United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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Elections & Vacancies

Elections & Vacancies

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November 7, 2016

Get Out the Vote

The U.S. House of Representatives has been a popularly-elected body with its membership reconstituted every two years throughout its history. Mid-Congress vacancies in the House are filled by special elections. The following charts provide data on historical election outcomes and vacancies. 

Election Statistics, 1920 to Present

Election Statistics, 1920 to Present

Since 1920, the Clerk of the House has compiled and published the official vote counts for federal elections from the official sources among the various states and territories.

Vacancies & Successors, 1997 to Present

Vacancies & Successors, 1997 to Present

View a list of House vacancies and successors from the 105th through the 116th Congresses (2019–2021).

Majority Changes in the House of Representatives, 1856 to Present

Majority Changes in the House of Representatives, 1856 to Present

Since the start of the modern party system in 1856, the House of Representatives has changed majority 18 times.

Changes in State Delegation Party Majorities

Changes in State Delegation Party Majorities

State delegations to the House vary greatly in size. Article I, Section II of the Constitution guarantees each state at least one Representative in the House; the total size of its delegation is determined by population. This chart lists the last time that each state’s House delegation had a Democratic majority and a Republican majority. It also lists the last time, if any, that a state’s House delegation was composed entirely of Members of one party.

Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov