1852 and 1853 United States House of Representatives elections
The 1852 and 1853 United States House of Representatives elections were held at various dates in different states from August 1852 to November 1853. Democrats increased their House majority while electing national compromise candidate Franklin Pierce, a Northerner favorable to Southern interests, to the Presidency. Effects of the Compromise of 1850 temporarily had reduced sectional tensions, and both major parties, Democrats and Whigs, unified around the 1852 Presidential campaign, with Whig unity more tenuous. Two small parties, the Constitutional Unionists and States' Rights parties, collapsed before this election, while the Free  Soil Party, opposing slavery in the Western territories, retained four seats. One Independent, Caleb Lyon, was elected from New York. Election summaries. Following the 1850 Census, the House was reapportioned. In the initial apportionment bill, the number of seats was unchanged at 233, but later one seat was added to California's delegation, increasing the total apportionment to 234, due to returns from California being determined to be incomplete. California. 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. ! | Massachusetts. The elections were held November 8, 1852. However, many of the districts went to a December 13, 1852 second ballot. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Mississippi. Elections held late, from November 7 to 8, 1853 ! data-sort-value=0 | ! ! ! ! Tennessee. Elections held late, on August 4, 1853. ! | ! | ! ! | ! ! | ! ! ! | ! Wisconsin. ! ! Non-voting delegates. ! ! !