiveness of their party and its lack of electoral appeal.
Delaware
Broom resigned before the 10th Congress started and a special election was held to choose his replacement, which elected Nicholas Van Dyke (F).
Massachusetts
There were two vacancies during the 10th Congress in Massachusetts' representation. The first occurred in the 12th district when Barnabas Bidwell (DR) resigned on July 13 (before the first session had begun) to accept the position of Massachusetts Attorney General. This vacancy was filled by Ezekiel Bacon (DR). The second vacancy occurred in the 2nd district when Jacob Crowninshield (DR) died April 15, 1808. This vacancy was filled by Joseph Story (DR).
New Jersey
The Federalists ran a mixed ticket consisting of 2 Federalists (Aaron Ogden and John Beatty) and 4 Democratic-Republicans (William Helms, Ebenezer Elmer, George Maxwell, and Adam Boyd), one of whom (William Helms) was also on the Democratic-Republican ticket. The Federalists capitalized on resentment over the replacement on the official Democratic-Republican ticket of Ebenezer Elmer, from South Jersey, with Thomas Newbold from Monmouth County and the retention of James Sloan. This ticket was formed too late to gain sufficient support, but the Federalists did do much better in state elections that year than they had in previous elections.
On January 27, 1808, Ezra Darby (DR) died and was replaced in a special election by Adam Boyd (DR)
New York
New York elected representatives to the 10th Congress on April 29-May 1, 1806. This was the second, and last, election in which Districts 2 and 3 were elected on a joint ticket. New York redistricted in the next election.
David Thomas (DR) of the 12th district resigned upon being named New York State Treasurer on February 5, 1808. A special election was held to replace him on April 26–28, 1808 which elected Nathan Wilson (DR).
North Carolina
In the 7th district, Culpepper's election was contested by McFarlan. The House Committee on Elections declared the seat vacant on January 2, 1808, due to electoral irregularities and a special election was subsequently held, which Culpepper won.
Ohio
Both candidates were Democratic-Republicans, but from election articles published in The Scioto Gazette it was suggested that James Pritchard was the candidate of the Ohio Quids and that in a few counties, notably Columbiana and Jefferson, he was also supported by the Federalists.
Pennsylvania
Joseph Clay (DR) of the 1st district resigned March 18, 1808 and was replaced in a special election by Benjamin Say (DR).
Rhode Island
Rhode Island's electoral laws at the time required a candidate to receive votes from a majority of voters to win. In the 1806 election, only one candidate won a majority on the first ballot, and so a run-off election was required to choose the second seat.
On June 13, 1808, Nehemiah Knight (DR) died. A special election was held to fill the resulting vacancy which elected Richard Jackson, Jr. (F).
South Carolina
In the 6th district, Levi Casey (DR) died February 3, 1807, before the 10th Congress began, a special election was held to elect a replacement which replaced him with Joseph Calhoun (DR)
Vermont
On May 1, 1808, James Witherell (DR) of the 1st district resigned to accept a position as a judge of the Supreme Court of Michigan Territory. A special election was held to fill the resulting vacancy electing Samuel Shaw (DR)
Virginia
Note: On many of these elections, the source did not have detailed information. Several individuals reported here as being elected by 100% may have had a few votes against them, but all had no formal opposition.
John Claiborne (DR) of the 17th district died on October 8, 1808. A special election was held to fill the resulting vacancy, which elected Thomas Gholson, Jr. (DR).
Non-voting delegates
As in the previous congress, there were three territories with non-voting delegates in the 10th Congress. In Indiana Territory, the legislature elected the delegate. The source used did not have information about Mississippi or Orleans Territory. Mississippi used popular election in 1808, while Orleans Territory elected its delegate by the legislature in 1808, suggesting Orleans probably used legislative election this year, too.
Parks resigned to accept a position on Governor's staff, replaced by Jesse B. Thomas.