1790 and 1791 United States House of Representatives elections

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1790 and 1791 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1788 & 1789 April 27, 1790 – October 11, 1791[a] 1792 & 1793 →

All 67 seats in the United States House of Representatives[b]
34 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
  JonathanTrumbull.jpg Frederick Muhlenberg.jpg
Leader Jonathan Trumbull Jr. Frederick Muhlenberg[c]
Party Pro-Administration Anti-Administration
Leader's seat Connecticut 4th Pennsylvania 2nd
Last election 37 seats 28 seats
Seats won 40 27
Seat change Increase 3 Decrease 1

UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativesElection1790.png
Results:
     Pro-Administration      Anti-Administration

Speaker before election

Frederick Muhlenberg
Pro-Administration

Elected Speaker

Jonathan Trumbull Jr.
Pro-Administration

Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 2nd Congress took place in 1790 and 1791, in the middle of President George Washington's first term. While formal political parties still did not exist, coalitions of pro-Washington (pro-Administration) representatives and anti-Administration representatives each gained two seats as a result of the addition of new states to the union.

Speaker Frederick Muhlenberg, who had led the Pro-Administrationists in 1789, switched loyalties to the Anti-Administrationists during the tenure of the 1st Congress. He failed to win election to the Speakership as their leader as a result of these elections, and was succeeded by Jonathan Trumbull Jr., who became the 2nd Speaker of the House.

Retirements[]

Either five or six incumbents did not seek re-election.

Anti-Administration[]

  1. Maryland 4: William Smith retired.
  2. Virginia 6: Isaac Coles retired.

Aedanus Burke, a U.S. Representative from South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District, either retired or lost re-election but it is not known

Pro-Administration[]

  1. Pennsylvania at-large: George Clymer retired.
  2. Pennsylvania at-large: Henry Wynkoop retired.
  3. Pennsylvania at-large: Thomas Scott retired.

Election summaries[]

In this period, each state fixed its own date for congressional general elections, a In this period, each state fixed its own date for congressional general elections early as April 27, 1790 (in New York) and as late as October 11, 1791 (in Pennsylvania). Elections to a Congress took place both in the even-numbered year before and in the odd-numbered year when the Congress convened. In some states, the congressional delegation was not elected until after the legal start of the Congress (on the 4th day of March in the odd-numbered year). The first session of this Congress was convened in Philadelphia on October 24, 1791.

Kentucky and Vermont became states during the 2nd Congress, adding two seats each.[1] The legislation admitted Vermont was passed at the end of the 1st Congress taking effect on March 4, 1791, the first day of the 2nd Congress, so that Vermont was represented from the start of the Congress, while Kentucky was unrepresented until the 2nd session.

2nd Congress United States House of Representatives.svg
State Type Date Total
seats
Pro-
Administration
Anti-
Administration
Seats Change Seats Change
New York Districts April 27–29, 1790 6 5 Increase2 1 Decrease2
New Hampshire At-large August 30, 1790 3 3 Increase1 0 Decrease1
Virginia Districts September 1, 1790 10 2 Decrease1 8 Increase1
Connecticut At-large September 20, 1790 5 5 Steady 0 Steady
Maryland Mixed[d] October 4, 1790 6 3 Increase1 3 Decrease1
Massachusetts Districts October 4, 1790[e] 8 7 Increase1 1 Decrease1
South Carolina Districts October 12, 1790 5 3 Increase1 2 Decrease1
Rhode Island At-large October 19, 1790 1 1 Steady 0 Steady
Delaware At-large November 8, 1790 1 1 Steady 0 Steady
Georgia District January 3, 1791 3 0 Steady 3 Steady
New Jersey At-large January 26, 1791 4 4 Steady 0 Steady
North Carolina Districts January 28, 1791 5 2 Steady 3 Steady
Late elections (after the March 4, 1791 beginning of the term)
Vermont Districts July 13, 1791[f] 2 0 Steady 2 Increase2
Pennsylvania Districts October 11, 1791 8 4 Decrease2 4 Increase2
Total 67 40
59.7%
Increase 3 27
40.3%
Decrease 1
House seats
Pro-Admin
59.70%
Anti-Admin
40.30%

Change in composition[]

End of the last Congress[]

A A
A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A V P P P
Majority → P
P P P P P P P P P P
P P P P P P P P P P
P P P P P P P P P P
P P

Beginning of the next Congress[]

A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A V P P P P
Majority → P
P P P P P P P P P P
P P P P P P P P P P
P P P P P P P P P P
P P P P
Key:
A Anti-Administration
P Pro-Administration
V Vacant

Special elections[]

There were special elections in 1790 and 1791 during the 1st United States Congress and 2nd United States Congress. New states and newly-ratified states are not included as special elections.

