United States House election, 1916
Encyclopedia
The U.S. House election, 1916 was an election for the United States House of Representatives
in 1916 which coincided with President
Woodrow Wilson
's re-election.
Although Wilson eked out a narrow victory, his Democratic Party lost seats to the opposition Republican Party. Wilson's hybrid approach, which injected a progressive element into Democratic policies, had proved to be dissatisfying to much of the nation. International affairs also became important in the traditionally non-interventionist United States, as voters attempted to determine which party would be best served to keep the nation from entering The Great War
.
Although the Democrats lost a plurality, they narrowly maintained control of the chamber with minor party support, forming an alliance with the remaining third party Progressives. This is the last example (to date) of a type of coalition
holding power in the House, rather than a single party (as is normally the case). The Democrats would not win a majority of seats again until 1930. Notable freshman included Jeannette Rankin
a Republican from Montana who was the first woman ever elected to congress.
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 1916 which coincided with 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....
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
's re-election.
Although Wilson eked out a narrow victory, his Democratic Party lost seats to the opposition Republican Party. Wilson's hybrid approach, which injected a progressive element into Democratic policies, had proved to be dissatisfying to much of the nation. International affairs also became important in the traditionally non-interventionist United States, as voters attempted to determine which party would be best served to keep the nation from entering The Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Although the Democrats lost a plurality, they narrowly maintained control of the chamber with minor party support, forming an alliance with the remaining third party Progressives. This is the last example (to date) of a type of coalition
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
holding power in the House, rather than a single party (as is normally the case). The Democrats would not win a majority of seats again until 1930. Notable freshman included Jeannette Rankin
Jeannette Rankin
Jeannette Pickering Rankin was the first woman in the US Congress. A Republican, she was elected statewide in Montana in 1916 and again in 1940. A lifelong pacifist, she voted against the entry of the United States into both World War I in 1917 and World War II in 1941, the only member of Congress...
a Republican from Montana who was the first woman ever elected to congress.
Overall results
| Party | Total seats (change) | Seat percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party | 215 | +19 | 49.4% |
| Democratic Party | 214 | -16 | 49.1% |
| Progressive Party Progressive Party (United States, 1912) The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American political party. It was formed after a split in the Republican Party between President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt.... |
3 | -3 | 0.6% |
| Prohibition Party | 1 | +0 | 0.2% |
| Socialist Party | 1 | +0 | 0.2% |
| Independent | 1 | +0 | 0.2% |
| Totals | 435 | +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 |
William Kent William Kent (U.S. Congressman) William Kent was an American who served as a United States Congressman representing the State of California. He spearheaded the movement to create the Muir Woods National Monument by donating land to the Federal Government for the Monument.Kent was born in Chicago, Illinois... |
Independent | |
Retiring | Clarence F. Lea Clarence F. Lea Clarence Frederick Lea was a U.S. Representative from California.Born near Highland Springs, California, in southwestern Lake County, Lea attended Lakeport Academy in Lakeport, and Stanford University. He obtained a degree in law from the University of Denver, in Denver, Colorado, in 1898... (D) 48.8% Edward H. Hart (R) 42.8% Mary M. Morgan (S) 5.5% Jay Scott Ryder (Proh.) 2.9% |
| 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 |
John E. Raker John E. Raker John Edward Raker, was a Democratic Party Congressional representative for California. He was usually known as John E. Raker.... |
Democratic | |
Running | John E. Raker John E. Raker John Edward Raker, was a Democratic Party Congressional representative for California. He was usually known as John E. Raker.... (D) 71% James T. Matlock (R) 29% |
| 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 |
Charles F. Curry Charles F. Curry Charles Forrest Curry was a U.S. Representative from California and the father of Charles Forrest Curry, Jr..... |
Republican | |
Running | Charles F. Curry Charles F. Curry Charles Forrest Curry was a U.S. Representative from California and the father of Charles Forrest Curry, Jr..... (R) 66.7% O. W. Kennedy (D) 23.4% Ben Cooper (S) 6.2% Edwin F. Van Vlear (Proh.) 3.7% |
| 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... 4 |
Julius Kahn Julius Kahn Julius Kahn was a United States Congressman who was succeeded by his wife Florence Prag Kahn after his death. Kahn was born in Kuppenheim, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, in what would become Germany.... |
Republican | |
