1796–1797 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts

Massachusetts

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Massachusetts's results by district
 
Maine District of Massachusetts's results by district

Massachusetts law required a majority for election, necessitating additional trials in three districts.

District Incumbent Party First
elected
Result Candidates
Massachusetts 1
Known as the 1st Western District
Vacant Incumbent representative-elect Theodore Sedgwick (Federalist) resigned sometime in June 1796 to become U.S. Senator.
Democratic-Republican gain.
Thomson J. Skinner (Democratic-Republican) 56.4%
Ephraim Williams (Federalist) 43.6%
Massachusetts 2
Known as the 2nd Western District
William Lyman Democratic-Republican 1792 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Federalist gain.
First ballot (November 7, 1796):
William Shepard (Federalist) 46.3%
Sam Hinshaw 23.9%
William Lyman (Democratic-Republican) 21.4%
John Williams 4.0%
Nahum Park 2.0%
Scattering 2.4%

Second ballot (January 16, 1797):
William Shepard (Federalist) 100%
Massachusetts 3
Known as the 3rd Western District
Samuel Lyman Federalist 1794 Incumbent re-elected. Samuel Lyman (Federalist) 83.3%
Daniel Bigelow (Democratic-Republican) 16.7%
Massachusetts 4
Known as the 4th Western District
Dwight Foster Federalist 1792 Incumbent re-elected. Dwight Foster (Federalist) 80.8%
Levi Lincoln Sr. (Democratic-Republican) 19.2%
Massachusetts 5
Known as the 1st Southern District
Nathaniel Freeman Democratic-Republican 1794 Incumbent re-elected. Nathaniel Freeman (Democratic-Republican) 82.1%
Peleg Coffin Jr. (Federalist) 17.9%
Massachusetts 6
Known as the 2nd Southern District
John Reed Sr. Federalist 1794 Incumbent re-elected. John Reed Sr. (Federalist) 78.8%
Edward H. Robbins (Federalist) 21.2%
Massachusetts 7
Known as the 3rd Southern District
George Leonard Federalist 1788
1794
Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Federalist hold.
First ballot (November 7, 1796):
Elisha May (Federalist) 45.3%
Stephen Bullock (Federalist) 28.3%
Laban Wheaton (Federalist) 26.4%

Second ballot (January 16, 1797):
Stephen Bullock (Federalist) 35.8%
Laban Wheaton (Federalist) 32.7%
Elisha May (Federalist) 31.5%

Third ballot (April 3, 1797):
Stephen Bullock (Federalist) 56.7%
Elisha May (Federalist) 28.3%
Laban Wheaton (Federalist) 15.1%
Massachusetts 8
Known as the 1st Middle District
Fisher Ames Federalist 1788 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Federalist hold.
Harrison Gray Otis (Federalist) 57.0%
James Bowdoin (Democratic-Republican) 43.0%
Massachusetts 9
Known as the 2nd Middle District
Joseph Varnum Democratic-Republican 1794 Incumbent re-elected. Joseph Varnum (Democratic-Republican) 69.0%
Ebenezer Bridge (Federalist) 16.8%
Samuel Dexter (Federalist) 14.3%
Massachusetts 10
Known as the 3rd Middle District
Vacant Predecessor Benjamin Goodhue (Federalist) resigned sometime in June 1796 to become U.S. Senator.
New member elected.
Federalist gain.
Winner was also elected to finish the current term, see below.
Samuel Sewall (Federalist) 67.9%
Loammi Baldwin (Federalist) 22.1%
Massachusetts 11
Known as the 4th Middle District
Theophilus Bradbury Federalist 1794 Incumbent re-elected. Theophilus Bradbury (Federalist) 100%
Massachusetts 12
Known as the 1st Eastern District of the District of Maine
Henry Dearborn Democratic-Republican 1792 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Federalist gain.
First ballot (November 7, 1796):
Isaac Parker (Federalist) 40.5%
Henry Dearborn (Democratic-Republican) 31.7%
John Bowman 27.8%

Second ballot (January 16, 1797):
Isaac Parker (Federalist) 48.2%
Henry Dearborn (Democratic-Republican) 33.8%
John Bowman 18.0%

Third ballot (April 3, 1797):
Isaac Parker (Federalist) 52.6%
Henry Dearborn (Democratic-Republican) 47.5%
Massachusetts 13
Known as the 2nd Eastern District of the District of Maine
Peleg Wadsworth Federalist 1792 Incumbent re-elected. Peleg Wadsworth (Federalist) 100%
Massachusetts 14
Known as the 3rd Eastern District of the District of Maine
George Thatcher Federalist 1788 Incumbent re-elected. George Thatcher (Federalist) 100%

See also

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