1996 United States House of Representatives elections
The 1996 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 5, 1996, which coincided with the re-election of President Bill Clinton. Democrats won the popular vote by almost 60,000 votes and gained a net of two seats from the Republicans, but the Republicans retained an overall majority of seats in the House for the first time since 1928.
Although the Republicans lost 3 seats, 1 of them included an Independent who would caucus with them and switch to the Republicans. This resulted in a 227 Republican majority to the Democrats' 208 minority which also included an Independent caucusing with them.
The election is similar to the 1952 elections, although, in terms of the total vote this result remains one of the closest in U.S. history.
Special elections
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Walter R. Tucker III | Democratic | 1992 | Incumbent resigned December 15, 1995 due to scandals during his past tenure as Mayor of Compton, California. New member elected March 26, 1996. Democratic hold. | ||
| Kweisi Mfume | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent resigned February 15, 1996 to become President of the NAACP. New member elected April 16, 1996. Democratic hold. | ||
| Ron Wyden | Democratic | 1980 | Incumbent resigned February 6, 1996 when elected U.S. Senator. New member elected May 21, 1996. Democratic hold. | ||
| Sam Brownback | Republican | 1994 | Incumbent resigned November 27, 1996 when elected U.S. Senator. New member elected November 5, 1996. Winner also elected to the next term, [|see below]. Republican hold. | ||
| Bill Emerson | Republican | 1994 | Incumbent died June 22, 1996. New member elected November 5, 1996. Republican hold. Winner also elected to the next term, see below. |
Results summary
Source:Retiring incumbents
50 incumbents retired: 29 Democrats and 21 Republicans, giving the Republicans a net gain of 6 seats from the Democrats.Democrats
Democratic hold
- : Blanche Lincoln
- : Ray Thornton
- : Anthony Beilenson
- : Pat Schroeder
- : Pete Peterson
- : Sam Gibbons
- : Harry Johnston
- : Cardiss Collins
- : Andrew Jacobs Jr.
- : Gerry Studds
- : Robert Torricelli, to run for U.S. Senator
- : Charlie Rose
- : Jack Reed, to run for U.S. Senator
- : Harold Ford Sr.
- : Jim Chapman, to run for U.S. Senator
- : Charlie Wilson
- : Kika de la Garza
- : Ronald D. Coleman
- : Lewis F. Payne Jr.
Republican gain
- : Glen Browder, to run for U.S. Senator
- : Tom Bevill
- : Dick Durbin, to run for U.S. Senator
- : Cleo Fields
- : Sonny Montgomery
- : Rick Hill
- : William K. Brewster
- : Tim Johnson, to run for U.S. Senator
- : John Bryant, to run for U.S. Senator
- : Pete Geren
Republicans
Republican hold
- : Tim Hutchinson, to run for U.S. Senator
- : Carlos Moorhead
- : Wayne Allard, to run for U.S. Senator
- : John Myers
- : Pat Roberts, to run for U.S. Senator
- : Sam Brownback, to run for U.S. Senator
- : Jan Meyers
- : Mel Hancock
- : Barbara Vucanovich
- : Bill Zeliff, to run for Governor
- : Dick Zimmer, to run for U.S. Senator
- : Wes Cooley
- : Bill Clinger
- : Robert Smith Walker
- : Jimmy Quillen
- : Jack Fields
- : Enid Greene
Democratic gain
- : Jim Ross Lightfoot, to run for U.S. Senator
- : Jimmy Hayes, to run for U.S. Senator
- : Steve Gunderson
- : Toby Roth
Incumbents defeated
In primary elections
Democrats
- : Barbara-Rose Collins lost to Carolyn Kilpatrick, who later won the general election
Republicans
- : Greg Laughlin lost to Ron Paul, who later won the general election
In the general elections
Democrats who lost to Republicans
- : Mike Ward lost to Anne Northup
- : Harold Volkmer lost to Kenny Hulshof
- : Bill Orton lost to Chris Cannon
Republicans who lost to Democrats
- : William P. Baker lost to Ellen Tauscher
- : Andrea Seastrand lost to Walter Capps
- : Bob Dornan lost to Loretta Sanchez
- : Gary Franks lost to James H. Maloney
- : Michael Patrick Flanagan lost to Rod Blagojevich
- : James B. Longley Jr. lost to Tom Allen
- : Peter I. Blute lost to Jim McGovern
- : Peter G. Torkildsen lost to John F. Tierney
- : Dick Chrysler lost to Debbie Stabenow
- : William J. Martini lost to Bill Pascrell
- : Dan Frisa lost to Carolyn McCarthy
- : David Funderburk lost to Bob Etheridge
- : Fred Heineman lost to David Price in a rematch of the 1994 election.
- : Frank Cremeans lost to Ted Strickland
- : Martin Hoke lost to Dennis Kucinich
- : Jim Bunn lost to Darlene Hooley
- : Steve Stockman lost to Nick Lampson
- : Randy Tate lost to Adam Smith
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Results |
| Pat Roberts | Republican | 1980 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator.. New member elected. Republican hold. | ||
| Sam Brownback | Republican | 1994 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. New member elected. Republican hold. | ||
| Jan Meyers | Republican | 1984 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold. | ||
| Todd Tiahrt | Republican | 1994 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Kentucky
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Results |
| Ed Whitfield | Republican | 1994 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Ron Lewis | Republican | 1994 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Mike Ward | Democratic | 1994 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. | ||
| Jim Bunning | Republican | 1986 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Hal Rogers | Republican | 1980 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Scotty Baesler | Democratic | 1992 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Results |
| Gil Gutknecht | Republican | 1994 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| David Minge | Democratic | 1992 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jim Ramstad | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bruce Vento | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Martin Olav Sabo | Democratic | 1978 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Bill Luther | Democratic | 1994 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Collin Peterson | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. | ||
| Jim Oberstar | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. |
Mississippi
Missouri
- Jo Ann Emerson was elected as a Republican in a special to serve the remaining months of the term and was elected as an Independent caucusing with Republicans due to Missouri state law. She later switched to the Republican Party a few days after the start of the new Congress.
Montana