The 1982 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the United States House of Representatives held on November 2, 1982, to elect members to serve in the 98th United States Congress. They occurred in the middle of President Ronald Reagan's first term, whose popularity was sinking due to economic conditions under the 1982 recession. The President's Republican Party lost seats in the House, which could be viewed as a response to the President's approval at the time. Unlike most midterm election cycles, the number of seats lost—26 seats to the Democratic Party—was a comparatively large swap. It included most of the seats that had been gained the previous election, cementing the Democratic majority.^[1] Coincidentally, the number of seats the Democrats picked up (26), was the exact amount the Republicans would have needed to win the House majority. It was the first election held after the 1980 United States redistricting cycle.

Quick Facts All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives 218 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1982 United States House of Representatives elections

← 1980 November 2, 1982 1984 →
All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives 218 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Tip O'Neill Bob Michel Party Democratic Republican Leader since January 4, 1977 January 3, 1981 Leader's seat Massachusetts 8th Illinois 18th Last election 243 seats 191 seats Seats won 269 165 Seat change 26 26 Popular vote 35,284,473 27,625,593 Percentage 55.2% 43.4% Swing 4.7% 4.4%   Third party   Party Conservative Last election 1[lower-alpha 1] Seats won 1[lower-alpha 1] Seat change Popular vote 140,404 Percentage 0.2% Swing 0.1%
Results:      Democratic hold      Democratic gain      Republican hold      Republican gain      Conservative hold
Speaker before election Tip O'Neill Democratic Elected Speaker Tip O'Neill Democratic

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In the previous election of 1980 Republicans gained many seats as the result of President Ronald Reagan's coattails. In 1982, 14 freshman representatives who ran for re-election lost their seats.

To date, this election marks the last time the Democrats picked up a House seat in West Virginia. It was also the last time the party holding the White House won independent voters in a congressional midterm election until 2022.^[2]

Thirty-nine representatives retired. Thirty-one of those seats were held by the same party, eight seats changed party.

As a result of redistricting, many incumbents were forced to compete against each other in the same district, which resulted in a larger number of incumbents being defeated in primaries.

Arizona received an additional seat at reapportionment and added a 5th district in the southeast of the state.^[3]

The delegation increased from 43 to 45 seats. To create the two-seat net gain, five seats with no incumbent were added.

Colorado added a sixth seat in reapportionment, adding the new district near Denver.^[3]

Florida added 4 new districts, going from 15 to 19 seats, adding a new district near Miami and 3 more in central and southwestern Florida.^[3]

Illinois lost two seats at reapportionment, removing two districts with Republican incumbents, and at the same time two other Republican incumbents lost re-election in altered districts.

Indiana lost one seat at reapportionment; Republicans in the legislature deleted two Democratic districts and added a new Republican district, although this strategy was offset by the unexpected defeat of incumbent H. Joel Deckard.

All eight incumbents were re-elected by receiving more than 50% of the vote in the September 11 non-partisan blanket primaries.

Massachusetts lost one seat at reapportionment, combining the districts of Barney Frank and Margaret Heckler.^[3]

Michigan lost one seat at reapportionment.

Missouri lost one seat at reapportionment.