2 2 | Start date October 11, 1796 | |
Elections to the United States House of Representatives in Pennsylvania were held on October 11, 1796 for the 5th Congress
Contents
Background
Thirteen Representatives (9 Democratic-Republicans and 4 Federalists) had been elected in 1794. One Representative, Daniel Hiester (DR) of the 5th district resigned on July 1, 1796. His seat was vacant at the time of the 1796 election, and was filled in a special election held at the same time.
Congressional districts
Pennsylvania was divided into 12 districts, one of which (the 4th) was a plural district, with 2 Representatives. These districts remained in use until redistricting after the Census of 1800.
The counties that made up the 5th district did not border each other. That district was therefore made up of two separate pieces rather than being a single contiguous entity
Note: Many of these counties covered much larger areas than they do today, having since been divided into numerous counties
Election results
11 incumbents (7 Democratic-Republicans and 4 Federalists) ran for re-election. Frederick Muhlenberg (DR) of the 2nd district did not run for re-election. Of the incumbents who ran for re-election, 9 (5 Democratic-Republicans and 4 Federalists) were re-elected. Overall, 7 Democratic-Republicans and 6 Federalists were elected, a net gain of 2 seats for the Federalists.
Special Elections
George Ege (F) of the 5th district resigned in October, 1797 and was replaced in a special election held October 10, 1797
With Hiester's election, the Democratic-Republicans gained 1 seat, increasing their majority to 8-5
John Swanwick (DR) of the 1st district died on August 1, 1798 and Samuel Sitgreaves (F) of the 4th district resigned on August 29, 1798. Special elections were held in those districts on October 9, 1798, the same day as the elections to the 6th Congress.
Both also won election to the 6th Congress. The 1st district changed from Democratic-Republican to Federalist while the 4th district changed from Federalist to Democratic-Republican, leaving no net change in seats for the remainder of the 5th Congress.