| California's at-large congressional district | |
|---|---|
| Obsolete district | |
| Created | 1849 1883 |
| Eliminated | 1865 1885 |
| Years active | 1849-1865 1883-1885 |
After statehood was achieved on September 9, 1850 and until 1865, California elected its congressional representatives statewideat-large — two representatives from September 11, 1850 to 1861, and 3 representatives from 1861 to 1865.
Also, from 1883 to 1885,California elected two of its six representatives to theUnited States House of Representatives statewideat-large.
In these elections, the top two vote-getters (three from 1861 to 1863) were elected to the House.
The election was held November 13, 1849.
| 1849 United States House of Representatives election in California | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Independent | 20,481 | 79.44% | 1 | +1 | |
| Democratic | 5,300 | 20.56% | 1 | +1 | |
| Totals | 25,781 | 100.00% | 2 | — | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | George Washington Wright | 5,451 | 22.0 | |
| Democratic | Edward Gilbert | 5,300 | 20.6 | |
| Independent | Rodman M. Price | 4,040 | 16.3 | |
| Independent | Lewis Dent | 2,129 | 8.3 | |
| Independent | P. A. Morse | 2,066 | 8.2 | |
| Independent | E. J. C. Kewen | 1,826 | 7.3 | |
| Independent | William M. Shepard | 1,773 | 7.2 | |
| Independent | William E. Shannon | 1,327 | 5.4 | |
| Independent | Peter O. Halstead | 1,271 | 2.4 | |
| Independent | L. W. Hastings | 215 | 0.9 | |
| Independent | Pierson B. Reading | 167 | 0.7 | |
| Independent | W. H. Russell | 96 | 0.4 | |
| Independent | J. S. Thompson | 72 | 0.3 | |
| Independent | Kimball H. Dimmick | 48 | 0.2 | |
| Total votes | 25,781 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
The 1851 election was held October 7, 1851.
| 1851 United States House of Representatives election in California | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Democratic | 48,784 | 53.92% | 2 | +1 | |
| Whig | 41,684 | 46.08% | 0 | 0 | |
| Independent | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | –1 | |
| Totals | 90,468 | 100.00% | 2 | — | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Edward C. Marshall | 24,469 | 27.0 | |
| Democratic | Joseph McCorkle | 24,315 | 26.9 | |
| Whig | E. J. Kewen | 21,460 | 23.7 | |
| Whig | B. J. Moore | 20,224 | 22.4 | |
| Total votes | 90,468 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
The election was held November 2, 1852.
| 1852 United States House of Representatives election in California | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Democratic | 79,268 | 53.38% | 2 | 0 | |
| Whig | 69,232 | 46.62% | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | 148,500 | 100.00% | 2 | — | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Milton S. Latham | 39,881 | 26.9 | |
| Democratic | James A. McDougall | 39,387 | 26.5 | |
| Whig | P. L. Edwards | 34,933 | 23.5 | |
| Whig | G. B. Tingley | 34,299 | 23.1 | |
| Total votes | 148,500 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
The election was held September 6, 1854.
| 1854 United States House of Representatives election in California | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | ||
| Democratic | 95,178 | 58.0% | 2 | ||
| Whig | 69,152 | 42.0% | 0 | ||
| Totals | 164,330 | 100.0% | 2 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James W. Denver | 36,819 | 22.4 | |
| Democratic | Philemon T. Herbert | 36,542 | 22.4 | |
| Whig | G. W. Bowie | 34,741 | 21.1 | |
| Whig | Cal Bonham | 34,411 | 20.9 | |
| Democratic | J. Churchman | 10,006 | 6.1 | |
| Democratic | James A. McDougall (Incumbent) | 9,968 | 6.1 | |
| Democratic | Milton S. Latham (Incumbent) | 1,843 | 1.1 | |
| Total votes | 164,330 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
The election was held November 4, 1856.
| 1856 United States House of Representatives election in California | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | ||
| Democratic | 101,708 | 47.0% | 2 | ||
| Know Nothing | 71,403 | 33.0% | 0 | ||
| Republican | 43,139 | 20.0% | 0 | ||
| Totals | 216,250 | 100.0% | 2 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph C. McKibbin | 50,895 | 23.5 | |
| Democratic | Charles L. Scott | 50,813 | 23.5 | |
| Know Nothing | B. C. Whitman | 36,078 | 16.7 | |
| Know Nothing | A. B. Dibble | 35,325 | 16.3 | |
| Republican | L. P. Rankin | 21,975 | 10.2 | |
| Republican | J. D. Turner | 21,164 | 9.8 | |
| Total votes | 216,250 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
The election was held September 7, 1859.
| United States House of Representatives election in California, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | ||
| Democratic | 161,106 | 79.4% | 2 | ||
| Republican | 41,739 | 20.6% | 0 | ||
| Totals | 202,845 | 100.0% | 2 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John C. Burch | 57,665 | 28.4 | |
| Democratic | Charles L. Scott | 56,998 | 28.1 | |
| Democratic | Joseph C. McKibbin (Incumbent) | 43,474 | 21.4 | |
| Republican | Edward D. Baker | 41,438 | 20.4 | |
| Democratic | S. A. Booker | 2,969 | 1.5 | |
| Republican | P. H. Sibley | 301 | 0.1 | |
| Total votes | 202,845 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
The election was held September 4, 1861.
| 1861 United States House of Representatives election in California | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Democratic | 180,719 | 56.1% | 0 | -2 | |
| Republican | 141,402 | 43.9% | 3 | +3 | |
| Totals | 322,121 | 100.0% | 3 | — | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Timothy Guy Phelps | 51,651 | 21.8 | |
| Republican | W. L. Dudley | 50,692 | 21.4 | |
| Democratic | H. Edgerton | 35,449 | 15.0 | |
| Democratic | Joseph C. McKibbin | 35,401 | 15.0 | |
| Democratic | D. O. Shattuck | 31,712 | 13.4 | |
| Democratic | H. P. Barbers | 31,591 | 13.4 | |
| Total votes | 236,496 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frederick F. Low | 39,059 | 45.6 | |
| Democratic | F. Gunhal | 24,036 | 28.1 | |
| Democratic | J. R. Gitchell | 22,530 | 26.3 | |
| Total votes | 85,625 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
The election was held September 2, 1863.
| 1863 United States House of Representatives election in California | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | ||
| Republican | 194,882 | 69.1% | 0 | ||
| Democratic | 87,087 | 30.9% | 0 | ||
| Totals | 281,969 | 100.0% | 3 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cornelius Cole | 65,085 | 23.1 | |
| Republican | Thomas B. Shannon | 64,914 | 23.0 | |
| Republican | William Higby | 64,883 | 23.0 | |
| Democratic | John B. Weller | 43,567 | 15.5 | |
| Democratic | John Bigler | 43,520 | 15.4 | |
| Total votes | 281,969 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
California elected two at-large representatives in addition to its four representatives in districts in 1882. For these results see1882 United States House of Representatives elections in California.
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