United States House of Representatives elections, 1896

The U.S. House election, 1896 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1896 which coincided with the election of President William McKinley.

In spite of McKinley's victory over William Jennings Bryan, backed by the Democratic and Populist parties, both those parties gained seats from McKinley's Republican Party. This is most likely a reaction to the extraordinary Republican gains in 1894, in which many normally Democratic districts switched parties due to the severity of and fallout from the Panic of 1893. Many Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern regions that were dominated by Catholic and working-class voters, switched to Republican in 1894, but returned to the Democratic Party during this election cycle. The Populist Party also made huge gains as Republicans were ousted in Western states. Despite this, the Republicans did maintain a strong majority in the House. Also, several Western Republicans split with the party in 1896, joining the tiny Silver Republican Party, which advocated a silver standard.

This election marked the zenith of the Populist Party, which would go on to lose most of its seats in the 1898 election and thereafter slowly fade from prominence.

Overall results

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California

ee also

*55th United States Congress
*U.S. presidential election, 1896

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