2016 United States House of Representatives elections


The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 8, 2016, to elect representatives for all 435 congressional districts across each of the 50 U.S. states to the 115th United States Congress. Non-voting members for the District of Columbia and territories of the United States were also elected. These elections coincided with the election of President Donald Trump, although his party lost seats in both chambers of Congress. The winners of this election served in the 115th Congress, with seats apportioned among the states based on the 2010 United States census. In October 2015, the October 2015 [Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election|House elected] a new Speaker of the [United States House of Representatives|Speaker], Republican Paul Ryan, who was re-elected in the new term. Democrat Nancy Pelosi continued to lead her party as Minority Leader of [the United States House of Representatives|Minority Leader]. Elections were also held on the same day for the 2016 [United States Senate elections|U.S. Senate], many governors, and other state and local elections.
Democrats gained six seats in this election, although Republicans narrowly won the popular vote and won a 241–194 majority. Republicans suffered net losses in both houses of Congress, despite winning the presidency, a first for either party since 2000 [United States House of Representatives elections|2000]. This was also the first election since 2000 in which the winning presidential party lost House seats.
, this is the last time Republicans won a majority of seats in [|Colorado] and [|Virginia], as well as the last time any party won at least 240 House seats. It is also the most recent election cycle in which Republicans won a House seat in Maine or any state in the New England region, as well as every House seat in Kansas.
, this is the most recent election that the Republican Party won a majority in the House of Representatives for more than two times and since Arizona gained statehood in 1912, this is the last election that Republicans reached the 218th seat to win control.

Results summary

Federal

Source: Note: does not include blank and over/under votes which were included in the official results.

Retiring incumbents

Forty-two Representatives declined to seek re-election in 2016, divided into eighteen Democrats and twenty-four Republicans.

Democrats

Eighteen Democrats retired.
  1. : Ann Kirkpatrick retired to run for U.S. senator.
  2. : Sam Farr retired.
  3. : Lois Capps retired.
  4. : Janice Hahn retired to run for the Los Angeles [County Board of Supervisors].
  5. : Loretta Sanchez retired to run for U.S. senator.
  6. : John Carney retired to Delaware gubernatorial election|run for governor of Delaware].
  7. : Gwen Graham retired.
  8. : Alan Grayson retired to run for U.S. senator.
  9. : Patrick Murphy retired to run for U.S. senator.
  10. : Mark Takai died July 20, 2016, having already announced his planned retirement.
  11. : Tammy Duckworth retired to run for U.S. senator.
  12. : Donna Edwards retired to run for U.S. senator.
  13. : Chris Van Hollen retired to run for U.S. senator.
  14. : Steve Israel retired.
  15. : Charles Rangel retired.
  16. : Pedro Pierluisi retired to run for governor of Puerto Rico.
  17. : Rubén Hinojosa retired.
  18. : Jim McDermott retired.

Republicans

Twenty-four Republicans retired.
  1. : Matt Salmon retired.
  2. : Jeff Miller retired.
  3. : Ander Crenshaw retired.
  4. : Rich Nugent retired.
  5. : Curt Clawson retired.
  6. : Lynn Westmoreland retired.
  7. : Marlin Stutzman retired to run for U.S. senator.
  8. : Todd Young retired to run for U.S. senator.
  9. : Ed Whitfield resigned September 6, 2016, having previously announced his planned retirement.
  10. : Charles Boustany retired to run for U.S. senator.
  11. : John Fleming retired to run for U.S. senator.
  12. : Dan Benishek retired.
  13. : Candice Miller retired.
  14. : John Kline retired.
  15. : Joe Heck retired to run for U.S. senator.
  16. : Chris Gibson retired.
  17. : Richard Hanna retired.
  18. : Joe Pitts retired.
  19. : Stephen Fincher retired.
  20. : Randy Neugebauer retired.
  21. : Scott Rigell retired.
  22. : Robert Hurt retired.
  23. : Reid Ribble retired.
  24. : Cynthia Lummis retired.

Incumbents defeated

In primary elections

Democrats

  1. : Corrine Brown lost renomination to Al Lawson; the 5th district was redrawn in 2016 due to a court order.
  2. : Chaka Fattah lost renomination to Dwight E. Evans, and subsequently resigned on June 23, 2016.

Republicans

  1. : Tim Huelskamp lost renomination to Roger Marshall.
  2. : Renee Ellmers lost renomination to fellow incumbent George Holding after court-ordered redistricting forced them into the same district.
  3. : Randy Forbes lost renomination to Scott Taylor after running in a new district following court-ordered redistricting.

In the general election

The Democrats had a net gain of five seats, taken from Republicans.

Democrats

One Democrat lost re-election to a fellow Democrat.
  1. : Mike Honda lost to Ro Khanna.
One Democrat lost re-election to a Republican.
  1. : Brad Ashford lost to Don Bacon.

Republicans

Six Republicans lost re-election to Democrats.
  1. : John Mica lost to Stephanie Murphy.
  2. : David Jolly lost to Charlie Crist.
  3. : Bob Dold lost to Brad Schneider.
  4. : Cresent Hardy lost to Ruben Kihuen.
  5. : Frank Guinta lost to Carol Shea-Porter.
  6. : Scott Garrett lost to Josh Gottheimer.

Open seats that changed parties

Democrats had a net gain of one seat in which the incumbent was not on the ballot.

Democratic seats

One open seat was lost.
  1. : Patrick Murphy retired to run for Senate. Seat won by Brian Mast.
One open seat was lost as a result of redistricting.
  1. : Gwen Graham retired. Seat won by Neal Dunn.

