# 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee

The 1872 congressional elections in Tennessee was held on November 5, 1872, to determine who will represent the state of Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives. These elections were the first under Tennessee's new congressional map after redistricting was completed by the state government. Tennessee gained 2 extra seats, including Tennessee's at-large congressional district. Republican Horace Maynard was redistricted from the 2nd district to the new at-large district.
Maynard was re-elected to the at-large congressional district's special election, defeating Democrat and former Confederate General Benjamin F. Cheatham and former President Andrew Johnson who ran as an Independent.
For the Congressional district elections, Republicans gained 4 seats, while Democrats lost 3 seats. Including the at-large congressional district, the Tennessee delegation became a 7-3 Republican majority.
Elections in Tennessee :
Federal government
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1837
1874
1875
5th
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State government
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Local elections
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Jackson Mayoral elections
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Murfreesboro Mayoral elections
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Nashville Mayoral elections
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Government :
vte :

## Overview
### Statewide

| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats Before | Seats After | +/– |
| | Republican | 81,767 | 45.77% | 2 | 7 | 5 |
| | Democratic | 87,729 | 49.11% | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| | Independents | 9,150 | 5.12% | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | Totals | 178,646 | 100.00% | 8 | 10 | 0 |
Popular vote
Democratic
49.11%
Republican
45.77%
Other
5.12% :
House seats
Republican
70.00%
Democratic
30.00% :

### By district

Results of the 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee by district:
| District | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | This race | This race |
| District | Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates |
| Tennessee at-large | Horace Maynard Redistricted from the 2nd district. | Republican | 1865 | New district. Republican gain. | ▌Y Horace Maynard (Republican) 43.95% ▌Benjamin F. Cheatham (Democratic) 35.45% ▌Andrew Johnson (Independent) 20.61% |
| Tennessee 1 | Roderick R. Butler | Republican | 1867 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Roderick R. Butler (Republican) 56.73% ▌William B. Carter (Democratic) 43.27% |
| Tennessee 2 | Abraham E. Garrett Redistricted from the 3rd district. | Democratic | 1870 | Incumbent lost re-election as an Independent. Republican gain. | ▌Y Jacob M. Thornburgh (Republican) 55.70% ▌Alfred Caldwell (Democratic) 30.05% ▌Abraham E. Garrett (Independent) 14.25% |
| Tennessee 3 | None (new district) | None (new district) | None (new district) | New district. Republican gain. | ▌Y William Crutchfield (Republican) 52.85% ▌David M. Key (Democratic) 47.16% |
| Tennessee 4 | John M. Bright | Democratic | 1870 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y John M. Bright (Democratic) 69.81% ▌John P. Steele (Republican) 30.19% |
| Tennessee 5 | Edward I. Golladay | Democratic | 1870 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y Horace Harrison (Republican) 42.07% ▌Edward I. Golladay (Democratic) 34.10% ▌William B. Brien (Independent) 23.83% |
| Tennessee 6 | Washington C. Whitthorne | Democratic | 1870 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Washington C. Whitthorne (Democratic) 53.89% ▌Theodore H. Gibbs (Republican) 40.74% ▌Jonathan Morris (Independent) 5.37% |
| Tennessee 7 | Robert P. Caldwell | Democratic | 1870 | Incumbent lost renomination. New member elected. Democratic hold. | ▌Y John D. C. Atkins (Democratic) 55.63% ▌W. W. Murray (Republican) 37.70% ▌W. E. Travis (Democratic) 6.67% |
| Tennessee 8 | William W. Vaughan | Democratic | 1870 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y David A. Nunn (Republican) 37.90% ▌A. W. Campbell (Democratic) 29.83% ▌William P. Caldwell (Democratic) 22.38% ▌T. H. Bell (Democratic) 9.89% |
| Tennessee 9 | None (new district) | None (new district) | None (new district) | New district. Republican gain. | ▌ Y Barbour Lewis (Republican) 56.67% ▌L. C. Haines (Democratic) 43.33% |

## Tennessee at-large

1872 Tennessee at-large election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Horace Maynard (incumbent) | 80,825 | 43.95% |
| | Democratic | Benjamin F. Cheatham | 65,188 | 35.45% |
| | Independent | Andrew Johnson | 37,900 | 20.61% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 183,913 | 100.00% |
| | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) |

## District 1

1872 Tennessee's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Roderick R. Butler (incumbent) | 10,289 | 56.73% |
| | Democratic | William B. Carter | 7,849 | 43.27% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,138 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 2

1872 Tennessee's 2nd congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jacob M. Thornburgh | 10,015 | 55.70% |
| | Democratic | Alfred Caldwell | 5,403 | 30.05% |
| | Independent | Abraham E. Garrett (incumbent) | 2,563 | 14.25% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,981 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## District 3

1872 Tennessee's 3rd congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | William Crutchfield | 10,041 | 52.85% |
| | Democratic | David M. Key | 8,960 | 47.16% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,001 | 100.00% |
| | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) |

## District 4

1872 Tennessee's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John M. Bright (incumbent) | 12,585 | 69.81% |
| | Republican | John P. Steele | 5,442 | 30.19% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,027 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 5

1872 Tennessee's 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Horace Harrison | 10,033 | 42.07% |
| | Democratic | Edward I. Golladay (incumbent) | 8,131 | 34.05% |
| | Independent | William B. Brien | 5,684 | 23.83% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,848 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## District 6

1872 Tennessee's 6th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Washington Curran Whitthorne (incumbent) | 9,058 | 53.89% |
| | Republican | Theodore H. Gibbs | 6,849 | 40.74% |
| | Independent | Jonathan Morris | 903 | 5.37% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,810 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 7

1872 Tennessee's 7th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John D. C. Atkins (incumbent) | 11,411 | 55.63% |
| | Republican | W. W. Murray | 7,734 | 37.70% |
| | Democratic | W. E. Travis | 1,369 | 6.67% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,514 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 8

1872 Tennessee's 8th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David A. Nunn | 7,580 | 37.90% |
| | Democratic | A. W. Campbell | 5,967 | 29.83% |
| | Democratic | William P. Caldwell | 4,476 | 22.38% |
| | Democratic | T. H. Bell | 1,979 | 9.89% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,002 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## District 9

1872 Tennessee's 9th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Barbour Lewis | 13,784 | 56.67% |
| | Democratic | L. C. Haines | 10,541 | 43.33% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,325 | 100.00% |
| | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) |