New York's at-large congressional seat
On three occasions in New York history, some members of the United States House of Representatives were elected statewide at-large. This was due to an increase of the number of representatives after the previous federal census, and the failure of the State Legislature to re-apportion the congressional districts in time for the next election.
New York's at-largeth congressional district | |
---|---|
Obsolete district | |
Created | 1870 1880 1930 |
Eliminated | 1875 1885 1940 |
Years active | 1873–1875 1883–1885 1933–1945 |
In 1872 and 1882, one representative each was elected for the ensuing term. The Legislature then re-apportioned the congressional districts before the elections in 1874 and 1884.
From 1933 to 1945, two representatives elected at-large sat in the House because the Legislature could not agree on a re-apportionment of the districts. For the election to the 79th United States Congress, which was held in 1944, the congressional districts were finally re-apportioned.
List of members representing the district
1873–1875: one seat
New York gained one seat following the 1870 census.
Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress |
Electoral history |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lyman Tremain (Albany) |
Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 |
43rd | Elected in 1872. Retired. |
1883–1885: one seat
New York gained one seat following the 1880 census.
Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress |
Electoral history |
---|---|---|---|---|
Henry W. Slocum (Brooklyn) |
Democratic | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 |
48th | Elected in 1882. [data missing] |
1933–1945: two seats
New York gained two seats following the 1930 census.
Years | Cong ress |
Seat A | Seat B | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representative | Party | Electoral history | Representative | Party | Electoral history | ||||
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 |
73rd | John Fitzgibbons (Oswego) |
Democratic | Elected in 1932. Retired. |
Elmer E. Studley (Queens) |
Democratic | Elected in 1932. Retired. | ||
January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1943 |
74th 75th 76th 77th |
Matthew J. Merritt (Queens) |
Democratic | Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Retired. |
Caroline O'Day (Rye) |
Democratic | Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Retired. | ||
January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1945 |
78th | Winifred C. Stanley (Buffalo) |
Republican | Elected in 1942. Retired. |
References
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present