1818 and 1819 United States House of Representatives elections
Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 16th Congress were held at various dates in different states between April 1818 and August 1819 during President James Monroe's first term. Also, newly admitted [|Alabama] elected its first representatives in September 1819. This election occurred in a politically uneventful period marked by exceptionally low levels of partisan rivalry known as the Era of Good Feelings. The weak Federalist Party, with limited influence in few states, no longer effectively opposed the Democratic-Republican Party, which increased its large majority.
Election summaries
was admitted in 1818, adding one seat. Alabama and [|Maine] were admitted during the 16th Congress. One new seat was added for Alabama, while Maine, splitting from [|Massachusetts], simply retained its Representatives.
Connecticut elected its members September 21, 1818. The delegation changed from seven Federalists to seven Democratic-Republicans then the retirement of six incumbents and the party-change of the seventh.
Illinois elected its member August 2, 1819, after the new congress began but before the first session convened. The incumbent had just been elected to the new seat in late 1818.
Indiana
Indiana re-elected its member August 3, 1818.
Kentucky
Kentucky elected its members August 3, 1818.
Louisiana
Louisiana elected its member July 6–8, 1818. Louisiana held an election for the 16th Congress at the same time that it held a special election to finish the 15th Congress. Data were only available for the special election, but the general election would presumably have had very similar results, and so the results for the special election are duplicated here.
Maryland
Maryland elected its members October 5, 1818.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts elected its members November 2, 1818. Massachusetts's electoral law required a majority for election, necessitating additional elections in five districts on April 5, 1819 and July 26, 1819. This was the last election in which the District of Maine — comprising congressional districts 14 through 20 — was part of Massachusetts. The District became the State of Maine during the 16th Congress.
Mississippi
Mississippi elected its member August 2–3, 1819, after the new congress began but before the first session convened.
New York elected its members April 28–30, 1818, the earliest of any state. At this time, the Democratic-Republicans in New York were divided into two factions, the "Bucktails" who were opposed to Governor Dewitt Clinton's Erie Canal project, led by Martin Van Buren, and on the other side, Clinton's supporters, known as Clintonians. In many districts, the remaining Federalists allied with the Clintonians, with candidates running on a joint ticket. Several candidates who ran under that joint ticket cannot be clearly categorized, and are marked C/F. Others who ran under the joint ticket are marked by their party with a footnote indicating that they ran under the joint ticket.