Elections are sorted by date then district.

1st Congress[]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Virginia 9 Theodorick Bland Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent died June 1, 1790.
New member elected July 1790.
Anti-Administration hold.
Winner was later elected to the next term, see below.
  • Green tickY William B. Giles (Anti-Administration) 54.5%
  • Thomas Edmunds (Pro-Administration) 45.5%
Connecticut at-large Pierpont Edwards Pro-Administration 1790 Predecessor declined election.
New member elected December 16, 1790.
Pro-Administration hold.
Winner had already been elected to the next term, see below.
  • Green tickY Jeremiah Wadsworth (Pro-Administration) 48.6%
  • Amasa Learned (Pro-Administration) 23.9%
  • Benjamin Huntington (Pro-Administration) 13.2%
  • Tapping Reeve (Unknown) 8.1%
  • Stephen M. Mitchell (Unknown) 4.1%
  • James Davenport (Unknown) 1.5%
  • John Chester (Unknown) 0.7%

2nd Congress[]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New York 1 Vacant Representative-elect James Townsend (Pro-Administration) died May 24, 1790.
New member elected April 26–28, 1791.
Anti-Administration gain.
  • Green tickY Thomas Tredwell (Anti-Administration) 26.2%
  • John Vanderbilt (Pro-Administration) 19.2%
  • Henry Peters (Pro-Administration) 14.5%
  • Ezra L'Hommedieu (Anti-Administration) 14.2%
  • Stephen Carman (Anti-Administration) 14.1%
  • Isaac Ledyard (Pro-Administration) 11.8%
Connecticut at-large Roger Sherman Pro-Administration 1790 Incumbent-and-Representative-elect resigned March 31, 1791 to become U.S. Senator.
New member elected September 19, 1791.
Pro-Administration hold.
  • Green tickY Amasa Learned (Pro-Administration)
  • [data unknown/missing]
Maryland 3 William Pinkney Pro-Administration 1790 Incumbent resigned.
New member elected October 26–29, 1791.
Anti-Administration gain.
Winner seated February 5, 1792.
  • Green tickY John Francis Mercer (Anti-Administration)
  • Unopposed

Connecticut[]

Connecticut elected all five of its representatives at-large on a general ticket on September 20, 1790.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Connecticut at-large
5 seats
Roger Sherman Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected.
Winner declined to serve and a new member would later be elected in a special election.
  • Green tickY Roger Sherman (Pro-Administration) 2,969 votes
  • Green tickY Pierpont Edwards (Pro-Administration) 2,239 votes
  • Green tickY James Hillhouse (Pro-Administration) 2,035 votes
  • Green tickY Jonathan Sturges (Pro-Administration) 1,730 votes
  • Green tickY Jonathan Trumbull Jr. (Pro-Administration) 1,720 votes
  • Tapping Reeve 1,672 votes
  • Jeremiah Wadsworth (Pro-Administration) 1,658 votes
  • Amasa Learned (Pro-Administration) 1,463 votes
  • Stephen M. Mitchell (Pro-Administration) 1,435 votes
  • Benjamin Huntington 1,372 votes
  • John Chester 881 votes
  • James Davenport (Pro-Administration) 786 votes[2]
Benjamin Huntington Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration hold.
Jonathan Sturges Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected.
Jonathan Trumbull Jr. Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected.
Jeremiah Wadsworth Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration hold.
Winner declined to serve and the incumbent was re-elected in a special election.

There were two subsequent special elections. The first was held to fill the vacancy left by Pierpont Edwards (Pro-Administration) declining to serve and was won by Jeremiah Wadsworth (Pro-Administration). The second was held September 19, 1791 to fill the vacancy left by Roger Sherman (Pro-Administration)'s election to the Senate and was won by Amasa Learned (Pro-Administration).

