United States House of Representatives elections, 1916

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The U.S. House election, 1916 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1916 which coincided with President Woodrow Wilson's re-election.

Although Wilson eked out a narrow victory, his Democratic Party lost seats to the opposition Republican Party. Wilson was growing unpopular in certain regions of the country, and the uncertainty as to whether or not the United States would enter World War I was a major issue.

Although the Democrats lost a plurality, they narrowly maintained control of the chamber with minor party support, forming an alliance with the remaining Progressives. This is the last example (to date) of a type of coalition holding power in the House, rather than a single party (as is normally the case). The Democrats would not win a majority of seats again until 1930. Notable freshman included Jeannette Rankin a Republican from Montana who was the first woman ever elected to congress.

[edit] Overall results

Party	Total Seats (change)		Seat percentage
Republican Party	215	+19	49.4%
Democratic Party	214	-16	49.1%
Progressive Party	3	-3	0.6%
Prohibition Party	1	+0	0.2%
Socialist Party	1	+0	0.2%
Independent	1	+0	0.2%
Totals	435	+0	100.0%

80.1-100% Republican	80.1-100% Democratic
60.1-80% Republican	60.1-80% Democratic

House seats by party holding plurality in state

6+ Republican gain	6+ Democratic gain
3-5 Republican gain	3-5 Democratic gain
1-2 Republican gain	1-2 Democratic gain
no net change	1-2 Progressive gain

[edit] California

District	Incumbent	Party	Elected	Status	Opponent
California 1	William Kent	Independent	1910	Retiring	Clarence F. Lea (D) 48.8% Edward H. Hart (R) 42.8% Mary M. Morgan (S) 5.5% Jay Scott Ryder (Proh.) 2.9%
California 2	John E. Raker	Democratic	1910	Running	John E. Raker (D) 71% James T. Matlock (R) 29%
California 3	Charles F. Curry	Republican	1912	Running	Charles F. Curry (R) 66.7% O. W. Kennedy (D) 23.4% Ben Cooper (S) 6.2% Edwin F. Van Vlear (Proh.) 3.7%
California 4	Julius Kahn	Republican	1898	Running	Julius Kahn (R) 77.2% J. M. Fernald (D) 15.7% Allen K. Gifford (S) 5.6% Henry W. Hutchinson (Proh.) 1.5%
California 5	John I. Nolan	Republican	1912	Running	John I. Nolan (R) 84.7% Charles A. Preston (S) 9.6% Frederick Head (Proh.) 5.8%
California 6	John A. Elston	Republican	1912	Running	John A. Elston (R) 64.6% H. Avery Whitney (D) 22.6% Luella Twining (S) 8.7% Harlow E. Wolcott (Proh.) 4.1%
California 7	Denver S. Church	Democratic	1912	Running	Denver S. Church (D) 51% W. W. Phillips (R) 36.4% Harry M. McKee (S) 7.2% J. F. Butler (Proh.) 5.3%
California 8	Everis A. Hayes	Republican	1904	Running	Everis A. Hayes (R) 68.6% George S. Walker (P) (D) 23.8% Cora Pattleton Wilson (S) 7.5%
California 9	Charles H. Randall	Prohibition	1914	Running	Charles H. Randall (Proh.) 57.8% Charles W. Bell (I) 32.7% Ralph L. Criswell (S) 9.5%
California 10	Henry S. Benedict	Republican	1916	Retiring	Henry Z. Osborne (R) 49.5% Rufus V. Bowden (D) 25.7% Henry Stanley Benedict (P) 11.1% James H. Ryckman (S) 7% Henry Clay Needham (Proh.) 6.8%
California 11	William Kettner	Democratic	1912	Running	William Kettner (D) 44.5% Robert C. Harbison (R) 35.7% James S. Edwards (Proh.) 15.6% Marcus W. Robbins (S) 4.1%