1978 United States House of Representatives elections
The 1978 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the United States House of Representatives on November 7, 1978, to elect members to serve in the 96th United States Congress. They occurred in the middle of Democratic President Jimmy Carter's term, amidst an energy crisis and rapid inflation. The Democratic Party lost a net of 15 seats to the Republican Party, and thus lost their two-thirds supermajority, but still maintained a large 277-seat majority.
, this was the last midterm election where the Democrats managed to win a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives under a Democratic president, the last midterm election in which a registered third party member was elected, and the last time overall in which any party won at least 270 House seats.
Overall results
382 incumbent members sought reelection, but 5 were defeated in primaries and 19 defeated in the general election for a total of 358 incumbents winning.Source:
Special elections
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Ed Koch | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent resigned December 31, 1977 to become Mayor of New York City. New member elected February 14, 1978. Winner was subsequently [|re-elected in November]. Republican gain. | ||
| Herman Badillo | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent resigned December 31, 1977 to become deputy mayor of New York City. New member elected February 14, 1978. Democratic hold. |
Alabama
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Jack Edwards | Republican | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William L. Dickinson | Republican | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bill Nichols | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Tom Bevill | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ronnie Flippo | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John H. Buchanan Jr. | Republican | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Walter Flowers | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. Democratic hold. |
Alaska
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Don Young | Republican | 1973 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Arizona
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| John Jacob Rhodes | Republican | 1952 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Mo Udall | Democratic | 1961 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bob Stump | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Eldon Rudd | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Arkansas
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Bill Alexander | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jim Guy Tucker | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. Republican gain. | ||
| John Paul Hammerschmidt | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ray Thornton | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. Democratic hold. |
Colorado
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Pat Schroeder | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Tim Wirth | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Frank Evans | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| James Paul Johnson | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William L. Armstrong | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. Republican hold. |
Connecticut
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| William R. Cotter | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Chris Dodd | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Robert Giaimo | Democratic | 1958 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Stewart McKinney | Republican | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ronald A. Sarasin | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent retired to run for Governor of Connecticut. Democratic gain. | ||
| Toby Moffett | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Delaware
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Thomas B. Evans Jr. | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Florida
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Bob Sikes | Democratic | 1940 1944 1944 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| Don Fuqua | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Charles E. Bennett | Democratic | 1948 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bill Chappell | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Richard Kelly | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bill Young | Republican | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Sam Gibbons | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Andy Ireland | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Louis Frey Jr. | Republican | 1968 | Incumbent retired to run for Governor of Florida. Democratic gain. | ||
| Skip Bafalis | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Paul Rogers | Democratic | 1954 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| J. Herbert Burke | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. | ||
| William Lehman | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Claude Pepper | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Dante Fascell | Democratic | 1954 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Georgia
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Bo Ginn | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Dawson Mathis | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jack Brinkley | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Elliott H. Levitas | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Wyche Fowler | Democratic | 1977 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John Flynt | Democratic | 1954 | Incumbent retired. Republican gain. | ||
| Larry McDonald | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Billy Lee Evans | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ed Jenkins | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Doug Barnard Jr. | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Hawaii
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Cecil Heftel | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Daniel Akaka | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Idaho
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Steve Symms | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| George V. Hansen | Republican | 1964 1968 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Illinois
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Ralph Metcalfe | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent died. Democratic hold. | ||
| Morgan F. Murphy | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Marty Russo | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ed Derwinski | Republican | 1958 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John G. Fary | Democratic | 1975 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Henry Hyde | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Cardiss Collins | Democratic | 1973 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Dan Rostenkowski | Democratic | 1958 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Sidney R. Yates | Democratic | 1948 1962 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Abner Mikva | Democratic | 1968 1972 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Frank Annunzio | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Phil Crane | Republican | 1969 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Robert McClory | Republican | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John N. Erlenborn | Republican | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Tom Corcoran | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John B. Anderson | Republican | 1960 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| George M. O'Brien | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Robert H. Michel | Republican | 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Tom Railsback | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Paul Findley | Republican | 1960 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ed Madigan | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| George E. Shipley | Democratic | 1958 | Incumbent retired. Republican gain. | ||
| Melvin Price | Democratic | 1944 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Paul Simon | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Indiana