Delaware[]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[g]
Delaware at-large John M. Vining Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John M. Vining (Pro-Administration) 50.3%
  • Joshua Clayton (Pro-Administration) 28.9%
  • Thomas Duff 20.8%

Georgia[]

Georgia switched to a conventional district system for the Second Congress. At the time, the districts were not numbered, but are retroactively renumbered as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively here.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Georgia 1
"Southern (or Eastern) District"
James Jackson Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Anti-Administration hold.
Election was subsequently challenged, the House determined that electoral fraud had occurred, and the seat was declared void.
  • Green tickY Anthony Wayne (Anti-Administration) 50.4%
  • James Jackson (Anti-Administration) 49.5%
  • Others 0.2%
Georgia 2
"Middle District"
Abraham Baldwin Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Abraham Baldwin (Anti-Administration) 56.2%
  • Thomas P. Carnes (Anti-Administration)
  • James Jackson (Anti-Administration) 1.2%
  • John Jones 0.3%
Georgia 3
"Northern (or Western) District"
George Mathews Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Anti-Administration hold.
  • Green tickY Francis Willis (Anti-Administration) 66.5%
  • George Mathews (Anti-Administration) 33.5%

Kentucky[]

Kentucky was admitted during the 2nd Congress and elected its first representatives in 1792.

Maryland[]

Under Maryland law for the election for the 1st and 2nd Congresses "candidates were elected at-large but had to be residents of a specific district with the statewide vote determining winners from each district."

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Maryland 1 Michael J. Stone Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration gain.
  • Green tickY Philip Key (Pro-Administration) 56.8%
  • Michael J. Stone (Anti-Administration) 43.2%
Maryland 2 Joshua Seney Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Joshua Seney (Anti-Administration) 57.1%
  • James Tilghman 42.9%
Maryland 3 Benjamin Contee Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration gain.
Winner later resigned due to questions of ineligibility due to his residence[3] and was replaced in a special election by John Francis Mercer (Anti-Administration).
  • Green tickY William Pinkney (Pro-Administration) 61.6%
  • Benjamin Contee (Anti-Administration) 38.4%
Maryland 4 William Smith Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Anti-Administration hold.
  • Green tickY Samuel Sterett (Anti-Administration) 100%
Maryland 5 George Gale Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration hold.
  • Green tickY William Vans Murray (Pro-Administration) 56.4%
  • George Gale (Pro-Administration) 43.6%
Maryland 6 Daniel Carroll Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Anti-Administration gain.
  • Green tickY Upton Sheredine (Anti-Administration) 55.5%
  • Daniel Carroll (Pro-Administration) 44.5%

Massachusetts[]

Massachusetts law required a majority for election. This condition was met in four of the eight districts, the remaining four required between 2 and 9 ballots for election.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Massachusetts 1 Fisher Ames Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Fisher Ames (Pro-Administration) 75.1%
  • Benjamin Austin 16.1%
  • Thomas Dawes 8.8%
Massachusetts 2 Benjamin Goodhue Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Benjamin Goodhue (Pro-Administration) 88.8%
  • Samuel Holten 11.2%
Massachusetts 3 Elbridge Gerry Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Elbridge Gerry (Anti-Administration) 60.4%
  • Nathaniel Gorham 39.6%
Massachusetts 4 Theodore Sedgwick Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Theodore Sedgwick (Pro-Administration) 75.0%
  • Samuel Lyman (Pro-Administration) 16.3%
  • Scattering 8.7%
Massachusetts 5 George Partridge Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent resigned August 14, 1790.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration hold.
First ballot (October 4, 1790):
  • Shearjashub Bourne (Pro-Administration) 41.8%
    Thomas Davis 37.3%
    Joshua Thomas 20.9%

Second ballot (November 26, 1790):
  • Green tickY Shearjashub Bourne (Pro-Administration) 65.3%
  • Joshua Thomas 27.2%
  • Thomas Davis 7.5%
Massachusetts 6 George Leonard
Redistricted from the 7th district
Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected. First ballot (October 4, 1790):
Walter Spooner 25.5%
Phanuel Bishop (Anti-Administration) 22.6%
George Leonard (Pro-Administration) 22.3%
Peleg Coffin Jr. (Pro-Administration) 16.7%
David Cobb 12.9%

Second ballot (November 26, 1790):
Walter Spooner 24.8%
Phanuel Bishop (Anti-Administration) 28.4%
George Leonard (Pro-Administration) 12.5%
Peleg Coffin Jr. (Pro-Administration) 25.7%
David Cobb 8.6%

