United States House election, 1870
Encyclopedia
The U.S. House election, 1870 was an election for the United States House of Representatives
in 1870 which occurred in the middle of President
Ulysses S. Grant
's first term.
With Grant's administration rocked by a number of scandals (including a shady deal for gold speculation that led to a crash in the market and several business deals that saw high-ranking governmental officials gain kickbacks) and Reconstruction winding down, his Republican Party lost seats to the opposition Democratic Party but retained an overall majority. Also, since Democratic Party controlled governments were reestablishing themselves in some portions of the South, the Democrats were able to make huge gains in this election.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1870 which occurred in the middle of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
's first term.
With Grant's administration rocked by a number of scandals (including a shady deal for gold speculation that led to a crash in the market and several business deals that saw high-ranking governmental officials gain kickbacks) and Reconstruction winding down, his Republican Party lost seats to the opposition Democratic Party but retained an overall majority. Also, since Democratic Party controlled governments were reestablishing themselves in some portions of the South, the Democrats were able to make huge gains in this election.
Overall results
| Party | Total seats (change) | Seat percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party | 136 | -35 | 55.9% |
| Democratic Party | 104 | +37 | 42.7% |
| Independent | 3 | -3 | 1.2% |
| Totals | 243 | +0 | 100.0% |
California
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected | Status | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... 1 |
Samuel Beach Axtell Samuel Beach Axtell Samuel Beach Axtell . Notable for being the most controversial Chief Justice of the New Mexico Territorial Supreme Court; corrupted administration as Governor of New Mexico; brief tenure as Governor of Utah; and two term Congressman from California.-Early life:Axtell was born in Franklin County,... |
Democratic | |
Retiring | Sherman O. Houghton (R) 51.6% Lawrence Archer (D) 48.4% |
| California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... 2 |
Aaron Augustus Sargent Aaron Augustus Sargent Aaron Augustus Sargent was an American journalist, lawyer, politician and diplomat. He was sometimes called the "Senator for the Southern Pacific Railroad".-Biography:... |
Republican | |
Running | Aaron Augustus Sargent Aaron Augustus Sargent Aaron Augustus Sargent was an American journalist, lawyer, politician and diplomat. He was sometimes called the "Senator for the Southern Pacific Railroad".-Biography:... (R) 54% James W. Coffroth (D) 46% |
| California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... 3 |
James A. Johnson James A. Johnson (politician) James Augustus Johnson was a U.S. Representative from California who went on to serve as the state's 14th Lieutenant Governor.-Early life:... |
Democratic | |
Retiring | John M. Coghlan John M. Coghlan John Maxwell Coghlan was a California Republican politician.Coghlan was born in Louisville, Kentucky and moved with his parents to Illinois in 1847, and again in 1850 to California during the California Gold Rush, where they settled in Suisun City.Coghlan studied law and was admitted to the bar... (R) 51.7% George Pearce (D) 48.3% |
External links
- http://clerk.house.gov/histHigh/Congressional_History