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Adam Benjamin Jr. | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Floyd Fithian | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John Brademas | Democratic | 1958 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Dan Quayle | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Elwood Hillis | Republican | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| David W. Evans | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John T. Myers | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| David L. Cornwell | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. | ||
| Lee H. Hamilton | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Philip Sharp | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Andrew Jacobs Jr. | Democratic | 1964 1972 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Iowa
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Jim Leach | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Mike Blouin | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. | ||
| Chuck Grassley | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Neal Smith | Democratic | 1958 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Tom Harkin | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Berkley Bedell | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Kansas
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Keith Sebelius | Republican | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Martha Keys | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. | ||
| Larry Winn | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Dan Glickman | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Joe Skubitz | Republican | 1962 | Incumbent retired. Republican hold. |
Kentucky
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Carroll Hubbard | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William Natcher | Democratic | 1953 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Romano Mazzoli | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Gene Snyder | Republican | 1962 1964 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Tim Lee Carter | Republican | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John B. Breckinridge | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent lost renomination. Republican gain. | ||
| Carl D. Perkins | Democratic | 1948 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Louisiana
The seven incumbents were all automatically re-elected when no opponents filed to run against them in the Sept. 16 jungle primary. They did not appear on the ballot.Leach and Wilson were the top two finishers in the 4th District's jungle primary and advanced to the Nov. 7 general election.
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Bob Livingston | Republican | 1977 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Lindy Boggs | Democratic | 1973 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Dave Treen | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Joe Waggonner | Democratic | 1961 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| Jerry Huckaby | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Henson Moore | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John Breaux | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Gillis William Long | Democratic | 1962 1964 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Maine
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| David F. Emery | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William Cohen | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. Republican hold. |
Maryland
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Robert Bauman | Republican | 1973 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Clarence Long | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Barbara Mikulski | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Marjorie Holt | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Gladys Spellman | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Goodloe Byron | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent died. Democratic hold. | ||
| Parren Mitchell | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Newton Steers | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. |
Massachusetts
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Silvio O. Conte | Republican | 1958 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Edward Boland | Democratic | 1952 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Joseph D. Early | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Robert Drinan | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Paul Tsongas | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. Democratic hold. | ||
| Michael J. Harrington | Democratic | 1969 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| Ed Markey | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Tip O'Neill | Democratic | 1952 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Joe Moakley | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Margaret Heckler | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| James A. Burke | Democratic | 1958 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| Gerry Studds | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Michigan
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| John Conyers Jr. | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Carl Pursell | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Garry E. Brown | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. | ||
| David Stockman | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Harold S. Sawyer | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Milton Robert Carr | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Dale E. Kildee | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| J. Bob Traxler | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Guy Vander Jagt | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Elford Albin Cederberg | Republican | 1952 | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. | ||
| Philip Ruppe | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent retired. Republican hold. | ||
| David Bonior | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Charles Diggs | Democratic | 1954 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Lucien Nedzi | Democratic | 1961 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William D. Ford | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John D. Dingell Jr. | Democratic | 1955 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William M. Brodhead | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| James J. Blanchard | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William Broomfield | Republican | 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Minnesota
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Al Quie | Republican | 1958 | Incumbent retired to run for Governor of Minnesota. Republican hold. | ||
| Tom Hagedorn | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bill Frenzel | Republican | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bruce Vento | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Donald M. Fraser | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. Democratic hold. | ||
| Rick Nolan | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Arlan Stangeland | Republican | 1977 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jim Oberstar | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Mississippi
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Jamie Whitten | Democratic | 1941 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| David R. Bowen | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Sonny Montgomery | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Thad Cochran | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. Republican hold. | ||
| Trent Lott | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Missouri
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Bill Clay | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Robert A. Young | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Dick Gephardt | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ike Skelton | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Richard Bolling | Democratic | 1948 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Tom Coleman | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Gene Taylor | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Richard Howard Ichord Jr. | Democratic | 1960 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Harold Volkmer | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bill Burlison | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Montana