Third ballot (January 25, 1791):
Walter Spooner 28.3%
Phanuel Bishop (Anti-Administration) 33.9%
George Leonard (Pro-Administration) 8.5%
Peleg Coffin Jr. (Pro-Administration) 24.0%
David Cobb 5.3%

Fourth ballot (April 4, 1791):
Walter Spooner 38.8%
Phanuel Bishop (Anti-Administration) 38.8%
George Leonard (Pro-Administration) 5.3%
Peleg Coffin Jr. (Pro-Administration) 15.7%
David Cobb 1.5%

Fifth ballot (July 18, 1791):
Walter Spooner 6.6%
Phanuel Bishop (Anti-Administration) 42.3%
George Leonard (Pro-Administration) 29.3%
Peleg Coffin Jr. (Pro-Administration) 21.8%

Sixth ballot (September 8, 1791):
Phanuel Bishop (Anti-Administration) 42.2%
George Leonard (Pro-Administration) 41.6%
Peleg Coffin Jr. (Pro-Administration) 16.2%

Seventh ballot (November 11, 1791):
  • Phanuel Bishop (Anti-Administration) 31.6%
    George Leonard (Pro-Administration) 45.0%
    Peleg Coffin Jr. (Pro-Administration) 22.2%

Eighth ballot (December 26, 1791):
  • Phanuel Bishop (Anti-Administration) 27.7%
    George Leonard (Pro-Administration) 55.6%
    Peleg Coffin Jr. (Pro-Administration) 16.7%

Ninth ballot (April 2, 1792):
  • Green tickY George Leonard (Pro-Administration) 55.6%
  • Phanuel Bishop (Anti-Administration) 27.7%
  • Peleg Coffin Jr. (Pro-Administration) 16.7%
Massachusetts 7 Jonathan Grout
Redistricted from the 8th district
Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration gain.
First ballot (October 4, 1790):
  • Jonathan Grout (Anti-Administration) 39.1%
    Artemas Ward (Pro-Administration) 39.0%
    John Sprague 14.5%
    Nathan Tyler 7.4%

Second ballot (November 26, 1790):
  • Green tickY Artemas Ward (Pro-Administration) 56.6%
  • Jonathan Grout (Anti-Administration) 43.4%
Massachusetts 8 George Thatcher
Redistricted from the 6th district
Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected. First ballot (October 4, 1790):
  • George Thatcher (Pro-Administration) 37.2%
    William Lithgow 22.3%
    Nathaniel Wells 16.1%
    Josiah Thatcher 9.2%
    William Martin 4.9%
    Arthur Noble 3.6%
    Daniel Davis 1.8%
    Peleg Wadsworth (Pro-Administration) 1.5%

Second ballot (November 26, 1790):
  • George Thatcher (Pro-Administration) 49.8%
    Nathaniel Wells 31.0%
    William Lithgow 14.8%
    Scattering 4.4%

Third ballot (January 25, 1791):
  • George Thatcher (Pro-Administration) 49.1%
    William Lithgow 39.7%
    Nathaniel Wells 11.2%

Fourth ballot (April 4, 1791):
  • Green tickY George Thatcher (Pro-Administration) 52.3%
  • William Lithgow 41.1%
  • Nathaniel Wells 6.6%

New Hampshire[]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New Hampshire at-large
3 seats on a general ticket
Abiel Foster Pro-Administration 1789 (Special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration hold.
  • Green tickY Samuel Livermore (Pro-Administration) 25.1%
  • Green tickY Jeremiah Smith (Pro-Administration) 13.1%
  • Green tickY Nicholas Gilman (Pro-Administration) 11.8%
  • John Samuel Sherburne (Anti-Administration) 11.1%
  • Abiel Foster (Pro-Administration) 8.5%
  • James Sheafe (Pro-Administration?) 7.8%
  • Nathaniel Peabody 7.0%
  • Others 15.5%
Samuel Livermore Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected as Pro-Administration.
Nicholas Gilman Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.