Republican seats

One open seat was lost.
  1. : Joe Heck retired to run for Senate. Seat won by Jacky Rosen..
Two open seats were lost as a result of redistricting.
  1. : Daniel Webster instead ran in the 11th district. Seat won by Val Demings.
  2. : J. Randy Forbes instead ran in the 2nd district. Seat won by Don McEachin.

Closest races

Thirty-five races were decided by 10% or lower.
DistrictWinnerMargin
data-sort-value=1 0.52%
data-sort-value=-1 0.56%
data-sort-value=-1 0.76%
data-sort-value=0.5 1.20%
data-sort-value=-0.5 1.27%
data-sort-value=1 1.33%
data-sort-value=-0.5 1.34%
data-sort-value=0.5 1.60%
data-sort-value=1 1.80%
data-sort-value=-1 2.34%
data-sort-value=-0.5 2.96%
data-sort-value=1 3.40%
data-sort-value=-0.5 3.81%
data-sort-value=-0.5 4.01%
data-sort-value=-1 4.39%
data-sort-value=-0.5 4.41%
data-sort-value=-1 4.42%
data-sort-value=-1 5.03%
data-sort-value=-0.5 5.21%
data-sort-value=1 5.45%
data-sort-value=-1 5.73%
data-sort-value=1 5.77%
data-sort-value=1 6.26%
data-sort-value=-1 6.84%
data-sort-value=-1 7.29%
data-sort-value=-1 7.47%
data-sort-value=-1 7.61%
data-sort-value=1 7.66%
data-sort-value=-1 7.98%
data-sort-value=1 8.24%
data-sort-value=1 8.30%
data-sort-value=1 8.56%
data-sort-value=1 8.85%
data-sort-value=1 9.60%
data-sort-value=1 9.79%

Texas's 7th was the tipping point seat.

Primary dates

This table shows the primary dates for regularly scheduled elections. It also shows the type of primary. In an "open" primary, any registered voter can vote in any party's primary. In a "closed" primary, only voters registered with a specific party can vote in that party's primary. In a "top-two" primary, all candidates run against each other regardless of party affiliation, and the top two candidates advance to the second round of voting. All of the various other primary types are classified as "hybrid." [|Alaska] in 2008 provides one example of a hybrid primary: the Democratic Party allowed unaffiliated voters to vote in its primary, while the Republican Party only allowed party members to vote in its primary.
StateDateType
AlabamaMarch 1ROpen
ArkansasMarch 1ROpen
TexasMarch 1ROpen
MississippiMarch 8Hybrid
IllinoisMarch 15Hybrid
North CarolinaMarch 15Hybrid
OhioMarch 15Hybrid
MarylandApril 26Hybrid
PennsylvaniaApril 26Hybrid
IndianaMay 3Hybrid
NebraskaMay 10Hybrid
West VirginiaMay 10Hybrid
IdahoMay 17Hybrid
KentuckyMay 17Closed
OregonMay 17Hybrid
GeorgiaMay 24ROpen
CaliforniaJune 7Top-two
IowaJune 7Hybrid
MontanaJune 7Open
New JerseyJune 7Closed
New MexicoJune 7Closed
North CarolinaJune 7Hybrid
South DakotaJune 7RHybrid
NevadaJune 14Closed
North DakotaJune 14Open
South CarolinaJune 14RHybrid
VirginiaJune 14Hybrid
ColoradoJune 28Hybrid
New YorkJune 28Closed
OklahomaJune 28RHybrid
UtahJune 28Hybrid
KansasAug 2Closed
MichiganAug 2Open
MissouriAug 2Open
WashingtonAug 2Top-two
TennesseeAug 4Hybrid
ConnecticutAug 9Hybrid
MinnesotaAug 9Open
VermontAug 9Open
WisconsinAug 9Open
HawaiiAug 13Open
AlaskaAug 16Hybrid
WyomingAug 16Closed
ArizonaAug 30Hybrid
FloridaAug 30Closed
MassachusettsSep 8Hybrid
DelawareSep 13Closed
New HampshireSep 13Hybrid
Rhode IslandSep 13Hybrid
LouisianaNov 8Top-two

RIndicates a state that requires primary run-off elections under certain conditions.

Special elections

These elections were for the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2017. Sorted by date, then by state, then by district.

Alabama

!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Alaska

!

Arizona

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Arkansas

!
!
!
!

California

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Colorado

!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Connecticut

!
!
!
!
!

Delaware

!

Florida

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!rowspan=2 |
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Georgia

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Hawaii

!
!

Idaho

!
!

Illinois

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Indiana

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Iowa

!
!
!
!

Kansas

!
!
!
!

Kentucky

!
!
!
!
!
!

Louisiana

!
!
!
!
!
!

Maine

!
!

Maryland

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Massachusetts

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Michigan

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Minnesota

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Mississippi

!
!
!
!

Missouri

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Montana

!

Nebraska

!
!
!

Nevada

!
!
!
!

New Hampshire

!
!

New Jersey

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

New Mexico

!
!
!

New York

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

North Carolina

!
! rowspan=2 |
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

North Dakota

!

Ohio

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Oklahoma

!
!
!
!
!

Oregon

!
!
!
!
!

Pennsylvania

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Rhode Island

!
!

South Carolina

!
!
!
!
!
!
!

South Dakota

!

Tennessee

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Texas

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Utah

!
!
!
!

Vermont

!

Virginia

!
! rowspan=2 |
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Washington

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

West Virginia

!
!
!

Wisconsin

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Wyoming

!

Non-voting delegates

!
!
!
!
!
!