1931 United States House of Representatives elections

There were special elections to the United States House of Representatives in 1931 to the 71st United States Congress and 72nd United States Congress. After the 1930 House elections, the Republicans held a narrow majority of 218 seats, the smallest possible majority in congress. However, following these elections, the Democrats gained 3 seats resulting in a Democratic House majority. This Democratic majority was only further increased in the 1932 house elections and would survive for 63 years, with the Republicans only briefly holding the House following the 1946 and 1952 House elections. Republicans would only hold House control for a significant amount of time following the Republican Revolution of 1994.

1931 U.S. House of Representatives elections

← 1930May 12, 1931 – December 1, 19311932 →

11 (out of 435) seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
218 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
 
LeaderJohn Nance GarnerBertrand Snell
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Leader sinceMarch 4, 1929March 4, 1931
Leader's seatTexas 15thNew York 31st
Last election216 seats218 seats[a]
Seats won219216
Seat changeIncrease 3Decrease 2
Seats up55
Races won83

 Third party
 
PartyFarmer–Labor
Last election1 seat
Seats won1
Seat changeSteady
Seats up0
Races won0

71st Congress

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Elections are listed by date and district.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
New York 9David J. O'ConnellDemocratic1918
1920 (lost)
1922
Incumbent died December 29, 1930.
New member elected February 17, 1931.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Stephen A. Rudd (Democratic) 71.53%
  • William Koch (Republican) 26.13%
  • James Oneal (Socialist) 2.34%

72nd Congress

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Elections are listed by date and district.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
New York 7John QuayleDemocratic1922Incumbent died November 27, 1930.
New member elected February 17, 1931.
Democratic hold.
  • Y Matthew V. O'Malley (Democratic) 69.97%
  • Leonard Greenstone (Republican) 28.17%
  • David Munroe Cory (Socialist) 1.85%
Louisiana 8James B. AswellDemocratic1912Incumbent died March 16, 1931.
New member elected May 12, 1931.
Democratic hold.
Georgia 1Charles G. EdwardsDemocratic1906
1916 (retired)
1924
Incumbent died July 13, 1931.
New member elected September 9, 1931.
Democratic hold.
Missouri 7Samuel C. MajorDemocratic1918
1920 (lost)
1922
Incumbent died July 28, 1931.
New member elected September 29, 1931.
Democratic hold.
Wisconsin 1VacantIncumbent member-elect Henry A. Cooper (R) died March 1, 1931, in the previous congress.
New member elected October 13, 1931.
Republican hold.
  • Y Thomas R. Amlie (Republican) 54.38%
  • Otis J. Bouma (Socialist) 27.41%
  • G. H. Herzog (Ind. Democratic) 12.95%
  • Henry H. Tubbs (Prohibition) 3.44%
  • John Sikat (Ind. Communist) 1.83%[2]
Michigan 8Bird J. VincentRepublican1922Incumbent died July 18, 1931.
New member elected November 3, 1931.
Democratic gain.
New York 7Matthew V. O'MalleyDemocratic1931
(did not take office)
Incumbent died May 26, 1931.
New member elected November 3, 1931.
Democratic hold.
  • Y John J. Delaney (Democratic) 69.30%
  • William L. Padgett (Republican) 22.10%
  • Abraham Zucker (Socialist) 7.68%
  • J. Louis Engdahl (Communist) 0.93%
Ohio 1Nicholas LongworthRepublican1902
1912 (lost)
1914
Incumbent died April 9, 1931.
New member elected November 3, 1931.
Republican hold.
  • Y John B. Hollister (Republican) 60.22%
  • David Lorbach (Democratic) 37.13%
  • Robert A. Duderstadt (Independent) 2.66%
Ohio 20Charles A. MooneyDemocratic1918
1920 (lost)
1922
Incumbent died May 29, 1931.
New member elected November 3, 1931.
Democratic hold.
Pennsylvania 2George S. GrahamRepublican1912Incumbent died July 4, 1931.
New member elected November 3, 1931.
Republican hold.
Texas 14Harry M. WurzbachRepublican1920
1928 (lost)
1930 (won challenge)
Incumbent died November 6, 1931.
New member elected November 24, 1931.
Democratic gain.
  • Y Richard M. Kleberg (Democratic) 47.06%
  • Carl W. Johnson (Democratic) 34.47%
  • Charles W. Anderson (Republican) 14.23%
  • Tom B. Smiley (Republican) 4.24%
New Jersey 5Ernest R. AckermanRepublican1918Incumbent died October 18, 1931.
New member elected December 1, 1931.
Democratic gain.
  • Y Percy H. Stewart (Democratic) 49.20%
  • Donald H. McLean (Republican) 46.37%
  • Alexis L. Clark (Prohibition) 3.95%
  • Harry F. Kopp (Socialist) 0.30%
  • Morris Langer (Communist) 0.18%

References

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  1. ^ Fletcher Hale (R) of New Hampshire's 1st congressional district died October 22, 1931, but the special election was held January 5, 1932.
  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - LA District 08 - Special Election Race - May 12, 1931". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  2. ^ Wisconsin Blue Book 1933, p. 510.
  3. ^ "Our Campaigns - MI District 08 - Special Election Race - Nov 03, 1931". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2021-04-09.

Witte, Edwin E.; Kelly, Alice, eds. (1933). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1933. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer.