The 1800–01 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between April 29, 1800, and August 1, 1801. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 7th United States Congress convened on December 7, 1801. They were held at the same time as the 1800 presidential election, in which Vice President Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic Republican, defeated incumbent President John Adams, a Federalist. Elections were held for all 105 seats, representing 15 states.

Quick Facts All 106 seats in the United States House of Representatives 54 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1800–01 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1798 & 1799 April 29, 1800 – August 1, 1801 1802 & 1803 →
All 106 seats in the United States House of Representatives 54 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Nathaniel Macon[1] Theodore Sedgwick Party Democratic-Republican Federalist Leader's seat North Carolina 5th Massachusetts 1st Last election 46 seats 60 seats Seats won 68 38 Seat change 22 22
Results:      Federalist hold      Federalist gain      Democratic-Republican hold      Democratic-Republican gain      Undistricted
Speaker before election Theodore Sedgwick Federalist Elected Speaker Nathaniel Macon Democratic-Republican

Close

These elections resulted in the Democratic-Republicans picking up 22 seats from the Federalists. This brought the Democratic-Republicans a solid majority of 68 seats, whereas the Federalists were only able to secure 38. Many state legislatures also changed to Democratic-Republican control, with the result that many new Democratic-Republicans were voted into the Senate. The Federalists never again succeeded in gaining a majority of seats in the House of Representatives, and the national Federalist Party disintegrated completely in the early 1820s.^[2]

The victory of Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans can be attributed partially to unpopular policies pursued by the Adams administration, including the Alien and Sedition Acts, which sought to curtail guarantees of freedom of speech and freedom of the press spelled out in the Bill of Rights.

The difference between Federalist policies in support of a strong national government and the Democratic-Republican preference for states' rights played a prominent role in the election. Federal taxation became an issue as Southerners and Westerners rejected federal taxes levied on property.^{[citation needed]}

There were special elections in 1800 and 1801 during the 6th United States Congress and 7th United States Congress.

Elections are sorted here by date then district.

Note: Between the two sources used, there is disagreement over the ordering of the candidates. Both sources have the same numbers of votes recorded, but disagree on which candidates received those votes, one source lists Goddard as 8th, Talmadge as 9th, etc., as listed here, while the other has them as 11th, 12th, etc., three places off for all of them until the bottom three listed here which are moved up to 8th-10th, suggesting that one of the two sources accidentally misplaced three names on the list. They are ordered here as Goddard and Talmadge in 8th and 9th place as it is more likely that they'd been at the top of the runners-up given that they were subsequently elected to fill vacancies in the 7th Congress.

Massachusetts law required a majority for election, which was not met in the 1st and 6th districts, necessitating a second trial.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

In 1800, New Jersey returned to its traditional at-large district, continued to use this system to select representatives until it was abolished in 1842, with a single exception in 1813.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Rhode Island switched to a general ticket for its two seats, instead of electing each one separately. Only one candidate received a majority in the 1800 election, requiring an 1801 run-off election to choose a Representative for the second seat.

Claiborne did not serve in the 7th Congress as he was appointed Governor of Mississippi Territory and was replaced in a special election by William Dickson (Democratic-Republican)

Vermont law required a candidate to win a majority to take office, necessitating a run-off election in the 2nd (Eastern) district.

• 1800 United States elections
  • List of United States House of Representatives elections (1789–1822)
  • 1800–01 United States Senate elections
  • 1800 United States presidential election
• 6th United States Congress
• 7th United States Congress