This is an educational overview based on the Wikipedia article concerning the 1964 United States House of Representatives elections. Read the full source article here. (opens in new tab)

The 1964 Mandate

A comprehensive analysis of the 1964 United States House of Representatives elections, detailing the significant Democratic landslide and its profound impact on the American political landscape.

Election Overview ⬇️ View Results 📊

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Election Overview

Election Context

Held on November 3, 1964, these elections determined the composition of the United States House of Representatives for the 89th Congress. They occurred concurrently with the presidential election, which saw Lyndon B. Johnson secure a landslide victory.

The Democratic Wave

The election resulted in a substantial gain for the Democratic Party, which added a net of 36 seats. This victory gave Democrats a commanding two-thirds majority in the House, a level of dominance not seen since the 1936 elections.

Shifting Political Tides

While the national trend favored Democrats, the elections also marked a significant, albeit nascent, shift in the Deep South. Republicans began making notable inroads in states like Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, winning seats for the first time in decades.

Overall Results

Seat Distribution

The election concluded with a significant majority for the Democrats:

  • Democratic Party: 295 seats
  • Republican Party: 140 seats

This represented a substantial increase of 36 seats for the Democrats compared to the previous Congress.

Popular Vote

The popular vote reflected the Democratic advantage:

  • Democratic Party: 37,643,960 votes (57.1%)
  • Republican Party: 27,916,576 votes (42.4%)

The Democrats saw a swing of approximately 4.7 percentage points in the popular vote.

Seat Change Visualization

A visual representation of the seat distribution highlights the Democratic dominance:

Democratic
67.82%
Republican
32.18%

Popular Vote Visualization

The popular vote distribution underscores the national mood:

Democratic
57.14%
Republican
42.38%
Others
0.48%

Election Maps

Visualizations of the election results by state and district provide a granular view of the political landscape. These maps illustrate the geographic distribution of party control and vote share across the nation.

The election data is often presented through various cartographic representations:

These maps, while not displayed here, are crucial for understanding the electoral geography of the period.

Southern Significance

Republican Resurgence

Despite the national Democratic sweep, the 1964 election marked a pivotal moment for the Republican Party in the Deep South. The presidential candidacy of Barry Goldwater, a conservative Republican, resonated strongly in this region.

Historical Context

This election saw Republicans winning House seats in states like Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi for the first time since the Reconstruction era (post-Civil War), signaling a long-term realignment of Southern politics.

Key Southern Gains

Several states saw significant Republican gains in their House delegations:

The following representatives were elected from Southern states, marking Republican breakthroughs:

State/DistrictIncumbent PartyResultNew Member (Party)
Alabama 1stNone (New)Republican GainJack Edwards (R)
Alabama 2ndDemocraticRepublican GainWilliam L. Dickinson (R)
Alabama 4thDemocraticRepublican GainGlenn Andrews (R)
Alabama 6thDemocraticRepublican GainJohn H. Buchanan Jr. (R)
Alabama 7thDemocraticRepublican GainJames D. Martin (R)
Georgia 3rdDemocraticRepublican GainBo Callaway (R)
Mississippi 4thNone (New)Republican GainPrentiss Walker (R)
South Carolina 2ndDemocraticRepublican GainAlbert Watson (R)

Special Elections

In addition to the regularly scheduled elections, several special elections were held to fill vacancies that occurred during the preceding Congress or early in the 89th Congress.

California 5th

Following the resignation of John F. Shelley, Phillip Burton (Democratic) was elected, securing a Democratic hold.

Tennessee 2nd

After the death of Howard Baker Sr., Irene Baker (Republican) won the seat, maintaining a Republican hold.

Pennsylvania 5th

The seat vacated by William J. Green Jr.'s death was won by his son, William J. Green III (Democratic), a Democratic hold.

Missouri 9th

Following the death of Clarence Cannon, William L. Hungate (Democratic) was elected, securing a Democratic hold.

Oregon 1st

The vacancy caused by A. Walter Norblad's death led to Wendell Wyatt (Republican) winning the seat, a Republican hold.

South Carolina 5th

After Robert W. Hemphill resigned, Thomas S. Gettys (Democratic) won the seat, maintaining a Democratic hold.

