United States elections, 1858

Partisan control of Congress and the presidency
Previous party
Incoming party
President Democratic Democratic
House Democratic Republican
Senate Democratic Democratic

The 1858 United States general election occurred in the middle of Democratic President James Buchanan's term, during the opening stages of the Third Party System. Members of the 36th United States Congress were chosen in this election. In the first election since the Supreme Court decided Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Republican Party won a plurality in the House, taking control of a chamber of Congress for the first time in the party's history. Although Democrats lost control of the House, they retained their majority in the Senate.

In the House, Democrats suffered a major defeat, losing seats to Republicans and a group of politicians campaigning as the Opposition. Although no party won a majority, Republicans won a plurality of seats.[1] Republican William Pennington won election as Speaker of the House, becoming the first Republican Speaker.

In the Senate, Republicans picked up several seats, but Democrats retained a commanding majority.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Party Divisions of the House of Representatives". United States House of Representatives. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present". United States Senate. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
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