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United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 1808

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October 11, 1808

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Elections to the United States House of Representatives in Pennsylvania were held October 11, 1808 for the 11th Congress.

Contents

Background

Eighteen Representatives had been elected in the previous election, 15 Democratic-Republicans and 3 Federalists. All three Federalists and two of the Democratic-Republicans were quids, an alliance of moderate Democratic-Republicans and Federalists. One seat held by a Democratic-Republican had become vacant prior to this election and was filled in a special election held at the same time as this election.

Congressional districts

Pennsylvania was divided into 11 districts, of which four were plural districts with 11 Representatives between them, with the remaining 7 Representatives elected from single-member districts. The districts were:

  • The 1st district (3 seats) consisted of Delaware and Philadelphia counties (including the City of Philadelphia)
  • The 2nd district (3 seats) consisted of Bucks, Luzerne, Montgomery, Northampton, and Wayne Counties
  • The 3rd district (3 seats) consisted of Berks, Chester, and Lancaster Counties
  • The 4th district (2 seats) consisted of Cumberland, Dauphin, Huntingdon, and Mifflin Counties
  • The 5th district consisted of Centre, Clearfield, Lycoming, McKean, Northumberland, Potter, and Tioga Counties
  • The 6th district consisted of Adams and York Counties
  • The 7th district consisted of Bedford and Franklin Counties
  • The 8th district consisted of Armstrong, Cambria, Indiana, Jefferson, Somerset, and Westmoreland Counties
  • The 9th district consisted of Fayette and Greene Counties
  • The 10th district consisted of Washington County
  • The 11th district consisted of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Venango, and Warren Counties

    • Luzerne County's western border was altered between the 1806 and 1808 elections, altering the boundary between the 2nd and 5th districts

    Note: Many of these counties covered much larger areas than they do today, having since been divided into smaller counties

    Election results

    Thirteen incumbents (10 Democratic-Republicans and 3 Federalists) ran for re-election, of whom 11 won re-election. The incumbents Jacob Richards (DR) of the 1st district, John Hiester (DR) of the 3rd district, Daniel Montgomery (DR) of the 5th district and William Hoge (DR) of the 10th district did not run for re-election. There was also a vacancy in the 1st district. One seat changed from Federalist to Democratic-Republican control.

    Special election

    Benjamin Say (DR) of the 1st district resigned in June, 1809, and a special election was held to fill the resulting vacancy

    References

    United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 1808 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA