1850 Iowa's 1st congressional district special election

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1850 Iowa's 1st congressional district special election
Flag of Iowa.svg
 1848September 24, 18501850 
  Daniel F. Miller (Iowa Congressman).jpg Major William G. Thompson - History of Iowa.jpg
Nominee Daniel F. Miller William Thompson
Party Whig Democratic
Popular vote5,4634,801
Percentage51.40%45.17%

Representative before election

None

Elected Representative


Daniel F. Miller
Whig

A special election to the United States House of Representatives for Iowa's 1st congressional district was held September 24, 1850.

Contents

The winning candidate would serve briefly in the United States House of Representatives to represent Iowa in the 31st Congress until the general election on October 8, 1850.

Background

In 1848, the Whig Party nominated Miller to run against incumbent Democratic Congressman William Thompson. Thompson was declared the winner by the state's election canvassers, but Miller accused Thompson of absconding with the voting rolls from the election. The U.S. House resolved the contest over two years after it occurred, by deciding that neither Thompson nor Miller was entitled to the seat. [1]

Candidates

Democratic

Nominee

Whig

Nominee

  • Daniel F. Miller, lawyer and former member of Iowa's territorial house of representatives (1840)

Independent

Nominee

General election

1850 Iowa's 1st congressional district special election [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Daniel F. Miller 5,463 51.40% +4.10%
Democratic William Thompson 4,80145.17%−5.13%
Independent Delazon Smith 3653.43%+3.43%
Majority6626.23%+3.23%
Turnout 10,629100.00%
Whig gain from Democratic

See also

References

  1. United States Congress. "MILLER, Daniel Fry". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  2. "IA - District 1 Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 18, 2021.