State-Level Analysis

The 1964 elections saw varied results across the states, reflecting national trends and distinct regional political dynamics. Below is a summary of key states and notable shifts.

Alabama

Alabama underwent redistricting for this election, moving from at-large representation to district-based elections. This shift, combined with the national political climate, led to significant Republican gains, with several seats flipping from Democratic to Republican control for the first time in nearly a century.

Key changes in Alabama:

DistrictIncumbent PartyResultNew Member (Party)
1stNone (New)Republican GainJack Edwards (R)
2ndDemocraticRepublican GainWilliam L. Dickinson (R)
3rdDemocraticDemocratic HoldGeorge W. Andrews (D)
4thDemocraticRepublican GainGlenn Andrews (R)
5thDemocraticDemocratic HoldArmistead I. Selden Jr. (D)
6thDemocraticRepublican GainJohn H. Buchanan Jr. (R)
7thDemocraticRepublican GainJames D. Martin (R)
8thDemocraticDemocratic HoldRobert E. Jones Jr. (D)

Georgia

Georgia also experienced redistricting, creating a new district. The election saw a significant Republican breakthrough, with Bo Callaway winning the 3rd district, marking the first Republican victory in Georgia's House delegation since 1874.

Key results in Georgia:

DistrictIncumbent PartyResultNew Member (Party)
1stDemocraticDemocratic HoldG. Elliott Hagan (D)
2ndDemocraticDemocratic HoldMaston E. O'Neal Jr. (D)
3rdDemocraticRepublican GainBo Callaway (R)
4thNone (New)Democratic GainJames MacKay (D)
5thDemocraticDemocratic HoldCharles L. Weltner (D)
6thDemocraticDemocratic HoldJohn Flynt (D)
7thDemocraticDemocratic HoldJohn William Davis (D)
8thDemocraticDemocratic HoldJ. Russell Tuten (D)
9thDemocraticDemocratic HoldPhillip M. Landrum (D)
10thDemocraticDemocratic HoldRobert Grier Stephens Jr. (D)

California

California, a large and politically diverse state, saw incumbents largely hold their seats, reflecting the national Democratic trend. The state's delegation expanded, with a new district created due to population growth.

California's delegation saw minimal changes among incumbents, with most seats remaining with their previous party. The state's 38 districts were contested, with Democrats securing 26 seats and Republicans holding 12.

A notable special election occurred in the 5th district, resulting in a Democratic hold.

Florida

Florida's delegation remained largely stable, with incumbents winning re-election across its 12 districts. The Democratic Party maintained its strong presence in the state's congressional representation.

Florida's 12 districts saw incumbents re-elected in most cases. The Democratic Party secured 10 seats, while Republicans held 2 seats.

Colorado

Colorado experienced a shift in two districts, with Democratic gains in the 2nd and 3rd districts, reflecting the broader national trend.

Key results in Colorado:

DistrictIncumbent PartyResultNew Member (Party)
1stDemocraticDemocratic HoldByron G. Rogers (D)
2ndRepublicanDemocratic GainRoy H. McVicker (D)
3rdRepublicanDemocratic GainFrank Evans (D)
4thDemocraticDemocratic HoldWayne N. Aspinall (D)

Connecticut

Connecticut saw a redistribution of its congressional districts, increasing its representation from 5 to 6 seats. The elections resulted in a Democratic gain in the 4th district.

Connecticut's delegation expanded to six districts. The Democrats secured 4 seats, while Republicans held 2.

Study Guide

Key Takeaways

Understanding the 1964 House elections requires focusing on:

  • The overwhelming Democratic majority driven by the Johnson landslide.
  • The significant shift in the Deep South, foreshadowing future political realignments.
  • The role of redistricting in states like Alabama and Georgia.
  • The impact of special elections on the overall composition.

Discussion Points

Consider the following for deeper analysis:

  • How did the presidential election directly influence House races?
  • What were the long-term implications of the Republican gains in the South?
  • How did demographic shifts and changing political ideologies contribute to these results?

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the 1964 United States House of Representatives elections Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not political or historical advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional historical research, political analysis, or consultation. Always refer to primary sources and consult with qualified experts for definitive interpretations and comprehensive understanding.

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