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Elections to the United States House of Representatives were held in 1850. The Democrats gained 14 seats, increasing their majority relative to the Whigs, who lost 23 seats.
Whig President Millard Filmore, the Whig who had gained the presidency after the death of Zachary Taylor, grew increasingly unpopular. The election saw sectionalism and slavery continue to emerge as major issues.
The Constitutional Union Party, formed in support of the Compromise of 1850, gained 10 seats (its first ever) and was concentrated in Georgia. The Free Soil Party, which was strongly abolitionist, lost five seats and was reduced to four Representatives, all in New England districts. The States' Rights Party, a pro-slavery state's rights party, gained ground in South Carolina.
Contents |
| Party | Total seats (change) | Seat percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 127 | +14 | 54.5% |
| Whig Party | 84 | -23 | 36.5% |
| Constitutional Union Party | 10 | +10 | 4.3% |
| Free Soil Party | 4 | -5 | 1.7% |
| Independent | 4 | +3 | 1.7% |
| States Rights Party | 3 | +3 | 1.3% |
| Totals | 232 | +1 | 100% |
Note: From statehood to 1864, California's representatives were elected at-large, with the top two vote-getters winning election from 1849 to 1858; in 1860 when California gained a seat in the House the top three vote-getters were elected.
| District | Opponent |
|---|---|
| California AL | Edward C. Marshall (D) Joseph W. McCorkle (D) |
| District | Opponent |
|---|---|
| California AL | George W. Wright (I) 22% Edward Gilbert (D) 20.6% Rodman M. Price 16.3% P. A. Morse 8.3% Lewis Dent 8.2% E. J. C. Kewen 7.3% W. M. Sheppard 7.2% William E. Shannon 5.4% Peter Halsted 2.4% L. W. Hastings 0.9% Pierson B. Reading 0.7% W. H. Russell 0.4% J. S. Thompson 0.3% Kimball H. Dimmick 0.2% |
http://clerk.house.gov/histHigh/Congressional_History/index.html
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