There were twelve special elections in 1947 to the United States House of Representatives during the 80th United States Congress. Each party held all of its seats elected in 1947, with the majority Republican Party keeping its seven seats, and President Harry Truman's Democratic Party keeping its five. Therefore, no party lost or gained U.S House seats in 1947.

Of the twelve vacancies, seven were caused by the incumbent's death during their term or before their term after they had been elected to it. Five resigned during their term.


1947 U.S. House of Representatives elections
← 1946 January 28, 1947 – November 18, 1947 1948 →
12 (out of 435) seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
218 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Joseph W. Martin Jr. Sam Rayburn
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat Massachusetts 14th Texas 4th
Seats won 7 5
Seat change 0 0

List of elections

Elections are listed by date and district.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
Alabama 8 John Sparkman Democratic 1936 Incumbent resigned November 5, 1946 to become U.S. Senator.
New member elected January 28, 1947.
Democratic hold.
Wisconsin 2 Robert K. Henry Republican 1944 Incumbent died November 20, 1946.
New member elected April 22, 1947.
Republican hold.
Washington 3 Fred B. Norman Republican 1946 Incumbent died April 18, 1947.
New member elected June 7, 1947.
Republican hold.
Maryland 3 Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. Democratic 1938 Incumbent resigned May 16, 1947 to become mayor of Baltimore.
New member elected July 15, 1947.
Democratic hold.
  • ▌Green tickY Edward Garmatz (Democratic) 52.90%
  • ▌Simon P. Jarosinski (Independent) 30.71%
  • ▌Edward S. Panetti (Republican) 16.40%[4]
Texas 9 Joseph J. Mansfield Democratic 1916 Incumbent died July 12, 1947.
New member elected August 23, 1947.
Democratic hold.
  • ▌Green tickY Clark W. Thompson (Democratic) 45.78%
  • ▌L. J. Sulak (Democratic) 32.87%
  • ▌J. C. Trahan (Democratic) 12.99%
  • ▌George W. Hill (Democratic) 5.79%
  • ▌V. M. Stokes (Democratic) 0.93%
  • ▌Morris Schreiber (Republican) 0.85%[5]
Texas 16 R. Ewing Thomason Democratic 1930 Incumbent resigned July 31, 1947 to become U.S. District Judge.
New member elected August 23, 1947.
Democratic hold.
  • ▌Green tickY Kenneth M. Regan (Democratic) 43.50%
  • ▌Woodrow W. Bean Sr. (Democratic) 38.33%
  • ▌Victor B. Gilbert (Democratic) 8.47%
  • ▌Ord R. Gary (Democratic) 6.37%
  • ▌Louis A. Fail (Democratic) 2.02%
  • ▌James W. Metcalfe (Democratic) 0.77%
  • ▌Pat Hargrove (Democratic) 0.55%[6]
Michigan 11 Fred Bradley Republican 1938 Incumbent died May 24, 1947.
New member elected August 26, 1947.
Republican hold.
Pennsylvania 8 Charles L. Gerlach Republican 1938 Incumbent died May 5, 1947.
New member elected September 9, 1947.
Republican hold.
Indiana 10 Raymond S. Springer Republican 1938 Incumbent died August 28, 1947.
New member elected November 4, 1947.
Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY Ralph Harvey (Republican) 53.73%
  • ▌Frank A. Hanley (Democratic) 43.84%
  • ▌Carl W. Thompson (Prohibition) 2.43%[9]
New York 14 Leo F. Rayfiel Democratic 1944 Incumbent resigned September 13, 1947.
New member elected November 4, 1947.
Democratic hold.
Ohio 4 Robert F. Jones Republican 1938 Incumbent resigned September 2, 1947 to join the FCC.
New member elected November 4, 1947.
Republican hold.
Massachusetts 9 Charles L. Gifford Republican 1942 Incumbent died August 23, 1947.
New member elected November 18, 1947.
Republican hold.

References

  1. ^ "AL District 8 - Special Election Race - Jan 28, 1947". Our Campaigns. June 29, 2011.
  2. ^ "WI District 2 - Special Election Race - Apr 22, 1947". Our Campaigns. October 28, 2018.
  3. ^ "WA District 3 - Special Election Race - Jun 07, 1947". Our Campaigns. April 28, 2011.
  4. ^ "MD District 3 - Special Election Race - Jul 15, 1947". Our Campaigns. January 8, 2011.
  5. ^ "TX District 09 - Special Election Race - Aug 23, 1947". Our Campaigns. February 21, 2010.
  6. ^ "TX District 16 - Special Election Race - Aug 23, 1947". Our Campaigns. April 3, 2008.
  7. ^ "MI District 11 - Special Election Race - Aug 26, 1947". Our Campaigns. June 27, 2019.
  8. ^ "PA - District 08 - Special Election Race - Sep 09, 1947". Our Campaigns. November 4, 2007.
  9. ^ "IN District 10 - Special Election Race - Nov 04, 1947". Our Campaigns. January 17, 2010.
  10. ^ "NY District 14 Special Race - Nov 04, 1947". Our Campaigns. January 5, 2009.
  11. ^ "OH District 04 - Special Election Race - Nov 04, 1947". Our Campaigns. May 21, 2008.
  12. ^ "MA District 9 - Special Election Race - Nov 18, 1947". Our Campaigns. January 3, 2010.


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