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Max Baucus | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator. Democratic hold. | ||
| Ron Marlenee | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Nebraska
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Charles Thone | Republican | 1970 | Incumbent retired to run for Governor of Nebraska. Republican hold. | ||
| John Joseph Cavanaugh III | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Virginia D. Smith | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Nevada
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| James David Santini | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
New Hampshire
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Norman D'Amours | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| James Colgate Cleveland | Republican | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. |
New Jersey
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| James Florio | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William J. Hughes | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| James J. Howard | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Frank Thompson | Democratic | 1954 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Millicent Fenwick | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Edwin B. Forsythe | Republican | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Andrew Maguire | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Robert A. Roe | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Harold C. Hollenbeck | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Peter W. Rodino | Democratic | 1948 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Joseph Minish | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Matthew John Rinaldo | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Helen Stevenson Meyner | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. | ||
| Joseph A. LeFante | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| Edward J. Patten | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. |
New Mexico
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Manuel Lujan Jr. | Republican | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Harold L. Runnels | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. |
New York
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Otis G. Pike | Democratic | 1960 | Incumbent retired. Conservative gain. | ||
| Thomas J. Downey | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jerome Ambro | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Norman F. Lent | Republican | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John W. Wydler | Republican | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Lester L. Wolff | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Joseph P. Addabbo | Democratic | 1960 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Benjamin Stanley Rosenthal | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| James J. Delaney | Democratic | 1944 1946 1948 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| Mario Biaggi | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| James H. Scheuer | Democratic | 1964 1972 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Shirley Chisholm | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Stephen J. Solarz | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Fred Richmond | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Leo C. Zeferetti | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Elizabeth Holtzman | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John M. Murphy | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bill Green | Republican | 1978 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Charles B. Rangel | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Theodore S. Weiss | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Robert García | Democratic | 1978 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jonathan Brewster Bingham | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bruce F. Caputo | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent retired to run for Lieutenant Governor of New York. Democratic gain. | ||
| Richard Ottinger | Democratic | 1964 1970 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Hamilton Fish IV | Republican | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Benjamin A. Gilman | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Matthew F. McHugh | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Samuel S. Stratton | Democratic | 1958 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Edward W. Pattison | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. | ||
| Robert C. McEwen | Republican | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Donald J. Mitchell | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| James M. Hanley | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William F. Walsh | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent retired. Republican hold. | ||
| Frank Horton | Republican | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Barber Conable | Republican | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John J. LaFalce | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Henry J. Nowak | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jack Kemp | Republican | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Stan Lundine | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
North Carolina
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Walter B. Jones Sr. | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Lawrence H. Fountain | Democratic | 1952 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Charles Orville Whitley | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ike Franklin Andrews | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Stephen L. Neal | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| L. Richardson Preyer | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Charlie Rose | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bill Hefner | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| James G. Martin | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jim Broyhill | Republican | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| V. Lamar Gudger | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
North Dakota
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Mark Andrews | Republican | 1963 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Ohio
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Bill Gradison | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Tom Luken | Democratic | 1974 (special) 1974 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Charles W. Whalen Jr. | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent retired. Democratic gain. | ||
| Tennyson Guyer | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Del Latta | Republican | 1958 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bill Harsha | Republican | 1960 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bud Brown | Republican | 1965 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Tom Kindness | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Thomas L. Ashley | Democratic | 1954 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Clarence E. Miller | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| J. William Stanton | Republican | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Samuel L. Devine | Republican | 1958 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Donald J. Pease | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John F. Seiberling | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Chalmers Wylie | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ralph Regula | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John M. Ashbrook | Republican | 1960 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Douglas Applegate | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Charles J. Carney | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. | ||
| Mary Rose Oakar | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Louis Stokes | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Charles Vanik | Democratic | 1954 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ronald M. Mottl | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Oklahoma
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| James R. Jones | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ted Risenhoover | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent lost renomination. Democratic hold. | ||
