Complex sentence: In 1882 Chalmers was elected to the US House as an Independent in a year of fusion tickets in Mississippi; his victory was contested by Democrat Van H. Manning, but Chalmers was seated in June 1884, serving to the end of the term in March 1885.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1882 Chalmers was elected to the US House as an Independent in a year of fusion tickets in Mississippi; his victory was contested by Democrat Van H. Manning. Chalmers won the contest and was seated in June 1884, serving to the end of the term in March 1885.