With the country in World War I (contrary to previous promises by Wilson), and Wilson's personal popularity ebbing, the Republicans gained 25 seats and took over control of the House from Wilson's Democrats. Internal divide among Democratic leadership over aspects related to payment of the war also decreased the unity of the party, which had been the organization's strength during the decade. The Progressive Party also disappeared, with its former members generally becoming Democrats. Minnesota's Farmer–Labor Party, a descendant of populism, also gained its very first seat.
Wilson's wheat policies aided in the Democratic defeat. The Food and Fuel Control Act allowed for the cost of wheat to be set at a price control limit of $2.20 per bushel while other products like cotton were not. Wilson later vetoed an attempt by the Republicans to increase the limit to $2.40 per bushel. Republicans were more likely to gain seats in areas with higher amounts of wheat acreage with the Republicans gaining twenty-two seats in the ten highest wheat producing states while the Democrats only gained two seats.[1]
Wilson was also unable to aid the Democratic candidates before the election due to his preparations for involvement in the Paris Peace Conference.[1]
This was the first election in which Idaho was divided into districts, formerly it had had a single at-large district with two seats.
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Non-voting delegates
Alaska Territory
As he had successfully done the previous time, Wickersham again contested the election. During the contest, Sulzer died April 28, 1919, and Democrat George Barnes Grigsby won the June 5 special election to finish the term. Wickersham then won the election contest and was seated March 1, 1921.
^While Victor Berger won election to Congress from the 5th district of Wisconsin, the seat was later declared vacant on the basis convictions under the Espionage Act.
^ a b William Carss, who was elected to the 8th district in Minnesota, was a member of the Minnesota Non-Partisan League but had run as an Independent in the congressional election. He would later become a member of the Farmer-Labor Party when it was formalized in 1920.
^ a bThe Farmer–Labor, Prohibition, and Socialist parties each had one member
^Prohibition
^ a bChanged from at-large.
^ a b Representative-Elect Harvey Helm (D, Kentucky 8th) died before the start of the Congress and was replaced in a special election by King Swope (Republican), changing the totals to R 240, D 192.)
^Elections held early.
^Farmer–Labor
^ a b At-large seat or seats eliminated in redistricting.
^Socialist
^ Changed parties.
^The election was overturned by Congress in 1921 due to fraud.[4]
^Richardson's designation is unknown, but he had run as a Republican for this district in 1908 and 1910.
^Broyles was a leading Black Republican who stood for this district in 1920 as a Black and Tan Republican.
^Endorsed by the Prohibition Party
References
^ a b cMurphy, Paul (1974). Political Parties In American History, Volume 3, 1890-present. G. P. Putnam's Sons.
^"MO District 10 - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au avHouse general elections, All States, 1918 summary. (2023). CQ voting and elections collection (web site). http://library.cqpress.com/elections/avg1918-3us1
^Campbell, T. (2005). Deliver the Vote: A History of Election Fraud, an American Political Tradition, 1742-2004. Carroll & Graf. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-7867-1591-6. Retrieved September 7, 2024. Even when fraud was proven, the remedy could be hollow. In the Tenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania in 1918, the Democrat, Patrick McLane, was at first declared the winner, while the Republican, John R. Farr, contested the election. Over nearly two years, a Congressional committee examined the case; they determined in February 1921 that "wholesale fraud" had indeed cheated Farr out of his seat, and, by a 161 to 121 vote on the House floor, McLane was unseated and Farr sworn in to serve out the remainder of his term — six days.
^"AK Territorial Delegate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns.
Bibliography
Langland, James, ed. (1920). The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Yearbook for 1920. Chicago, IL: The Chicago Daily News.
Dubin, Michael J. (March 1, 1998). United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results of the Elections of the 1st Through 105th Congresses. McFarland and Company. ISBN 978-0786402830.
Martis, Kenneth C. (January 1, 1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789-1989. Macmillan Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0029201701.
Moore, John L., ed. (1994). Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections (Third ed.). Congressional Quarterly Inc. ISBN 978-0871879967.
"Party Divisions of the House of Representatives* 1789–Present". Office of the Historian, House of United States House of Representatives. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
External links
"US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved August 15, 2020.