313 seats 117 seats 9 14 7 3 Start date November 6, 1934 | 322 103 0 seats 5 seats 7 2 | |
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Winner Joseph W Byrns Sr | ||
The 1934 United States House of Representatives elections were held in the middle of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's first term. The Democratic Party continued its progress, gaining another 9 net seats from the opposition Republican Party, who also lost seats to the Progressive Party. The Republicans were reduced below one-fourth of the chamber for the first time since the creation of the party. The Wisconsin Progressive Party, a liberal group which allied with the Democrats, also became a force in Wisconsin politics.
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The 1934 elections can be seen as a referendum on New Deal policies. While conservatives and people among the middle class who did not bear the brunt of the depression saw New Deal programs as radical, ordinary people overwhelmingly voted in this election cycle to continue implementation of Roosevelt's agenda. In addition, this was the first time in modern history that the President's party gained seats in a midterm year when historically the President's party usually loses seats. (This wouldn't happen again until 1998 and 2002.)
Overall results
Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk
Separate election
One special election was held apart from those in November. The elected winner would serve only the remainder of the incumbent Congress.