1840 and 1841 United States House of Representatives elections
The 1840 and 1841 United States House of Representatives elections were held at various dates in different states from July 1840 to November 1841. In a Whig wave, voters gave the Whig Party a House majority for the first time. Most Americans experienced the Panic of 1837 as a severe economic downturn. Its perceived mishandling by Democratic President Martin Van Buren fueled new support for alternative economic policies favored by Whigs of which voters had previously been skeptical. Collapse of the Anti-Masonic Party in the late 1830s also drove some  third-party incumbents into the Whig Party. Newly elected members included Robert M. T. Hunter, Independent of Virginia, and Zadok Casey, Independent Democrat of Illinois. Election summaries. The previous election had two minor parties, the Anti-Masonic Party with 6 seats and the Conservative Party (of Virginia) with 2 seats, both of which disappeared in this election. The 1st session of the 27th Congress began May 31, 1841, before Mississippi had elected Representatives, leaving that State unrepresented until the 2nd session. Special elections. 27th Congress. ! ! ! | Florida Territory. See Non-voting delegates, below. Iowa Territory. See Non-voting delegates, below . Maine. Maine elected its members September 14, 1840. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Massachusetts. Massachusetts held its elections November 9, 1840, but one district went to a second ballot on January 4, 1841. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Mississippi. Elections held late, from November 1 to 2, 1841. ! | Tennessee. Elections held late, on May 6, 1841. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Wisconsin Territory. See Non-voting delegates, below. Non-voting delegates. 26th Congress. ! 27th Congress. ! ! !