New Jersey[]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[g]
New Jersey at-large
4 seats on a general ticket
Elias Boudinot Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Abraham Clark (Pro-Administration) 19.9%
  • Green tickY Jonathan Dayton (Pro-Administration) 13.8%
  • Green tickY Elias Boudinot (Pro-Administration) 13.7%
  • Green tickY Aaron Kitchell (Pro-Administration) 8.8%
    Lambert Cadwalader (Pro-Administration) 7.0%
    James Linn 5.5%
    Thomas Sinnickson (Pro-Administration) 5.1%
    Robert Hoops 4.9%
  • Thomas Henderson 3.7%
  • John Witherspoon 2.7%
  • John Beatty (Pro-Administration) 2.3%
  • John Sheppard 1.9%
  • Joseph Ellis 1.7%
  • Robert Ogden 1.5%
  • James Schureman (Pro-Administration) 1.5%
  • John Harring 1.1%
  • John Hugg 1.1%
Lambert Cadwalader Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration hold.
James Schureman Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration hold.
Thomas Sinnickson Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration hold.

New York[]

New York's districts were not numbered at the time, therefore the numbering here is retroactive.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New York 1 William Floyd Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration gain.
Winner died May 24, 1790, before the start of the 2nd Congress. A special election was then held, see above.
  • Green tickY James Townsend (Pro-Administration) 35.5%
  • John Vanderbilt (Pro-Administration) 19.6%
  • William Floyd (Anti-Administration) 19.1%
  • Thomas Tredwell (Anti-Administration) 17.0%
  • Ezra L'Hommedieu (Anti-Administration) 8.8%
New York 2 John Laurance Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John Laurance (Pro-Administration) 98.4%
  • Melancton Smith (Anti-Administration) 1.6%
New York 3 Egbert Benson Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Egbert Benson (Pro-Administration) 60.8%
  • Theodorus Bailey (Anti-Administration) 39.2%
New York 4 John Hathorn Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Anti-Administration hold.
New York 5 Peter Silvester Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Peter Silvester (Pro-Administration) 58.4%
  • John Livingston (Anti-Administration) 41.6%
New York 6 Jeremiah Van Rensselaer Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration gain.
  • Green tickY James Gordon (Pro-Administration) 59.0%
  • Jeremiah Van Rensselaer (Anti-Administration) 41.0%

North Carolina[]

North Carolina ratified the Constitution November 21, 1789 and elected its representatives after admission.

1st Congress[]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
North Carolina 1
"Roanoke division"
State ratified the U.S. Constitution November 21, 1789. First member elected March 24, 1790.
Anti-Administration win.
Winner was later elected to the next term, see below.
  • Green tickY John B. Ashe (Anti-Administration) 48.9%
  • Nathaniel Macon (Anti-Administration) 41.5%
  • Stephen Moore 8.9%
  • Parsons[h] 0.7%
North Carolina 2
"Edenton and New Bern division"
State ratified the U.S. Constitution November 21, 1789. First member elected March 24, 1790.
Anti-Administration win.
Winner was later elected to the next term, see below.
North Carolina 3
"Cape Fear division"
State ratified the U.S. Constitution November 21, 1789. First member elected March 24, 1790.
Anti-Administration win.
Winner later lost re-election to the next term, see below.
  • Green tickY Timothy Bloodworth (Anti-Administration) 98.4%
  • Benjamin Smith 1.6%
North Carolina 4
"Yadkin division"
State ratified the U.S. Constitution November 21, 1789. First member elected March 24, 1790.
Pro-Administration win.
Winner was later elected to the next term, see below.
  • Green tickY John Steele (Pro-Administration)[i]
  • Joseph MacDowell
  • Waightstill Avery
North Carolina 5
"Western division"
State ratified the U.S. Constitution November 21, 1789. First member elected March 24, 1790.
Pro-Administration win.
District covered areas beyond the Appalachian Mountains that were ceded to in May 1790 to form the Southwest Territory, but member retained seat for the remainder of term.
  • Green tickY John Sevier (Pro-Administration)[i]

2nd Congress[]

