1862 and 1863 United States House of Representatives elections
The 1862 and 1863 United States House of Representatives elections were held during President Abraham Lincoln's first term at various dates in different states from June 1862 to November 1863. Republicans lost 22 seats and the majority, while Democrats gained 28. The Civil War to date had been only weakly successful for the Union, but had wrought major, disruptive change in the size and reach of the Federal Government, which before the war had been small and little seen beyond post offices, customs houses in ports, and scattered military posts . The Republican Party was also relatively new, yet had led the Union down a radical path of rapid industrialization and destructive total war. Voters turned on the Administration over its failure to deliver a swift victory over the Confederate rebellion (at times verging on military incompetence), along with rising inflation and new taxes to pay for the war effort, the suspension of habeas corpus, and the introduction of conscription. Expressing a typical sentiment, the Cincinnati "Gazette" had editorialized that voters "are depressed by the interminable nature of this war, as so far conducted, and by the rapid exhaustion of the  national resources without progress." Short of a majority, Republicans retained control with the support of the Unionist Party. In September 1862, President Lincoln had warned the South that he planned by executive order, and as a war measure, to liberate all slaves in rebelling states as of January 1, 1863. The popularity of emancipation varied by region. It was more popular in New England and areas near the Great Lakes, and less popular in cities with large immigrant populations and in the southern portion of the North. While Democrats hailed the elections as a repudiation of emancipation, the results did  not alter Lincoln's plan or hamper prosecution of the war. In Lincoln's home district of Springfield, Illinois, John T. Stuart, a Democrat and one of Lincoln's former law partners, defeated the Republican incumbent. A fear of an influx of freed slaves competing for jobs and depressing wages, and a desire by white voters to prevent black suffrage, helped drive this result and others. The sitting House Speaker, Galusha Grow of Pennsylvania, also lost re-election, but he would return to the House 30 years later in 1894. Election summaries. The eight Representatives remaining from Tennessee and Virginia  in the 37th Congress were absent from the 38th Congress. Other seceded states remained unrepresented, leaving 58 vacancies Upon admission, West Virginia was allotted three Representatives and during the second session one seat was added for the new state of Nevada. Reapportionment transpired according to the 1860 Census, under the 1850 Apportionment Act providing a total of 233 seats. A later Act added eight seats, increasing the total to 241. Special elections. There were seven special elections during the 37th Congress, and two during the 38th Congress. 37th Congress. ! ! ! ! ! ! 38th Congress. ! ! Alabama. Alabama elected no members to the next Congress  due to its withdrawal during the Civil War. Arkansas. Arkansas elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War. California. Note: From statehood to 1866, California's representatives were elected state-wide at-large, with the top two vote-getters winning election from 1849 to 1858. In 1860, when California gained a seat, the top three vote-getters were elected. California elected its members September 2, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened. ! | Connecticut. Connecticut elected its members April 6, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened . Colorado Territory. See non-voting delegates, below. Delaware. Delaware elected its sole member November 1, 1862. ! | Dakota Territory. See non-voting delegates, below. Florida. Florida elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War. Georgia. Georgia elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War. Idaho Territory. See non-voting delegates, below. Illinois. Illinois elected its members November 4, 1862. Indiana. Indiana elected its members October 14, 1862. Iowa. Iowa elected its members October 14, 1862. Kansas. Kansas elected its member November 4, 1862. Kentucky. Kentucky elected  its members August 3, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened. Louisiana. Although Louisiana had withdrawn from the Union during the Civil War, elections were held on December 3, 1863, for the two congressional districts in portions of the state under Union control. The seats had be vacant since the end of the 36th Congress. ! ! Maine. Maine elected its members September 8, 1862. Maryland. Maryland elected its members November 3, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened. Massachusetts. Massachusetts elected its members November 1, 1862. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! | ! ! | ! Michigan. Michigan elected its members November 4 , 1862. Minnesota. Minnesota elected its members November 4, 1862. ! ! Mississippi. Mississippi elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War. Missouri. Missouri elected its members November 4, 1862. Nebraska Territory. See non-voting delegates, below. Nevada Territory. See non-voting delegates, below. New Hampshire. New Hampshire elected its members March 10, 1863. New Mexico Territory. See non-voting delegates, below. New Jersey. New Jersey elected its members November 4, 1862. New York. New York elected its members November 4, 1862. The state lost two seats in reapportionment, going from 33 members to 31. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! North  Carolina. North Carolina elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War. Ohio. Ohio elected its members October 14, 1862. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! | ! ! | ! ! ! ! ! ! | ! ! ! ! Oregon. Oregon elected its members June 2, 1862. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania elected its members October 14, 1862. Rhode Island. Rhode Island elected its members April 1, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened. South Carolina. South Carolina elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War. Tennessee. Tennessee elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War . Texas. Texas elected no members to the next Congress due to its withdrawal during the Civil War. Utah Territory. See non-voting delegates, below. Vermont. Vermont elected its members September 1, 1863, after the term began but before the Congress convened. Virginia. Virginia elected its members May 28, 1863, but they were all disqualified. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Washington Territory. See non-voting delegates, below. West Virginia. West Virginia elected three representatives on October 22, 1863 after becoming a state on June 20, 1863 but before the Congress convened. It was made up of three districts that previously belonged to Virginia, all of which  were vacant before the elections. They were seated on December 7, 1863. ! ! ! Wisconsin. Wisconsin elected six members of congress on Election Day, November 4, 1862, picking up two Democratic gains. Three of seats were newly apportioned. One incumbent was redistricted and won re-election, but died three weeks after the general election. A special election was held December 30, 1862, to replace him. ! ! ! ! ! ! Non-voting delegates. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !