United States House of Representatives elections, 1848

Elections to the United States House of Representatives were held in 1848.

The Democrats gained three seats, regaining the majority they had lost to the Whigs just two years earlier in the election of 1846.

The Mexican–American War, which ended with an American victory several months before the election, was a big factor in the election. Zachary Taylor, a general in the war, was elected president as a Whig, but the Democrats, who instigated the war, were rewarded for their victory by regaining their House majority. The fiercely abolitionist Free Soil Party was a huge spoiler in this election, earning 9 seats in districts that generally supported Whig politicians.

When Congress assembled on March 3, 1849, no single party was able to win a majority of the vote for Speaker of the House. The Whigs split; the majority renominating Robert Charles Winthrop of Massachusetts but the southern Whigs split off to support Meredith Poindexter Gentry of Tennessee. The Democrats put forth Howell Cobb of Georgia, while the Free Soilers supported David Wilmot of Pennsylvania, author of the Wilmot Proviso.

The impasse continued until the 63d ballot. Two dozen other candidates were offered in the hopes that someone else could gain a majority. The Democrats and Free Soilers attempted a compromise on the 40th ballot, but this was exposed when Edward Stanly, a Whig from North Carolina, exposed the deal. After the 59th ballot, Stanly offered a proposal, which was accepted. The House would take three additional ballots. If no candidate won the majority, whoever placed first on the 63d ballot would be declared the new Speaker. Cobb was chosen on the 63d ballot with 102 votes to 99 for Winthrop and 20 scattering.

Overall results

See also

• http://clerk.house.gov/histHigh/Congressional_History/index.html
• http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=343141