The 1886 United States House of Representatives elections were held for the most part on November 2, 1886, with three states holding theirs early between June and September. They occurred in the middle of President Grover Cleveland's first term. Elections were held for 325 seats of the United States House of Representatives, representing 38 states, to serve in the 50th United States Congress. Special elections were also held throughout the year.

Quick Facts All 325 seats in the United States House of Representatives 163 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1886 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1884 June 7, 1886 – November 2, 1886[lower-alpha 1] 1888 →
All 325 seats in the United States House of Representatives 163 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader John G. Carlisle Thomas Brackett Reed Party Democratic Republican Leader's seat Kentucky 6th Maine 1st Last election 182 seats 141 seats Seats won 167[1] 152[1] Seat change 15 11 Popular vote 4,126,909 3,858,355 Percentage 48.12% 44.99% Swing 1.93% 2.14%   Third party Fourth party   Party Labor Greenback Last election 0 seats 1 seat Seats won 2[1] 1[1] Seat change 2 Popular vote 92,851 32,358 Percentage 1.08% 0.38% Swing New 0.69%   Fifth party   Party Independent Last election 1 seat[lower-alpha 2] Seats won 3[lower-alpha 3] Seat change 2 Popular vote 178,314 Percentage 2.08% Swing 1.28%
Results   Democratic gain   Democratic hold   Republican gain   Republican hold   Labor gain   Independent gain   Greenback hold
Speaker before election John G. Carlisle Democratic Elected Speaker John G. Carlisle Democratic

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As in many midterm elections, the President's party lost seats to the opposition, in this case, Democrats lost seats to Republicans, although a narrow majority was retained. Many of these Republican pickups were in the industrializing Midwest states, where the debate over tariffs, which were advocated by Republicans to protect domestic industry but opposed by Democrats to allow for free agricultural trade, led to political change. The small Labor Party, supported by industrial workers, gained one seat each in Virginia and Wisconsin, while the Greenback Party maintained its one seat in Iowa (James B. Weaver). One Independent was also elected in North Carolina.

More information State, Type ...

State	Type	Total seats	Democratic		Republican		Others
			Seats	Change	Seats	Change	Seats	Change
Alabama	District	8	8		0		0
Arkansas	District	5	5		0		0
California	District	6	2	1	4	1	0
Colorado	At-large	1	0		1		0
Connecticut	District	4	2		2		0
Delaware	At-large	1	1		0		0
Florida	District	2	2		0		0
Georgia	District	10	10		0		0
Illinois	District	20	6	4	14	4	0
Indiana	District	13	6	3	7	3	0
Iowa	District	11	1	2	9[lower-alpha 5]	2	1[lower-alpha 6]
Kansas	District	7	0		7[lower-alpha 5]		0
Kentucky	District	11	8	2	3	2	0
Louisiana	District	6	6	1	0	1	0
Maine	District	4	0		4		0
Maryland	District	6	5		1		0
Massachusetts	District	12	4	2	8	2	0
Michigan	District	11	5	2	6	2	0
Minnesota	District	5	3	3	2	3	0
Mississippi	District	7	7		0		0
Missouri	District	14	12		2		0
Nebraska	District	3	1	1	2	1	0
Nevada	At-large	1	0		1		0
New Hampshire	District	2	1	1	1	1	0
New Jersey	District	7	2	1	5	1	0
New York	District	34	16	1	18	1	0
North Carolina	District	9	7	1	1		1	1
Ohio	District	21	6	5	15	5	0
Oregon	At-large	1	0		1		0
Pennsylvania	District + at-large	28	8		20		0
Rhode Island	District	2	0		2		0
South Carolina	District	7	7	1	0	1	0
Tennessee	District	10	8	1	2	1	0
Texas	District	11	11		0		0
Vermont	District	2	0		2		0
Virginia	District	10	3	5	6	5	1[lower-alpha 7]	1
West Virginia	District	4	3		1		0
Wisconsin	District	9	1	1	7		1[lower-alpha 7]	1
Total		325	167[1] 51.4%	16	154[1][lower-alpha 3] 47.4%	13	4[1] 1.2%	3

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There were 2 Labor and 1 Independent members elected, and 1 Greenback member re-elected. The previous election saw just the Greenback elected.

More information House seats by party holding plurality in state, Net gain in party representation ...

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In all the states except three, elections were held November 2, 1886. Those three states, with 7 seats among them, held elections:

• June 7, 1886: Oregon
• September 7, 1886: Vermont
• September 10, 1886: Maine

See Non-voting delegates, below.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Wisconsin elected nine members of congress on Election Day, November 2, 1886.^[43][44]

See Non-voting delegates, below.

• 1886 United States elections
  • 1886–87 United States Senate elections
• 49th United States Congress
• 50th United States Congress