Due to the cession of North Carolina's trans-Appalachian territory to form the Southwest Territory, the territory of the old 5th district was lost. North Carolina retained the same number of Representatives, and so it redistricted for the Second Congress.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
North Carolina 1
"Yadkin Division"
John Steele
Redistricted from the 4th district
Pro-Administration 1790 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John Steele (Pro-Administration) 87.3%
  • Joseph MacDowell (Anti-Administration) 12.7%
North Carolina 2
"Centre Division"
None (District created) New seat
Anti-Administration gain.
North Carolina 3 John Baptista Ashe
Redistricted from the 1st district
Anti-Administration 1790 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Jonathan B. Ashe (Anti-Administration)[i]
North Carolina 4
"Albemarle Division"
Hugh Williamson
Redistricted from the 2nd district
Anti-Administration 1790 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Hugh Williamson (Anti-Administration)[j]
  • Charles Johnson (Anti-Administration)
North Carolina 5
"Cape Fear Division"
Timothy Bloodworth
Redistricted from the 3rd district
Anti-Administration 1790 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration gain.
  • Green tickY William B. Grove (Pro-Administration) 65.2%
  • Timothy Bloodworth (Anti-Administration) 34.6%
  • Benjamin Smith (Pro-Administration) 0.2%

Pennsylvania[]

Pennsylvania had elected its Representatives at-large in the 1st Congress, but switched to using districts in the 2nd Congress. Five incumbents ran for re-election, four of whom won, while three others retired leaving three open seats. Two districts had no incumbents residing in them, while one (the 8th district) had a single representative who declined to run for re-election and one (the 2nd district) had three incumbents, only one of whom ran for re-election.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[4]
Pennsylvania 1 Thomas Fitzsimons
Redistricted from the at-large district
Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Thomas Fitzsimons (Pro-Administration) 85.1%
  • Charles Thompson (Anti-Administration) 14.9%
Pennsylvania 2 Frederick Muhlenberg
Redistricted from the at-large district
Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected as Anti-Administration.
  • Green tickY Frederick Muhlenberg (Anti-Administration[k])[i]
  • Amos Greg (Anti-Administration)
  • "Dr." Jones
George Clymer
Redistricted from the at-large district
Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent retired.
Pro-Administration loss.
Henry Wynkoop
Redistricted from the at-large district
Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent retired.
Pro-Administration loss.
Pennsylvania 3 Peter Muhlenberg
Redistricted from the at-large district
Anti-Administration 1788 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration gain.
  • Green tickY Israel Jacobs (Pro-Administration) 61.2%
  • Peter Muhlenberg (Anti-Administration) 38.8%
Pennsylvania 4 Daniel Hiester
Redistricted from the at-large district
Anti-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Daniel Hiester (Anti-Administration)[i]
Pennsylvania 5 None (District created) New seat.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration gain.
Pennsylvania 6 None (District created) New seat.
New member elected.
Anti-Administration gain.
  • Green tickY Andrew Gregg (Anti-Administration) 51.2%
  • John Allison (Pro-Administration) 18.3%
  • James McLean (Anti-Administration) 10.9%
  • Thomas Johnston (Pro-Administration) 10.3%
  • William Montgomery (Anti-Administration) 9.3%
Pennsylvania 7 Thomas Hartley
Redistricted from the at-large district
Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Thomas Hartley (Pro-Administration) 71.1%
  • William Irvine (Anti-Administration) 28.9%
Pennsylvania 8 Thomas Scott
Redistricted from the at-large district
Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Anti-Administration gain.
  • Green tickY William Findley (Anti-Administration) 65.2%
  • John Woods (Pro-Administration) 34.8%

Rhode Island[]

1st Congress[]

Rhode Island ratified the Constitution May 29, 1790. It elected its representatives after admission.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Rhode Island at-large State ratified the U.S. Constitution May 29, 1790. First member elected August 31, 1790.
Pro-Administration win.
Winner was later elected to the next term, see below.
  • Green tickY Benjamin Bourne (Pro-Administration) 72.7%
  • Job Comstock 23.2%
  • James Sheldon 3.4%[g]

2nd Congress[]

Rhode Island held elections for the 2nd Congress on October 18, 1790, about six weeks after elections for the 1st Congress due to the state's late ratification of the Constitution.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Rhode Island at-large Benjamin Bourne Pro-Administration August 1790 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Benjamin Bourne (Pro-Administration) 56.6%
  • Paul Mumford 33.0%
  • James Sheldon 10.1%

South Carolina[]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
South Carolina 1
"Charleston Division"
William L. Smith Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY William L. Smith (Pro-Administration)[i]
South Carolina 2
"Beaufort Division"
Aedanus Burke Anti-Administration 1788 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New member elected.
Pro-Administration gain.
  • Green tickY Robert Barnwell (Pro-Administration)[i]
South Carolina 3
"Georgetown Division"
Daniel Huger Pro-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina 4
"Camden Division"
Thomas Sumter Anti-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Thomas Sumter (Anti-Administration)[i]
South Carolina 5
"Ninety-Six Division"
Thomas Tudor Tucker Anti-Administration 1788 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Thomas Tudor Tucker (Anti-Administration)[i]

