The 1790–91 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between April 27, 1790, and October 11, 1791. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 2nd United States Congress convened on October 24, 1791. This was the first midterm election cycle, which took place in the middle of President George Washington's first term. The size of the House increased to 67 seats after the new state of Vermont elected its first representatives.
While formal political parties still did not exist, coalitions of pro-Washington (pro-Administration) representatives and anti-Administration representatives each gained two seats as a result of the addition of new states to the union.
Speaker Frederick Muhlenberg, who had led the Pro-Administrationists in 1789, switched loyalties to the Anti-Administrationists during the tenure of the 1st Congress. He failed to win election to the Speakership as their leader as a result of these elections, and was succeeded by Jonathan Trumbull Jr., who became the 2nd Speaker of the House.
Retirements
Either five or six incumbents did not seek re-election.
Anti-Administration
Maryland 4: William Smith retired. Virginia 6: Isaac Coles retired.
Aedanus Burke, a U.S. representative from South Carolina's 2nd congressional district, either retired or lost re-election but it is not known
Pro-Administration
Pennsylvania at-large: George Clymer retired. Pennsylvania at-large: Henry Wynkoop retired. Pennsylvania at-large: Thomas Scott retired.
Election summaries
In this period, each state fixed its own date for congressional general elections, as early as April 27, 1790 (in New York) and as late as October 11, 1791 (in Pennsylvania). Elections to a Congress took place both in the even-numbered year before and in the odd-numbered year when the Congress convened. In some states, the congressional delegation was not elected until after the legal start of the Congress (on the 4th day of March in the odd-numbered year). The first session of this Congress was convened in Philadelphia on October 24, 1791.
Kentucky and Vermont became states during the 2nd Congress, adding two seats each. The legislation admitted Vermont was passed at the end of the 1st Congress taking effect on March 4, 1791, the first day of the 2nd Congress, so that Vermont was represented from the start of the Congress, while Kentucky was unrepresented until the 2nd session.
Change in composition
End of the last Congress
Beginning of the next Congress
Special elections
There were special elections in 1790 and 1791 during the 1st United States Congress and 2nd United States Congress. New states and newly ratified states are not included as special elections.
Elections are sorted by date then district.
1st Congress
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! | Theodorick Bland | | Anti-Administration | 1789 | | Incumbent died June 1, 1790.New member elected July 1790.Anti-Administration hold.Winner was later elected to the next term, see below. | nowrap |
|-
! | Pierpont Edwards | | Pro-Administration | 1790 | | Predecessor declined election.New member elected December 16, 1790.Pro-Administration hold.Winner had already been elected to the next term, see below. | nowrap |
|}
2nd Congress
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! | colspan=3 | Vacant | | Representative-elect James Townsend (Pro-Administration) died May 24, 1790.New member elected April 26–28, 1791.Anti-Administration gain. | nowrap |
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! | Roger Sherman | | Pro-Administration | 1790 | | Incumbent-and-Representative-elect resigned March 31, 1791, to become U.S. Senator.New member elected September 19, 1791.Pro-Administration hold. | nowrap |
|-
! | William Pinkney | | Pro-Administration | 1790 | | Incumbent resigned.New member elected October 26–29, 1791.Anti-Administration gain.Winner seated February 5, 1792. | nowrap |
|}
Connecticut
Connecticut elected all five of its representatives at-large on a general ticket on September 20, 1790.
|-
! rowspan=5 |
| Roger Sherman
| | Pro-Administration
| 1788
| Incumbent re-elected.Winner declined to serve and a new member would later be elected in a special election. | nowrap rowspan=5 |
|-
| Benjamin Huntington
| | Pro-Administration
| 1788
| | Incumbent lost re-election.New member elected.Pro-Administration hold.
|-
| Jonathan Sturges
| | Pro-Administration
| 1788
| Incumbent re-elected.