Running | Julius Kahn Julius Kahn Julius Kahn was a United States Congressman who was succeeded by his wife Florence Prag Kahn after his death. Kahn was born in Kuppenheim, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, in what would become Germany.... (R) 77.2% J. M. Fernald (D) 15.7% Allen K. Gifford (S) 5.6% Henry W. Hutchinson (Proh.) 1.5% |
| 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... 5 |
John I. Nolan John I. Nolan John Ignatius Nolan was an American iron molder and politician who represented a Californian district in the United States House of Representatives.- Background :... |
Republican | |
Running | John I. Nolan John I. Nolan John Ignatius Nolan was an American iron molder and politician who represented a Californian district in the United States House of Representatives.- Background :... (R) 84.7% Charles A. Preston (S) 9.6% Frederick Head (Proh.) 5.8% |
| 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... 6 |
John A. Elston John A. Elston John Arthur Elston was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Woodland, California, Elston attended the public schools.He graduated from Hesperian College, Woodland, 1892.... |
Republican | |
Running | John A. Elston John A. Elston John Arthur Elston was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Woodland, California, Elston attended the public schools.He graduated from Hesperian College, Woodland, 1892.... (R) 64.6% H. Avery Whitney (D) 22.6% Luella Twining (S) 8.7% Harlow E. Wolcott (Proh.) 4.1% |
| 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... 7 |
Denver S. Church Denver S. Church Denver Samuel Church was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Folsom City, California, Church attended the common schools.He was graduated from Healdsburg College in 1885.He studied law.... |
Democratic | |
Running | Denver S. Church Denver S. Church Denver Samuel Church was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Folsom City, California, Church attended the common schools.He was graduated from Healdsburg College in 1885.He studied law.... (D) 51% W. W. Phillips (R) 36.4% Harry M. McKee (S) 7.2% J. F. Butler (Proh.) 5.3% |
| 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... 8 |
Everis A. Hayes Everis A. Hayes Everis Anson Hayes was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Hayes attended the public schools.... |
Republican | |
Running | Everis A. Hayes Everis A. Hayes Everis Anson Hayes was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Hayes attended the public schools.... (R) 68.6% George S. Walker (P Progressive Party (United States, 1912) The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American political party. It was formed after a split in the Republican Party between President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt.... ) (D) 23.8% Cora Pattleton Wilson (S) 7.5% |
| 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... 9 |
Charles H. Randall Charles Hiram Randall Charles Hiram Randall , known as Charles Randall, was a member of the U.S. Congress, the California State Assembly and the Los Angeles City Council in the 20th Century.-Biography:... |
Prohibition | |
Running | Charles H. Randall (Proh. Prohibition Party The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the US. The party was an integral part of the temperance movement... ) 57.8% Charles W. Bell (I) 32.7% Ralph L. Criswell (S) 9.5% |
| 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... 10 |
Henry S. Benedict Henry S. Benedict Henry Stanley Benedict was a U.S. Representative from California.-Biography:Born in Boonville, Missouri, Benedict moved with his parents to Los Angeles, California, in 1888.He attended the grammar schools and high school.... |
Republican | |
Retiring | Henry Z. Osborne Henry Z. Osborne Henry Zenas Osborne was an American Republican politician.Born in New Lebanon, New York, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives from California and served from March 4, 1917, until his death. Osborne died at age 74 in Los Angeles, California. He is interred in... (R) 49.5% Rufus V. Bowden (D) 25.7% Henry Stanley Benedict (P) 11.1% James H. Ryckman (S) 7% Henry Clay Needham (Proh.) 6.8% |
| 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... 11 |
William Kettner William Kettner William "Bill" Kettner was a former US Democratic politician from San Diego, California. He served four terms in Congress from 1913 through 1921 and is credited with bringing many U.S. Navy facilities to San Diego.... |
Democratic | |
Running | William Kettner William Kettner William "Bill" Kettner was a former US Democratic politician from San Diego, California. He served four terms in Congress from 1913 through 1921 and is credited with bringing many U.S. Navy facilities to San Diego.... (D) 44.5% Robert C. Harbison (R) 35.7% James S. Edwards (Proh.) 15.6% Marcus W. Robbins (S) 4.1% |
See also
- 65th United States Congress65th United States CongressThe Sixty-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1917 to March 4, 1919, during the fourth and fifth...
- United States presidential election, 1916United States presidential election, 1916The United States presidential election of 1916 took place while Europe was embroiled in World War I. Public sentiment in the still neutral United States leaned towards the British and French forces, due to the harsh treatment of civilians by the German Army, which had invaded and occupied large...
- United States Senate elections, 1916