The fragmented and disoriented Democratic Party was crushed everywhere outside of the South, losing more than 55% of its seats to the Republican Party. The Democrats did so poorly that even in the South, they lost seats to the Republican-Populist electoral fusion in Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.[2][3] The Democrats ultimately lost 127 seats in this election, with the Republicans gaining 130 seats after the resolution of several contested elections.
The Democratic Party failed to win one seat in twenty-four states and only won one seat in six states. Prominent Democrats in the house including Richard P. Bland, William McKendree Springer, and William Lyne Wilson were defeated in the election.[4] As of 2022, the 1894 election represents the largest seat swing in a single election in the history of the House of Representatives; the only other occasion where a political party has suffered triple-digit losses was in 1932.
The main issues revolved around the severe economic depression, which the Republicans blamed on the conservative Bourbon Democrats led by Cleveland. Cleveland supporters lost heavily, weakening their hold on the party and setting the stage for an 1896 takeover by the free silver wing of the party. The Populist Party ran candidates in the South and Midwest, but generally lost ground outside of the South. The Democrats tried to raise a religious issue, claiming the GOP was in cahoots with the anti-CatholicAmerican Protective Association; the allegations seem to have fallen flat as Catholics swung towards the GOP.[5]
15 special elections took place in 1894 leading up to and following the general election. They are listed below in order of election date then by state and district. Republicans flipped 3 seats in the special elections in New York's 14th, Kentucky's 9th, and Maryland's 5th congressional districts.
Incumbent resigned December 28, 1893 after being elected Governor of Virginia. New member elected January 30, 1894. Democratic hold. Winner later re-elected in November; see below.
Incumbent resigned December 31, 1893 to become District Attorney of New York City. New member elected January 30, 1894. Republican gain. Winner later re-elected in November; see below.
Incumbent resigned January 5, 1895, having been elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. New member elected November 6, 1894, but didn't take his seat until March 4, 1895. Republican gain.
Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain. Murray successfully challenged Elliott's election and was awarded the seat on June 4, 1896.[31]
^ abcdefgh Martis's figure includes Utah, which held its election in 1895 and is therefore not covered in this article.[1]
^ abc Dubin (p. 312) counts 244 Republicans, 105 Democrats, 7 Populists, and 1 Silver at the opening of the 54th Congress, before the results of several contested elections were overturned in favor of Republican (and a few Populist) candidates. Dubin counts 253 Republicans, 93 Democrats, 9 Populists, and 1 Silver at the start of the 2nd session of the 54th Congress, which closely matches Martis' figure (pp. 148–49). Dubin's figure includes Utah, which held its election in 1895 and is therefore not covered in this article.
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