| Wes Watkins | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Tom Steed | Democratic | 1948 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Mickey Edwards | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Glenn English | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Oregon
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Les AuCoin | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Al Ullman | Democratic | 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Robert B. Duncan | Democratic | 1962 1966 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jim Weaver | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Pennsylvania
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Michael Myers | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Robert N. C. Nix Sr. | Democratic | 1958 | Incumbent lost renomination. Democratic hold. | ||
| Raymond Lederer | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Joshua Eilberg | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. | ||
| Richard T. Schulze | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Gus Yatron | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Robert W. Edgar | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Peter H. Kostmayer | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bud Shuster | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Joseph M. McDade | Republican | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Dan Flood | Democratic | 1944 1946 1948 1952 1954 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John Murtha | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Lawrence Coughlin | Republican | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William S. Moorhead | Democratic | 1958 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Fred B. Rooney | Democratic | 1963 | Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. | ||
| Robert Smith Walker | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Allen E. Ertel | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Doug Walgren | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William F. Goodling | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Joseph M. Gaydos | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John H. Dent | Democratic | 1958 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| Austin Murphy | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Joseph S. Ammerman | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. | ||
| Marc L. Marks | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Gary A. Myers | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent retired. Democratic gain. |
Rhode Island
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Fernand St. Germain | Democratic | 1960 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Edward Beard | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
South Carolina
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Mendel Jackson Davis | Democratic | 1971 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Floyd Spence | Republican | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Butler Derrick | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| James Mann | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent retired. Republican gain. | ||
| Kenneth Lamar Holland | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John Jenrette | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
South Dakota
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Larry Pressler | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. Democratic gain. | ||
| James Abdnor | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Tennessee
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Jimmy Quillen | Republican | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John Duncan Sr. | Republican | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Marilyn Lloyd | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Al Gore | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Clifford Allen | Democratic | 1975 | Incumbent died. Democratic hold. | ||
| Robin Beard | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ed Jones | Democratic | 1969 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Harold Ford Sr. | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Texas
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Sam B. Hall Jr. | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Charles Wilson | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| James M. Collins | Republican | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ray Roberts | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jim Mattox | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Olin E. Teague | Democratic | 1946 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| Bill Archer | Republican | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Robert C. Eckhardt | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jack Brooks | Democratic | 1952 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| J. J. Pickle | Democratic | 1963 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William R. Poage | Democratic | 1936 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| Jim Wright | Democratic | 1954 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jack Hightower | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John Andrew Young | Democratic | 1956 | Incumbent lost renomination. Democratic hold. | ||
| Kika de la Garza | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Richard Crawford White | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Omar Burleson | Democratic | 1946 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| Barbara Jordan | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| George H. Mahon | Democratic | 1934 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| Henry B. González | Democratic | 1961 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bob Krueger | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. Republican gain. | ||
| Robert Gammage | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. | ||
| Abraham Kazen | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Dale Milford | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent lost renomination. Democratic hold. |
Utah
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| K. Gunn McKay | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| David Daniel Marriott | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Vermont
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Jim Jeffords | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Virginia
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Paul Trible | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| G. William Whitehurst | Republican | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| David E. Satterfield III | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Robert Daniel | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Dan Daniel | Democratic | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| M. Caldwell Butler | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| J. Kenneth Robinson | Republican | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Herbert Harris | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| William C. Wampler | Republican | 1952 1954 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Joseph L. Fisher | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Washington
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Joel Pritchard | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Lloyd Meeds | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ||
| Don Bonker | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Mike McCormack | Democratic | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Tom Foley | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Norm Dicks | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John E. Cunningham | Republican | 1977 (special) | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. |
West Virginia
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Bob Mollohan | Democratic | 1952 1956 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Harley Orrin Staggers | Democratic | 1948 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| John M. Slack Jr. | Democratic | 1958 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Nick Rahall | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Wyoming
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Teno Roncalio | Democratic | 1964 1966 1970 | Incumbent retired. Republican gain. |