Vermont[]

Vermont was admitted at the end of the First Congress, with the admission taking effect at the start of the Second Congress. Vermont was entitled to elect two representatives. Vermont law at the time required a majority to win an office. In the 1st district, no candidate won a majority, necessitating a run-off.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates[g]
Vermont 1
"Western Division"
New state admitted. First member elected.
Anti-Administration win.
First ballot (July 13, 1791):
  • Matthew Lyon (Anti-Administration?) 28.7%
    Israel Smith (Anti-Administration) 24.6%
    Isaac Tichenor (Pro-Administration) 22.7%
    Samuel Hitchcock 18.1%
    Ira Allen 2.3%
    Ebenezer Marvin 1.6%
    Gideon Olin 1.3%
    Others 0.7%

Second ballot (September 6, 1791):
  • Green tickY Israel Smith (Anti-Administration) 68.4%
  • Matthew Lyon (Anti-Administration?) 29.4%
  • Isaac Tichenor 2.2%
Vermont 2
"Eastern Division"
New state admitted. First member elected.
Anti-Administration win.
  • Green tickY Nathaniel Niles (Anti-Administration)[i]
  • Stephen Jacob
  • Daniel Buck (Pro-Administration)

Virginia[]

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Virginia 1 Alexander White Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Alexander White (Pro-Administration) 93.3%
  • J.P. Duvall 6.7%
Virginia 2 John Brown Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John Brown (Anti-Administration)[i]
  • James M. Marshall
Virginia 3 Andrew Moore Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Andrew Moore (Anti-Administration)[i]
Virginia 4 Richard Bland Lee Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Richard Bland Lee (Pro-Administration) 62.1%
  • Arthur Lee 37.9%
Virginia 5 James Madison Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY James Madison (Anti-Administration) 97.8%
  • James Monroe (Anti-Administration) 2.2%
Virginia 6 Isaac Coles Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Anti-Administration hold.
Virginia 7 John Page Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John Page (Anti-Administration)[i]
  • Meriwether Smith
  • Francis Corbin
  • Henry Lee
Virginia 8 Josiah Parker Anti-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Josiah Parker (Anti-Administration) 76.1%
  • Isaac Avery 23.9%
Virginia 9 William B. Giles Anti-Administration 1790 (Special) Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY William B. Giles (Anti-Administration) 59.3%
  • Thomas Edmonds 40.6%
  • John Mason 0.1%
Virginia 10 Samuel Griffin Pro-Administration 1789 Incumbent re-elected as Anti-Administration.
  • Green tickY Samuel Griffin (Anti-Administration)[l][i]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Excluding states that joined during the Second Congress and a very late run-off election in Massachusetts's 6th congressional district.
  2. ^ 2 more seats were added by the admission of new states after the start of this Congress
  3. ^ Frederick Muhlenberg changed from Pro-Administration to Anti-Administration)
  4. ^ Maryland had six representatives elected by the whole state electorate, who had to choose one candidate from each district.
  5. ^ add Massachusetts required a majority for electionitional trials were required in 4 districts, held between November 26, 1790 and April 2, 1792.
  6. ^ A majority was required for election, which was not met in one of the districts necessitating a second election on September 6, 1791
  7. ^ a b c d Only candidates with at least 1% of the vote listed
  8. ^ Source does not give first name
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Source does not give numbers of votes or has incomplete data
  10. ^ Changed from Pro-Administration to Anti-Administration between the 1st and 2nd Congresses
  11. ^ Changed from Pro-Administration to Anti-Administration between the 1st and 2nd Congresses
  12. ^ and Had been Pro-Administration previous electionwould switch back to Pro-Administration in the next election

References[]

  1. ^ Stat. 191
  2. ^ "Connecticut 1790 U.S. House of Representatives". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved March 22, 2018., citing The Connecticut Gazette (New London, CT). October 22, 1790.
  3. ^ "Second Congress (membership roster)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
  4. ^ Wilkes University Elections Statistics Project

Bibliography[]

External links[]

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